Human gonadotropin therapy. II. Serum estradiol and progesterone patterns during nonconceptual cycles

Hormone patterns during 113 nonconceptual gonadotropin-induced cycles of 65 infertile anovulatory women were analyzed. All but one women ovulated, i.e., the ovulation rate was 98%. Signs of defective corpus luteum function were observed during 8 cycles, and anovulation occurred in 11 treatment cycles. The duration of the active phase of the follicular stimulation was shorter during cycles with defective luteal phases and anovulatory cycles. The mean estradiol level at induction of ovulation by human chorionic gonadotropin did not differ between the groups. Premature ovulation was observed in six treatment cycles. No case of severe hyperstimulation was encountered. The hormone pattern during gonadotropin-induced conceptual cycles did not differ in comparison with gonadotropin-induced nonconceptual ovulatory cycles.