[Usefulness of measuring the levels of estrogens and progesterone in the saliva during pregnancy].

In recent years there have appeared reports on the usefulness of marking steroid hormones in the saliva to evaluate the function of ovaries and degree of threat to pregnancy. Many authors studied the correlation between the concentration of estrogens and progesterone in the blood and saliva both in physiological and pathological pregnancy. It was found that the concentration of steroids in the saliva reflects free steroids circulating in the blood, not bound with proteins, marking of which supplies more reliable clinical information. Opinions on determining hormones in the saliva and their importance in monitoring fetal-placental unit are controversial. On the other hand, availability, non-invasiveness and easiness of collecting saliva increases an interest in this biological material.