In a human conception cycle, the expected decline in progesterone production by the corpus luteum during the late luteal phase is prevented by human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) secreted by the implanting blastocyst. This study investigated the expression of components of the synthetic pathway for progesterone in human corpora lutea in the presence and absence of HCG in vivo. Corpora lutea wer...

Sexual arousability of women has not been consistently found to vary significantly over phases of the menstrual cycle. We studied changes in the temperature of a labium minus and subjective sexual and genital arousal recorded on semantic scales while watching erotic video in 12 women with natural menstrual cycles and 12 women using low-dose estrogen oral contraceptive pills. Natural cycle phase...

Stimulated IVF cycles are associated with luteal phase defect. In order to overcome this, different doses, durations and types of luteal phase support (LPS) have been evaluated. There is still no agreement regarding the optimal supplementation scheme. The aim of this paper is to assess the past and the current clinical practices of luteal supplementation in IVF. The databases of Medline and Pub...

During the early follicular phase in the menstrual cycle, antral follicle sizes are often markedly heterogeneous. These follicular size discrepancies may, at least in part, result from the early exposure of FSH-sensitive follicles to gradient FSH concentrations during the preceding luteal phase. In addition, they potentially affect the results of ovarian stimulation. Indeed, pre-existing follic...

Background: Although the coordinated sequence of hormonal changes during the normal menstrual cycle are well characterized, whether similar or parallel changes occur in the distribution of various electrolytes has not been clearly established. Materials and methods: This corollary follow up study on 50 healthy normal menstruating females presents variation in serum calcium, magnesium, sodium an...

The whole gut transit rate has been measured in the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle in 18 healthy women in whom ovulation was confirmed biochemically. Mean transit time in the follicular phase (45.2 (2.7) h, mean (SEM) was not significantly different from the luteal phase (51.3 (4.1], p = 0.12. Stool weight was also not significantly different in the two phases (132 (7) v 12...

In the normal oestrous cycle of the female house mouse, a true luteal phase is absent. Some unknown stimulus provided by the male during mating induces the luteal phase of the oestrous cycle in the female. Land & McGill (1967) initiated a search for this stimulus. They recognized three possible sources of stimulation from the male that might be either sufficient or necessary for the induction o...

Serum levels of progesterone, total testosterone, free testosterone, androstenedione (A2), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS), 17-OH-progesterone (17-OHP), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) were measured in the follicular phase, around ovulation, and in the luteal phase of 11 women with severe premenstrual irritability and dysphoria and in 11 age-matche...

BACKGROUND The addition of GnRH agonist to the treatment regimen in women undergoing IVF cycles is thought to create a luteal phase defect. In an attempt to correct for this, many practitioners supplement with a variety of steroid hormones in the luteal phase. METHODS To determine whether luteal phase support increases reproductive success in modern IVF cycles, a systematic review of the lite...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of syncope induced by head-up tilt test (HUTT) and the type of positive vasovagal response to the orthostatic stress in a relationship to the estimated phase of menstrual cycle (follicular phase, luteal phase) or menopause. METHODS We observed a cohort of 500 women at age 13-89 years (median of age 37.5), referred to HUTT. Ph...