Early endocrine events in induced pregnancies

E. Radwanska, V. Maclin, R. Rana, I. Henig, R. Rawlins, W. P. Damowski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

Progesterone (P) and human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels were measured randomly or serially in 141 single clinical intrauterine pregnancies resulting from treatment of infertility. Seventy (group I) were conceived during spontaneous cycles, 36 (group II) with clomiphene citrate, and 35 (group III) with menotropins (hMG). Each group was subdivided into subgroup A (normal pregnancies) and B (pregnancies ending in abortion). Thirteen percent of patients in group I aborted, 19% in group II, and 31% in group III (P < .05). The overall mean (±SD) P levels in group IA was 25.8 ± 10.3 ng/mL and in group IB, 16.6 ± 9.9 ng/mmL (significantly lower, P < .001); in group IIA the mean P level was 37.8 ± 21.9 ng/mL and in group IIB, 22.9 ± 17.9 ng/mL, again significantly lower (P < .01). In subgroups IB and IIB, 11 of 16 patients showed early abnormal β-hCG patterns; these findings suggest defective embryonic development and/or deficient corpus luteum function as the cause of abortion. There was no significant difference between mean P in group IIIA (71.1 ± 43.7 ng/mL) and IIIB (75.7 ± 55.9 ng/mL). In group IIIB, the mean 'peak' P level of 101.1 ± 73.6 ng/mL was followed by a mean 'nadir' of 35.4 ± 24.8 ng/mL at 6-9 weeks. In group IIIB, 7 of 11 patients showed normal β-hCG patterns. These patients with precipitous P decline aborted karyotypically normal fetuses in spite of normally rising β-hCG levels and the presence of fetal cardiac activity. A marked decrease of P levels at the time of luteo-placental shift may contribute to the excessive number of abortions after hMG induction of ovulation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)162-167
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Fertility
Volume33
Issue number3
StatePublished - 1988
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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