Upper genital tract fluid oestradiol-17 beta, progesterone and testosterone concentrations during the menstrual cycle

This study was to obtain evidence whether a cyclical pattern in the concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta, progesterone and testosterone exists in the upper genital tract fluid of women with normal menstrual cycles. The steroid concentrations at proliferative and luteal phases were n = 20 vs 17, 54.5-190.0 vs 44.2-827.1 pg/ml; 0.27-3.3 vs 3.4-46.5 ng/ml and 41.9-734.8 vs 85.7-991.2 pg/ml, respectively. The results were analysed according to Mann-Whitney U test. Significantly higher concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta (p = 0.0036) and progesterone (p = 0.0001) were found. The results suggest the existence of a cyclical variation and point to the ovary as the main source of output of the steroids.