GET TO KNOW YOUR HORMONES & CYCLE TRACKING: WOMEN’S HEALTH AND FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE FERTILITY

Common Hormone Test for Fertility and Reproductive System Health: 

• FSH (follicular stimulating hormone): the hormone that helps build the follicle or follicles the egg will emerge from—Stimulates follicular growth. FSH gauges ovarian reserve and is often tested with AMH, can be higher due to stress and when the ovarian reserve (egg quality) is lower in quality. A level over 10 ml is considered to be too high for optimal egg quality. When FSH is too high increasing night sweats might be present. It is important to work on bringing FSH hormone levels back down when trying to conceive. We can help you with this. Tested on day 3-4 of the cycle. 

• E2 (Estrodiol): is one of three types of estrogens. Estrogens are hormones help develop the uterine lining and are essential for breast development. Inadequate estrogen can be a sign of lack of ovulation or low ovarian health and can impede the healthy implantation of the embryo. Estrogen softens the cervix and increases cervical mucus so the sperm can enter the enter to fertilize the egg. The number one problem with infertility is estrogen dominance. When estrogen is too high it can also cause unwanted weight gain, as well as an increase in PMS and painful periods. Tested on day 3-4 of the cycle. 

• Progesterone (P4): is produced from the corpus luteum after ovulation and creates an optimally functioning uterine lining. Lower levels suggest ovulation is not occurring, an inadequate corpus luteum is being produced, or the corpus luteum fails before implantation. Estrogen helps to build tissue, and progesterone develops the tissue to accept a fertilized egg. Progesterone is known as one of the crucial fertility hormones as it helps generate the placenta in the beginning of a pregnancy. Tested on day 21 of the cycle. 

• LH (Luteinizing hormone): LH is released from the pituitary gland. The LH and FSH communicate with the growing follicles in the ovaries. LH rises just before the release of the egg to induce ovulation. LH will be higher in hormonal issues like PCOS, which also can see a spike in blood sugar levels on blood tests. Tested on day 3-4 of the cycle. 

• AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone): is measured to see the egg quality and reserve that remains before menopause. AMH can be tested on any day of the cycle for hormonal levels health data.

• Prolactin: elevated levels cause issues with ovulation. Prolactin is the hormone that associates with breast milk production and stimulates progesterone production (P4). Tested on day 3-4 of the cycle.