Ovarian adhesions impair ovulation.

The concentration of progesterone in peritoneal fluid, aspirated from the pouch of Douglas by laparoscopy, 72 hours after the peak of the luteinizing hormone in serum is believed to indicate whether the ovarian follicle has ruptured or not. Twenty six patients were studied. The volume of peritoneal fluid 72 hours after the peak of the luteinizing hormone was markedly decreased when bilateral ovarian adhesions were present. Progesterone concentrations, assayed during the early luteal phase in peritoneal fluid of women with bilateral ovarian adhesions, were significantly lower than in women with a corpus luteum presenting an ovulation stigma and even significantly lower than in those without ovulation stigma (luteinized unruptured follicle syndrome). The assay of progesterone in peritoneal fluid during the early luteal phase may be of value in women with ovarian adhesions.