Did you know that your thyroid and other glands play important roles in your sexual hormones, performance and fertility? Learning how these work and what tests can affect your chances for pregnancy helps you combat infertility. Understanding your reproductive hormones is a first step on your path to a successful outcome.
Thyroid and Pregnancy
Your thyroid depends on your pituitary gland to produce thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH) that are important to keep your body’s menstrual cycles in rhythm and ovulating correctly. High TSH has been linked to infertility in women. Additionally, infertile women are shown to have higher prolactin levels that can also contribute to abnormal ovulation patterns.
For your thyroid to run smoothly it needs to be functioning normally. If you have an under active thyroid gland, you have to little thyroid hormone in your bloodstream and it is known as Hypothyroidism. It has been reported that women with hypothyroidism have significantly higher levels of prolactin as compared to those with hyperthyroidism,
If your body produces too much thyroid hormone, thyroxine, it is known as an overactive thyroid or Hyperthyroidism. With this condition, your body is running at a high metabolic rate that may lead to weight loss and rapid heart rate.
Both Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism can negatively impact your reproductive processes. It is important to be tested for these conditions in your fertility evaluation at Inovi.
Prolactin and Your Menstrual Cycle
Prolactin also called luteotropic hormone is made in the pituitary gland of your body. This hormone is responsible for production of breast milk in females and is higher when you are pregnant.
However, if you produce too much prolactin prior to pregnancy, it has been shown to increase your chances for menstrual and ovulation problems that can lead to infertility. High prolactin levels can interfere with the normal production of other hormones such as estrogen and progesterone causing these reproductive challenges.
Low and High Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) for Reproduction
FSH, a gonadotropin hormone is made in the pituitary gland and stimulates the growth and reproduction activities of the body
Low FSH is found in women who are advancing in age and is an indicator of secondary ovarian decline. In the normal aging process your number and quality of eggs that mature in your ovaries diminishes.
You will be tested at Inovi for this hormone to determine if you might have high or low levels of FSH. If your FSH is high, this may indicate an early onset of low or diminished ovarian reserve that leads to a reduction of follicles and eggs in your reproductive system. It can also lead to poor quality of eggs that make it much more difficult for a normal pregnancy.
Additional Information About FSH
Options for Pregnancy with High FSH
At Inovi we offer women hope for pregnancy with advancements in treatment for high FSH and diminished ovarian reserve. With assisted reproductive techniques and in vitro fertilization, your chances are improved.
Where Are Hormones Produced?
Your body’s hormones are produced in a region of your brain called the hypothalamous as well as in these glands and other organs such as:
- Pituitary Gland
- Adrenal Glands
- Thyroid Gland
- Pancreas
- Ovaries
- Testes
What Hormones Are Tested For Infertility?
At Inovi we want to make certain you and your partner’s hormone levels are functioning correctly in order to move toward a successful pregnancy plan. We use blood tests to evaluate and check their status. These are among those hormones we monitor:
- Testosterone
- Lutenizing Hormone (LH)
- Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Prolactin (PRL) levels
- Estradiol
- Progesterone
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)
Related Topics
- In Vitro Fertilization
- Diminished Ovarian Reserve
- Ovulation
- Fertility Evaluation
- Hormone Testing