Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2005 Mar;48(3):575-580.

Correlation of Progesterone Challenge Test and Endometrial Thickness in Postmenopausal Women

• Kwack MJ
• Joo SH
• Kim KH
• Park CH
• Park JW

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to assess the correlation of progesterone challenge test (PCT) and endometrial thickness as a primary screening test for endometrial pathology in postmenopausal women prior to hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).
METHODS
92 postmenopausal women were measured serum estradiol (E2) level, endometrial thickness by transvaginal ultrasonography, and followed by PCT before HRT. And we compared the results of PCT with endometrial thickness and E2 levels.
RESULTS
Women with a positive result of PCT in 32% of case and 75.9% of positive test showed endometrial thickness 4 mm or more. However 60.3% of negative test showed endometrial thickness 4 mm or more. This resulted in a PPV=76%, NPV=40%, sensitivity=37%, and specificity=78%. Mean serum E2 was significantly higher in patient with positive PCT but serum E2 showed no positive correlation with endometrial thichness (CI 95%, PCONCLUSION
This study suggests that PCT is not good as a primary screening test for endometrial pathology in postmenopausal women because of its low sensitivity and low NPV. So endometrial biopsy is needed to exclude the endometrial pathology in suspicious case in postmenopausal women.

Keyword

Progesterone challenge test; Endometrial thickness; Menopause

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Estradiol
Female
Humans
Mass Screening
Menopause
Pathology
Progesterone*
Ultrasonography
Estradiol
Progesterone