Cohort study, 1996
Can inhibin testing diagnose luteal phase deficiency?
No. In this study, inhibin levels were similar in infertile women with luteal phase defects and fertile women, so inhibin testing does not accurately identify luteal phase problems.
What they did
In a prospective cohort study, 138 infertile women and 15 fertile women underwent testing in the same menstrual cycle. Researchers measured hormones including inhibin in the middle of the luteal phase and performed an endometrial biopsy to check if the uterine lining was developing normally.
What they found
Abnormal endometrial development was detected in 15 of the 138 infertile patients. Midluteal inhibin, progesterone, estradiol, and prolactin levels were similar in three groups: infertile women with luteal defects, infertile women with normal endometria, and fertile women. Hormone levels did not accurately reflect whether the endometrium was maturing properly.
What it means for you
Testing inhibin levels does not accurately diagnose luteal phase defects and is not better than progesterone testing. While this study focused on fertility rather than PMS treatment, it is still useful because it shows doctors which tests are not helpful. This was a negative result, meaning the test the authors hoped would work did not.
138
infertile women studied
15
fertile women controls
15
abnormal endometrial biopsies
About the study
- Original title
- Midluteal immunoreactive alpha-inhibin serum concentrations as markers of luteal phase deficiency
- Authors
- Balasch J, Creus M, Fábregues F et al.
- Journal
- Human reproduction (Oxford, England)
- Year
- 1996
- Study design
- Cohort study
- Participants
- 138
- What was tested
- None; this was an observational study measuring hormone levels and biopsies
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1093/oxfordjournals.humrep.a019175