Follicular rupture changes the endocrine profile of peritoneal fluid.

We determined the concentration of progesterone (P) and 17 beta-estradiol (E2) in peritoneal fluid 32 hours after endogenous luteinizing hormone surge (LH) or 34 hours after injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in 4 groups of patients: group A: 5 natural cycles, unruptured follicles, mean concentrations of P (1.48 micrograms/l) and E2 (169 ng/l); group B: 28 stimulated cycles, unruptured follicles after an endogenous LH surge, mean concentrations of P (5.33 micrograms/l) and E2 (1 344 ng/l); group C: 13 stimulated cycles, ruptured follicles after endogenous LH surge, mean concentrations of P (446 micrograms/l) and E2 (59 500 ng/l); group D: 8 stimulated cycles, unruptured follicles after injection of hCG, mean concentrations of P (8.21 micrograms/l) and E2 (551 ng/l). The variations of the hormonal concentrations in peritoneal fluid are discussed.