The present study was designed to construct reliable daily salivary progesterone profiles throughout the luteal phase to accurately evaluate the corpus luteum function. Furthermore, we investigated the clinical relevance of a simple midluteal salivary progesterone estimation for the diagnosis of luteal phase insufficiency by determining the diagnostic efficiency and cutoff values. A total of 121 women were divided into 3 groups; normal luteal function, luteal phase insufficiency and unclassified group, based on basal body temperature recordings and serum progesterone levels at 3 sampling points during the midluteal phase. Salivary progesterone values across the luteal phase of the normal luteal function group were significantly increased from day 1 to day 4, remained constant from day 5 to day 9 (mean +/- SD, 318 +/- 170 pmol/l on day 5, 287 +/- 169 pmol/l on day 9; urinary LH surge = day 0) and decreased thereafter. Salivary progesterone concentrations in the luteal phase insufficiency group showed significantly lower values compared with those in the normal group between days 3 and 10. The cutoff values of 189 pmol/l in the midluteal phase yielded a sensitivity of 78.0% and a specificity of 76.5%. Our results suggest that daily salivary progesterone profiles during the luteal phase and a simple estimation of midluteal salivary progesterone appeared to be useful for the diagnosis of luteal phase defects.
Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel