Influence of midluteal serum prolactin on outcome of pregnancy after IVF-ET: A preliminary study

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between serum prolactin levels in the midluteal phase and the prognosis of pregnancy after IVF-ET. Methods: Design: Prospective study; Setting: Shimane Medical University Hos pital; Patients: 29 patients completing their 34th IVF cycle; and Main outc ome measures: Serum levels of prolactin, estradiol-17 beta, and progesteron e in the midluteal phase. Results: Midluteal prolactin levels were significantly lower in. patients w ith early pregnancy loss than in the successful pregnancy group. The mean p rogesterone/prolactin ratio and the estradiol-17 beta /prolactin ratio were highest inpatients with early pregnancy loss and were lowest inpatients wi th successful pregnancies. Conclusions: Findings of this study suggest that measurement of the serum p rolactin concentration in the midluteal phase is useful for predicting the outcome of IVF-ET.