Hormones have a lot in common with our reproductive systems; every minute of imbalance causes various fertility problems. Hormonal imbalance occurs when the human body is excessive and has little or no synchronized production of the hormone or hormones that are necessary to regulate bodily processes.
How do hormones affect fertility?
Hormones play an important role in a woman's fertility, especially hormones that control the menstrual cycle. The reproductive hormones regulate the growth of the egg in the ovary, the release of the newly formed egg into the fallopian tube, and the thickening of the uterine lining before implantation for conceiving. The newly released egg is fertilized with sperm (sperm development is also regulated by hormones in the male body), and the resulting embryo will travel to the uterus for implantation.
Loss or irregular levels of one or more hormones can slow or prevent any of the above processes, making pregnancy difficult.
Symptoms of hormonal imbalance
Infertility is one of the primary reasons for investigating hormonal imbalance. Women may experience one or more of the following symptoms:
- No irregular menstruation.
- Spotting between seasons.
- Severe or painful menstruation.
- Increased hair growth on the face, neck, chest, and back.
- Unexplained weight gain.
- Constipation and diarrhea.
Men can also have a hormonal imbalance that contributes to infertility and the following are the symptoms of male hormonal imbalance:
- Erectile dysfunction.
- Low sperm count.
- Reduce hair growth on the body.
- Breast tenderness and excessive growth of breast tissue.
- Thinning hair or male hair loss.
If infertility is suspected, it is important to discuss any of the above symptoms with a reproductive endocrinologist.
Primary hormones responsible for affecting fertility
While it is true that many different hormones flow through our body, very few of them play a role when trying to conceive. Below are some of the important fertility hormones you want to become familiar with if you suspect that hormonal imbalances may affect your ability to conceive. The good news is that the hormone test will give you an understanding of these important hormones.
- FSH is the most important hormone for fertility, FSH or follicle-stimulating hormone is responsible for maintaining a regular cycle and producing a healthy egg.
- LH or luteinizing hormone, commonly known; is a hormone measured in home ovulation prediction kits (OPK). LH is a hormone that tells your body to release an egg that is ready for fertilization.
- AMH, also called the anti-Mullerian hormone, is responsible for maintaining the immature eggs that are in your body. If you find a hormone test that measures your ovarian reserve or how many eggs are left, measure it with AMH.
- Progesterone is an important player in preparing the body for pregnancy and in helping the new pregnancy continue. Often, when a woman suffers from a miscarriage, the cause is a decrease in progesterone levels. Prolactin If you think it's a hormone that regulates milk production, you're right! But it's also important to make sure your cycle stays regular, which is important when you're trying to get pregnant.
- T3 and T4 Many women do not realize this, but these thyroid hormones have a major effect on their ability to conceive. Endocrinologists explained that the thyroid gland, female reproductive organs, and adrenal glands are intricately linked. If anyone has a thyroid or adrenal gland problem, pregnancy can be a challenge. The good news is a thyroid hormonal imbalance test or adrenal dysfunction can reveal problems that can be easily solved in most cases. Many women find that when their thyroid gland returns to a healthy range of hormones, they can get pregnant more easily.
Tests for hormonal imbalance
Hormonal imbalances in men and women can be detected by a simple blood or urine test. The fertility hormone test looks for the presence of several hormones in the reproductive center to see if one or more hormones are reduced or too much. This will help fertility specialists identify possible causes of infertility and appropriate treatment options.
Treatment of hormonal imbalance
Hormonal imbalance is normal for treatment and should be treated if the patient wants to become pregnant or not. Treatment for hormonal imbalance may include medication to restore normal thyroid function, normalize hormone levels, stimulate ovulation, or trigger a fully grown egg. Lifestyle changes, such as weight loss or dietary changes can also normalize hormone levels and improve your chances of getting pregnant.