Basal body temperature recordings in ectopic pregnancy
Keyser, H.H.; Iffy, L.; Cohen, J.
Journal of Reproductive Medicine 14(1): 37-40
1975
ISSN/ISBN: 0024-7758 PMID: 1110480 Document Number: 89275
This paper presents basal body temperature recordings to support the hypothesis that defects of ovulation and corpus luteum function are important factors in the pathogenesis of ectopic gestations. Temperature charts taken from a woman with an ectopic pregnancy during the cycle of conception indicated the presence of a luteal phase defect and the recurrence of an apparent menstruation at the expected time of the next period. The temperature changes were compatible with the occurrence of a superovulation shortly before the tubal abortion. The diagnosis of a luteal phase defect is based on the presence of delayed ovulation, shortened luteal phase, unsustained temperature in the secretory phase, low pregnandiol secretion levels after ovulation, inadequate and often repeated luteinizing hormone surges, or inadequate endometrial development for the day of the cycle. Basal body temperature charts can usually identify the 1st 3 of these criteria. Animal studies suggest that unsuppressed cycling explains the occurrence of tubal implantation on 1 side and corpus luteum on the other.