Do women with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss have higher day 3 serumFSH and estradiol values?

Objective: To determine the potential role of diminished ovarian reserve in unexplained habitual abortion. Design: Retrospective comparative analysis. Setting: University-based practice. Patient(s): Fifty-seven women who presented for evaluation of recurrent pre gnancy loss (RPL). Intervention(s): The test group (n = 36) comprised women with unexplained R PL. The control group (n = 21) comprised women with a known cause of RPL. M ean age, parity, day 3 serum FSH and E-2 levels, and presence or absence of a history of infertility were compared between groups. Main Outcome Measure(s): Day 3 serum FSH and E-2 levels. Result(s): Both day 3 FSH and E-2 levels were elevated in the unexplained g roup compared with the control group. When combined, FSH or E-2 levels, or both, were elevated in 58% of the unexplained RPL group and 19% of the cont rol group (odds ratio, 5.95 [95% CI, 1.7-21.3]; P<.004). Age, parity, and p resence of infertility did not differ between groups. Conclusion(s): Women with unexplained RPL have a greater incidence of eleva ted day 3 serum FSH and E-2 levels than do women with a known cause of RPL, Therefore, diminished ovarian reserve may contribute to recurrent pregnanc y loss and should be considered part of the work-up for RPL. (C)2000 by Ame rican Society for Reproductive Medicine.