Histologic evaluation of the luteal phase in women following follicle aspiration for oocyte retrieval.

The luteal phase was evaluated by endometrial biopsy (EMB) 11 to 13 days after administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or initiation of the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge (hCG/LH) in 25 stimulated patients not undergoing embryo transfer (ET). Luteal phase defect (LPD) was defined as an EMB greater than 2 days out-of-phase when compared with the onset of subsequent menses. Nineteen women (76%) had LPDs ranging from 3 to 7 days. Mean estradiol (E2) on day of hCG/LH was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher (1709 +/- 997) in patients with in-phase EMBs than mean E2 levels in two groups of patients with out-of-phase EMBs (687 +/- 251, 941 +/- 366, respectively). These findings are further evidence of the importance of optimal follicular development to subsequent endometrial maturation.