Saliva progesterone throughout the menstrual cycle and late pregnancy

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Whole saliva was collected daily by 4 women during 1 menstrual cycle and twice weekly by 3 women during their 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Follicular-phase saliva progesterone concentrations, as measured by radioimmunoassay, generally remained below 50 pg/ml. However, progesterone rose to a peak of 400 .+-. 107 pg/ml (mean .+-. SE) between days 17 and 25, after which it declined to 143 .+-. 67 pg/ml by 1 day prior to menses. The 3rd trimester of pregnancy was characterized by steadily increasing concentrations of saliva progesterone until 1-3 wk prior to parturition; concentrations following parturition were similar to those of the follicular phase.