Luteal phase defects in repeated abortion.

Fifty women with 2 or more previous first-trimester abortions and 300 infertile patients underwent a luteal phase evaluation by basal body temperature, plasma progesterone, estradiol and prolactin determination, and endometrial biopsy (repeated in a later cycle when the first was defective). An endometrial luteal phase deficiency was detected in 15 (30%) of aborting patients. In 13 (26%) of these women the endometrial defect was associated to normal hormonal levels. This condition was only present in 36 (12%) of the infertility cases (P less than 0.01). We conclude that the possible etiologic role of luteal phase defects in repeated abortion, is by a secretory insufficiency in the endometrial pattern despite normal plasma hormonal levels.