Endometrial Dating
Endometrial dating is the practice of reading a sample of the uterine lining under a microscope. The reader judges which day after ovulation the tissue looks like. A lining two or more days behind the expected day was once the standard way to find luteal phase deficiency1.
The method has aged poorly. A 1977 study followed 55 women with infertility. Only 13 of 33 biopsies fell inside the two-day window called normal. A blood test for progesterone fit the likely day of ovulation far better than the biopsy did2.
The restorative question has moved. One NaProTECHNOLOGY chapter calls an off-phase biopsy a disorder of the lining itself. That chapter weighs luteal function from hormone levels timed to the Peak Day, read with follicle growth3.
Cited in this entry
- Jones GS. The luteal phase defect. Fertility and Sterility. 1976. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1269800/
- Shepard MK, Senturia YD. Comparison of serum progesterone and endometrial biopsy for confirmation of ovulation and evaluation of luteal function. Fertility and Sterility. 1977. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/856637/
- Hilgers TW. Chapter 35: Follicular and Luteal Phase Deficiencies: Advancing Concepts and New Terminology. The Medical and Surgical Practice of NaProTECHNOLOGY. 2004. https://rrmacademy.org/library/chapter-35-follicular-and-luteal-phase-deficiencies-advancing-concepts-and-new-recgzq5twkodxyx6q/
This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult an RRM clinician or healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.
