Single Daily Monitoring of Peri-Ovulatory Estradiol, Progesterone, and Luteinizing Sera Hormone Levels in Natural Cycles Useful for Timing Intrauterine Insemination

Abstract

Single daily periovulatory serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol (E₂), and progesterone (P) may be useful to predict the time of ovulation, since serum P is known to rise to 1000 pg/ mL about 24 h after the LH surge. Intrauterine insemination (IUI) was performed based on the serum P level at the time of the LH surge; if sera P measures <1000 pg/mL, then IUI is performed 36- 40 h later; but if P is ≥1000 pg/mL, IUI is performed 12–20 h later. The relationship of sera LH, E₂, and P levels and follicular diameter were evaluated at the time of the LH surge and the day before in 40 women with cervical factor who conceived following a single IUI. If E₂ levels were obtained the day before and the day of the LH surge and measured <200 or ≥200 pg/mL, a shorter interval for the IUI was suggested. The 27% pregnancy rate/cycle suggests that measurement of single daily periovulatory hormonal levels are useful for precise timing of IUI.

Key Words:

• intrauterine insemination
• ovulation
• periovulatory hormones
• progesterone