Peritoneal fluid volume and 17 beta-estradiol and progesterone concentrations in ovulatory, anovulatory, and postmenopausal women.

Data on the volume of peritoneal fluid and the concentrations of estradiol (17 beta-estradiol) and progesterone during the normal menstrual cycle of 158 women are reported and compared with data obtained from women with anovulatory cycles (N = 16), women using hormonal contraceptives (N = 40), and postmenopausal women (N = 6). During the menstrual cycle, the volume of peritoneal fluid increased significantly after ovulation and remained high for at least 10 days, whereas only small quantities were found in women taking oral contraceptives and in women after menopause. During the follicular phase, estradiol and progesterone concentrations in peritoneal fluid were in the same range as the levels in serum. After ovulation (days 14 to 16), the ratios of the hormonal levels in peritoneal fluid and serum, respectively, were 10 for estradiol and 63 for progesterone. The concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in peritoneal fluid were much higher than in serum for at least 1 week after ovulation. The comparison between the different groups suggests that variations in peritoneal fluid during the menstrual cycle are directly related to cyclic ovarian activity. This particular hormonal environment of the ovocyte in vivo has to be considered in future studies on female infertility that focus on maturation and fertilization in vitro.