Altered endometrial progesterone/oestrogen receptor ratio in luteal phase defect

The total oestrogen and progesterone receptor levels (TER, TPR) were measured in endometrial biopsy samples of 10 infertile patients with luteal phase defect (LPD) and compared to those of controls. Serum levels of progesterone (P), obtained in the luteal phase, were also measured. Midluteal phase P values were significantly decreased in LPD cycles; however some overlap of values existed. LPD cycles had significantly lower endometrial TER and TPR concentrations than did control cycles. TPR/TER ratio was found to be a reliable test for diagnosis; having a sensitivity, and specificity of 90% and the odds ratio of 81. The TPR/TER ratio for inphase endometria ranged between 1.13 and 58.22, with 95% confidence. It seems that abnormal folliculogenesis, as a cause of LPD, results in wide ranges of endometrial TER and TPR concentrations, yet with well defined alteration in TPR/TER ratio. Summation of the results of the present study along with those previously reported, indicates that TPR/TER ratio may be of great value in characterisation of a well defined endometrial receptor imbalance in luteal phase defect, whatever the underlying aetiology.