Longitudinal Studies of Luteal Function by Salivary Progesterone Determinations

Abstract

A ‘normal range’ for salivary progesterone concentrations has been established using data derived from women who were menstruating regularly and in whom dating of the cycle by accepted criteria was possible. Since these values are in agreement with those in the first 9 days of conception cycles and with those in cycles in which ovulation was confirmed by ultrasonography, they provide a reliable index of progesterone output compatible with fertility. Measurement of daily salivary progesterone values in subfertile women for time spans exceeding 3 months allowed accurate assessment of base-line ovarian activity and of the response to ovulation-induction therapy. Salivary sampling, by allowing collection of frequent samples with a minimum of time, stress and inconvenience, is ideally suited to longitudinal studies of ovarian activity. This sampling regimen is also applicable to the monitoring of progesterone output throughout pregnancy.

A prospective investigation of the relations among cognitive dietary restraint, subclinical ovulatory disturbances, physical activity, and bone mass in healthy young women

“…Each block of 3 menstrual cycles was monitored during a different season so that all 4 seasons were included in the 2-y study. Salivary progesterone measurement is an established method by which to study luteal function in epidemiologic studies (28,29). For each of the monitored cycles, participants collected saliva samples each morning before breakfast or tooth brushing.…”

Measurements of Salivary Progesteronea

“…Preliminary studies of pulsatile progesterone patterns among the Lese of Zaire indicate that the suppression of luteal progesterone profiles that occurs during periods of weight loss may also be primarily a function of diminished activity of luteinized granulosa cells. Mid-Age Older (18)(19)(20)(21)(22) Years) (23)(24)(25)(26)(27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34) Years) (35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48) "Arithmetic mean (SE) or geometric mean (range of mean ? SE) for pulsatile progesterone characteristics calculated from serial samples collected at 15-minute intervals for 8 hours on days classified as either midluteal (ML, 5 to 10 days before menstrual onset) or late-Meal (LL, 2 to 4 days before menstrual onset).…”

Diagnostic Assessment of the Ovulatory Process

“…27 Because of the low concentration in salivary samples, the results are less reliable, but the method has potential value in less developed countries. 17,28…”