ALTERED ENDOMETRIAL PROGESTERONE ESTROGEN-RECEPTOR RATIO IN LUTEAL-PHASE DEFECT

The total oestrogen and progesterone receptor levels (TER, TPR) were m easured in endometrial biopsy samples of 10 infertile patients with lu teal phase defect (LPD) and compared to those of controls. Serum level s of progesterone (P), obtained in the luteal phase, were also measure d. Midluteal phase P values were significantly decreased in LPD cycles ; however some overlap of values existed. LPD cycles had significantly lower endometrial TER and TPR concentrations than did control cycles. TPR/TER ratio was found to be a reliable test for diagnosis; having a sensitivity and specificity of 90% and the odds ratio of 81. The TPR/ TER ratio for inphase endometria ranged between 1.13 and 58.22, with 9 5% confidence. It seems that abnormal folliculogenesis, as a cause of LPD, results in wide ranges of endometrial TER and TPR concentrations, yet with well defined alteration in TPR/TER ratio. Summation of the r esults of the present study along with those previously reported, indi cates that TPR/TER ratio may be of great value in characterisation of a well defined endometrial receptor imbalance in luteal phase defect, whatever the underlying aetiology.