[Changes in preovulatory molecular relationship between estradiol and progesterone in patients undergoing controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Can they be used for the evaluation of ovarian reserve?]

The objective was to evaluate if the preovulatory molecular ratio between progesterone and estradiol has age-dependent changes in patients undergone controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. Were studied 180 cycles of conventional in vitro fertilization. Patients were divided in three groups: Group 1 (age less than 30 years; n = 40), group 2 (age between 30 and 35 years; n = 82), and group 3 (age between 36 and 40 years; n = 58). Leuprolide acetate was used in all cases. Molecular progesterone/estradiol ratio was calculate with the following formula: [Serum progesterone (ng/mL) x 3180 (SI x 10(3) divided by serum estradiol (pg/mL) x 3.671 (SI)]. In patients with age more than 38.5 years there was positive correlation between preovulatory progesterone and estradiol (R = 0.55, R2 = 0.30). There were significant difference in molecular progesterone/estradiol ratio between group 1 compared to group 2 (P less than 0.001), group 1 compared to group 3 (P less than 0.0001), as soon as group 1 compared to group 2 plus group 3 (P less than 0.0001). It is concluded that molecular progesterone/estradiol ratio decreases before any endocrino evidence of ovarian aging. The value of this putative test of ovarian reserve is discussed.