Habitual abortion: endocrinological aspects.

Endocrine disorders are among the potential causes of repeated spontaneous abortion although their role is uncertain. These disorders most frequently associated with repeated spontaneous abortion are corpus luteum insufficiency, polycystic ovary syndrome, diabetes mellitus, and hypo- and hyperthyroidism. The best method of diagnosing corpus luteum insufficiency has not yet been established. It seems that treatment for this condition cannot be based on simple supplementation with progesterone, but ovulation induction preceded by pituitary suppression and human chorionic gonadotropin administration might be more successful. There is increasing evidence that polycystic ovary syndrome is a cause of repeated spontaneous abortion, but possibly only in the presence of oligomenorrhea and luteinizing hormone hypersecretion. Diabetes, if well controlled by treatment, and thyroid dysfunction, probably play a minor role.