Effects of early pregnancy loss on hormone levels in the subsequent menstrual cycle

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2010 Dec;26(12):897-901. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2010.487601. Epub 2010 May 26.

Abstract

Previous studies of hormone patterns after clinical miscarriage suggest reduced pituitary function. Hormonal effects of very early pregnancy loss (before 6 weeks gestation) have not been described. We used within-woman differences between menstrual cycles in urinary hormone measurements from women in the North Carolina Early Pregnancy Study to describe hormonal changes after very early pregnancy loss (n = 28 early losses; 80 non-conception comparison cycles). We found lower pre-ovulatory luteinising hormone and shorter luteal phase length after very early pregnancy loss, but the differences were non-significant (p > 0.3) and smaller than those reported in the spontaneous miscarriage literature. Consistent with the reduced pituitary function reported post-spontaneous miscarriage, we found a slower rate of oestrogen rise (p = 0.08). There was no evidence of lower mid-luteal steroid levels as has been suggested for post-spontaneous miscarriage cycles. Very early pregnancy losses do not appear to influence subsequent menstrual cycles to the same degree as spontaneous miscarriages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Abortion, Spontaneous / urine*
  • Adult
  • Chorionic Gonadotropin / urine*
  • Estrone / urine*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Luteinizing Hormone / urine*
  • Menstrual Cycle / urine*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnanediol / urine*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Chorionic Gonadotropin
  • Estrone
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Pregnanediol