Normal salivary progesterone levels throughout the ovarian cycle as determined by a direct enzyme immunoassay

This study, which is concerned with establishing clinically relevant corridors defining normal progesterone (P) levels in saliva, has addressed some of the shortcomings associated with previous equivalent studies (e.g., limited data, inadequately monitored ovulations, inadequately defined subjects). A sensitive, direct, microtiter plate, enzymeimmunoassay (EIA) for progesterone developed in the authors' unit, was used to determine daily salivary progesterone concentrations over 41 menstrual cycles in 41 women. Each woman was without associated factors known to affect ovarian function and each cycle included was judged to be (single) ovulatory by serial pelvic ultrasound examinations. Daily salivary progesterone levels from these cycles were statistically analyzed and corridors of progesterone concentrations associated with normal luteal function were established.