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Review
. 2015 Mar;42(1):135-51.
doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2014.10.003. Epub 2015 Jan 5.

Progesterone and the luteal phase: a requisite to reproduction

Affiliations
Review

Progesterone and the luteal phase: a requisite to reproduction

Tolga B Mesen et al. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2015 Mar.

Abstract

Progesterone production from the corpus luteum is critical for natural reproduction. Progesterone supplementation seems to be an important aspect of any assisted reproductive technology treatment. Luteal phase deficiency in natural cycles is a plausible cause of infertility and pregnancy loss, though there is no adequate diagnostic test. This article describes the normal luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, investigates the controversy surrounding luteal phase deficiency, and presents the current literature for progesterone supplementation during assisted reproductive technologies.

Keywords: ART; Luteal phase; Luteal phase deficiency; Luteal phase support; Progesterone.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Effect of days of progesterone exposure on implantation and pregnancy rates after cleavage-stage embryo transfer from donor oocytes. (Data from Prapas Y, Prapas N, Jones EE, et al. The window for embryo transfer in oocyte donation cycles depends on the duration of progesterone therapy. Hum Reprod 1998;13(3):720–3.)

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