[A study on luteal function during consecutive cycles (author's transl)]

It is conceivable that luteal function is varied with different menstrual cycles. A study was therefore undertaken to investigate for changes in luteal function during consecutive menstrual cycles.

From those women receiving ambulatory treatment at the hospital 30 displaying a biphasic basal body temperature (BBT) curve were chosen for the study. BBT records were obtained from each of these women for at least 3 consecutive cycles and a total of 194 cycles thus rendered available were evaluated for the pattern of BBT, the duration of high phase (DHP), high phase score (HPS) and planimetric luteal index (PLI). Twenty of these 30 women were subjected further to endometrial dating at the 7th-8th day of high phase with simultaneous determinations of serum estradiol (E2), progesterone (P) and prolactin (PRL) during 2 consecutive cycles.

The incidences of abnormal values of the parameters for at least one of the consecutive cycles studied were: DHP; 13.3% pattern; 50-100%, HPS; 40.0%, PLI; 13.3%, E2; 25%, P; 25%, PRL; 30%, endometrial dating; 65%. These results indicate a considerable variability of luteal function.