Serum lipoperoxide level variations in normal and luteal phase defect cycles.

A luteal phase defect (LPD) is a clinical problem leading to infertility and is characterized by reduced progesterone levels during the luteal phase. Serum lipoperoxidation is an expression of cellular hypoxic damage occurring under all stress-oxidative conditions. Forty-eight consecutive infertility patients, according to the infertility class II of the WHO classification, underwent clinical observation. Twenty-five patients ovulated constantly with a normal luteal phase, while the other 23 had a LPD, hormonally and histologically assessed. The luteal phase was monitored biochemically by titration of progesterone, oestradiol, and serum lipid peroxides during the ovulatory period and 6-12 days after ovulation. The mean plasmatic concentration of oestradiol was not statistically different between the LPD and the normal-cycle groups, while a statistically significant difference was found for progesterone plasmatic concentrations between the LPD and the normal-cycle groups (p < 0.05); a greater statistical difference was also found in the mean serum lipoperoxide titration (p < 0.001). These findings suggest that serum lipoperoxidation titration may be a useful tool in the study of the interactions between hormonal milieu and sympathetic activity.