Human Reproduction, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 324-327, 1995
© 1995 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
research-article |
Infertility: Human decidua-associated protein hDP200 in menstrual fluid: comparison between fertile women and women after failed in-vitro fertilization/embryo transfer treatment
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, affiliated to Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University Tel-Aviv 69978 2Department of Zoology, George S.Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University Tel-Aviv 69978 3Interpharm Laboratories, Science Based Industrial Park Ness Ziona 76100, Israel
Correspondence: 3To whom correspondence should be addressed
The concentration of human decidua-associated protein (hDP) 200 was measured in 238 menstrual fluid samples obtained from normal fertile women and in 26 menstrual fluid samples obtained from infertile women who failed to conceive and menstruated following in-vitro fertilization (IVF)/embryo transfer treatment. A significant association was observed between the concentration of hDP200 and the age of the women. A maximal concentration of hDP200 was observed in women aged 2830 years, with significantly lower concentrations in those aged 1820 and 3941 years. The presence of an intra-uterine device had no effect on menstrual fluid hDP200 concentrations. A significantly lower mean concentration of hDP200 (82 U/ml) was measured in menstrual fluid samples obtained from failed IVF/embryo transfer patients as compared with that in menstrual fluid samples from normal fertile women (191 U/ml). These findings support the concept that adequate endometrial function, as evaluated by menstrual fluid concentration of hDP200, is important for the success of the fertility process.
Key words: embryo transfer/human decidua-associated protein (hDP200)/in-vitro fertilization/menstrual fluid