Outpatient endometrial biopsy: clinical, endocrinologic and histologic consequences

In this prospective study involving 152 outpatient endometrial biopsies (EBs), it was found that 89% had post-EB spotting which ranged from 1 to 5 days with a median of 2 days. Premenstrual spotting which could not be accounted for by post-EB spotting was present in 14% of the subjects, but less than half of them considered such spotting unusual. Outpatient EB resulted in earlier onset of menstruation in 43% of the subjects, but no overall change in the amount of menstrual flow or discomfort. When compared to control cycles in which an EB was not performed, cycles in which an EB was performed, had significant shortening of the luteal phase by an average of 1.0 day (P less than 0.01). However, there was no change in the corpus luteum function as assessed by the measurement of progesterone concentration in saliva samples collected daily throughout the luteal phase. EB did not appear to have any significant effect on histologic development (dating) of the endometrium, although leucocytic infiltration could be increased.