Radioimmunoassay for Salivary Progesterone in Normal Menstrual Cycle and Pregnant Women

Abstract

Salivary progesterone level has been measured in ten women with regular menstrual cycle. We found that nine subjects showed progesterone peak between day 4-12 before the next menstruation except one that showed the fluctuating pattern. The average progesterone concentration in luteal phase was 328.42 + 207.04 pmole/L and in follicular phase was 64.96 + 96.33 pmole/L. Salivary progmterone and oestradiol levels have been measured in three pregnant women. Their patterns were increased with advancing gestational age. There was good correlation between concentrations of progesterone and oestradiol (r = 0.9001024). The maximum progesterone and oestradiol concentration were 4072.86 + 727.34 pmole/L and 222.57 + 4.57 pmole/L at four and three weeks before labour respectively. The mean birth weight was 3350.00 + 304.14 g.