Human Reproduction, Vol 13, 1907-1911, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
M Momoeda, O Tsutsumi, Y Morita, T Igarashi, A Suenaga, Y Osuga, H Shiotsu, T Yano and Y Taketani
To examine whether luteal phase defect is, in part, causally related to
insufficient gonadotrophin stimulation, we compared the relation of the
increment of serum progesterone concentrations in response to human
chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) with its basal level at mid-luteal phase.
Thirty-eight naturally cycling infertile women aged between 27-41 years old
were evaluated for hormonal responses to HCG injection at the mid- luteal
phase. We measured luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone
(FSH), oestradiol and progesterone concentrations, before and 1, 2 and 3 h
after the administration of HCG (5000 IU, i.m.) 7 days after ovulation
verified by ultrasonography. Eleven out of 38 women exhibited progesterone
concentrations below 10 ng/ml (low progesterone group), and those remaining
showed progesterone concentrations of > or = 10 ng/ml (normal
progesterone group). The basal LH, FSH and oestradiol concentrations were
essentially the same in both groups. Progesterone concentrations rose
significantly 1 h after the injection and levelled off thereafter. The
increment of progesterone concentrations at 1 h in the normal progesterone
group was 5.7 ng/ml on the average, whereas that in low progesterone group
was 1.1 ng/ml. Furthermore, the percentage increase in progesterone
concentrations at 1 h in the normal progesterone group was significantly
greater than that in the low progesterone group. Both groups equally
exhibited significant but marginal increases in oestradiol concentrations 1
h after the injection. LH and FSH concentrations at 3 h decreased
significantly in both groups. In summary, HCG readily stimulates
progesterone production in normally functioning corpus luteum whereas its
stimulatory effect is minimal on malfunctioning corpus luteum. This
suggests that luteal phase defect is not caused by inadequate gonadotrophin
stimulation and, therefore, does not benefit from HCG administration.
ARTICLES
Differential effect of exogenous human chorionic gonadotrophin on progesterone production from normal or malfunctioning corpus luteum
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tokyo, Japan.
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