Article
Human corpus luteum physiology and the luteal-phase dysfunction associated with ovarian stimulation

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Abstract

The human corpus luteum is a temporary endocrine gland that develops after ovulation from the ruptured follicle during the luteal phase. It is an important contributor of steroid hormones, particularly progesterone, and is critical for the maintenance of early pregnancy. Luteal-phase dysfunction can result in premature regression of the gland, with a subsequent shift to an infertile cycle. Understanding the mechanism of steroidogenesis during corpus luteum growth and regression is crucial for evaluating the normal physiology and pathophysiology of reproductive cycles. The rate-limiting step in corpus luteum steroidogenesis is the transport of cholesterol to the site of steroid production. Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein is a key player in this process and is positively correlated with progesterone concentrations throughout the early and mid-luteal phase. Changes in the endocrine environment brought on by the gonadotrophins used for ovarian stimulation are thought to underlie the corpus luteum dysfunction associated with IVF cycles. While ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is associated with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), studies suggest that exogenous progesterone provides necessary luteal support in patients undergoing IVF. The current trend towards simple stimulation protocols and the use of single-embryo transfers provide further opportunity to revisit HCG administration as luteal support.

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Luigi Devoto is Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chile. He was awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. He established a clinical/basic research laboratory in human reproduction and launched the first human IVF programme in the public–academic sector of Chile. In 1998, he was awarded a Fogarty–Rockefeller sabbatical year at the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health at the

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    Luigi Devoto is Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chile. He was awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Pennsylvania, USA. He established a clinical/basic research laboratory in human reproduction and launched the first human IVF programme in the public–academic sector of Chile. In 1998, he was awarded a Fogarty–Rockefeller sabbatical year at the Center for Research on Reproduction and Women's Health at the University of Pennsylvania. His current research interest is the molecular mechanisms underlying steroid hormone production by the human ovary, with a major clinical interest in IVF and laparoscopy.

    Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.

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