Endometrial morphology and modulation of hormone receptors during ovarian stimulation for assisted reproductive technology cycles.

Objective: To study the biochemical and morphologic implications of different hormonal levels on endometrial development during assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles.

Design: Prospective, controlled study.

Setting: University center.

Antecubital vein venous sampling does not distort circulating levels of peptide and sex steroid hormones.

Simultaneous sampling from the antecubital vein (ACV) and a heated superficial hand vein (HSHV) at 10-minute intervals was performed in 6 women for determination of glucose, insulin, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), prolactin, estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), testosterone (T), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). Strong correlations were identified for each parameter between the two vessels, with luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) pulse patterns nearly superimposable between antecubital vein (ACV) and superficial hand vein (HSHV) samples.