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Hormone patterns in early pregnancy disorders

  • Chapter
Spontaneous Abortion

Part of the book series: Advances in Reproductive Health Care ((ARHE,volume 2))

Abstract

In the course of an undisturbed pregnancy ultrasound examinations are usually performed only after the third month of gestation. Any additional determinations of hormones in serum are the exception and will normally be done only in cases of endangered pregnancy, e.g. when bleedings or contractions are observed (Eriksen and Philipsen, 1980; Hertz et al.,1980b; Jouppila et al.,1980a,b). This poses the question whether and when any hormone determinations in serum should be included in a clinical routine program to permit a prognosis with regard to the further course of pregnancy. Due to their different locations of synthesis the following hormones are suitable for testing the function of the pregnancy product: β-hCG and human placental lactogen (HPL) as placental parameters, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) which is almost exclusively produced by the corpus luteum. Progesterone (P) and estradiol (E2), which are initially synthesized by the corpus luteum, increasing quantities of which are, however, from the second month of gestation onwards of placental origin. Finally estriol (E3) needs to be mentioned which derives mainly from precursors of the fetal adrenal cortex and is synthesized by the placenta. Following the assessment of single and serial hormone determinations during normal pregnancy and in cases of impending abortion it is also the aim of this study to consider the special situation of pregnancies following sterility treatment.

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Authors
  1. I. Gerhard
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  2. B. Runnebaum
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. IVF/Andrology International, Reproductive Health Center (USA), 78 Switsong, 29455, Kiawah Island, SC, USA

    E. S. E. Hafez (Executive Director) (Executive Director)

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© 1984 MTP Press Limited

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Gerhard, I., Runnebaum, B. (1984). Hormone patterns in early pregnancy disorders. In: Hafez, E.S.E. (eds) Spontaneous Abortion. Advances in Reproductive Health Care, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9789-5_21

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-9789-5_21

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-9791-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-010-9789-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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