Detection of ovulation by a single endometrial aspiration smear. A preliminary report.

The authors describe their attempt to detect ovulation by 1 or 2 endometrial aspiration smears taken around the 25th day of a regular menstrual cycle. The 106 women involved in this study were all undergoing endometrial biopsy or curettage; thus histological diagnoses were also possible. A correct cytological diagnosis of proliferative or of secretory endometriumw as made in 97 cases and confirmed by histologic diagnosis giving an accuracy of 91.5%. Since repeated smears can be made to determine ovulation in patients with irregular cycles this method could be applicable in investigation of infertility cases. Endometrial biopsy would lead to the same and possibly more accurate conclusions; however it is a painful procedure and not conducive to repeated examinations.