Here are some important hormones to check out before trying to get pregnant. If any of these hormones are out of place, getting pregnant may not be achievable for you until you have dealt with it.
The hormones to watch out for are:
FSH - Follicle-stimulating hormone
This hormone is very important in a woman's menstrual cycle because it plays a very vital role in the growth of eggs in the ovaries.
It is a hormone made by the pituitary gland which is located in the brain. It checks the quality and quantity of eggs left in a woman's ovaries.
FSH is measured by milli-international units per milliliter.
To get pregnant, the normal FSH level should be under 10 mIU/mL.
This does not mean that FSH higher than 10 mIU/mL signifies infertility. Studies have shown that even levels between 10 and 15mIU/mL have acheived pregnancy but the percentage that got pregnant between 10 and 15 mIU/mL is well below average.
You can't just walk into the lab to get a blood test for FSH at any time. The test is usually conducted on the third day of your mentrual cycle.
Let's say your period started on the 1st day of January, the FSH test is done on 3rd of January since it is the third day of your menstrual cycle.
Your blood is taken on day 3 and tested.
FSH levels vary by age. Women below age 33 are expected to have FSH levels anywhere between 3.85 and 7mIU/mL. Above 33 years to 37 years should be below 7.9mIU/mL. Above 37 years to 40 years should be below 8.4 mIU/mL.
FSH levels above 15 mIU are considered high which makes achieving pregnancy almost impossible. Levels above 16.7 to 113.6 mIU/mL in women are considered postmenopausal levels.
LH - Luteinizing Hormone
This hormone also plays an important role in a woman's menstrual cycle. Just like FSH, LH is also produced in the pituitary gland which is located in the brain.
When FSH is produced by the pituitary gland, the eggs grow, when this happens, estrogen is produced. When estrogen rises, the pituitary gland will start producing LH since at this point it is no longer producing FSH. Once LH is produced the matured egg produced by FSH is caused to be released by LH which is called Ovulation.
When it has to do with menopause, LH levels are expected to be high since the ovaries are no longer functioning.
PROGESTERONE
Once egg is released, another important hormone called Progesterone is released.
This is why Progesterone tests are usually done on day 19 of a woman's menstrual cycle since ovulation is expected to occur on day 14 of the menstrual cycle. So by day 19 of the menstrual cycle it is expected that Progesterone has been released up to a certain level to signify ovulation occurred. If the Progesterone test result is low, it shows that the woman did not ovulate or that pregnancy did not occur.
Expected result during the follicular phase of your menstrual cycle is between 0.15 and 1.40 while in the luteal phase of your cycle the expected result should be between 2.0 and 25.0
PROLACTIN
This is also a hormone produced in the pituitary gland in the brain.
The function of prolactin is to produce milk during and after pregnancy. When a woman is pregnant or breastfeeding, her prolactin levels are usually high and vice versa for non pregnant women.
Have you wondered why women who are breastfeeding do not get pregnant? They have high prolactin in the blood.
When you are trying to get pregnant, it is important to do a Prolactin Test. This test is also done on day 3 of a woman's menstrual cycle.
If it is high, the doctor will prescribe a drug to bring the levels down to normal.
There are various causes of high Prolactin. Sometimes it has to do with your pituitary gland. Maybe there is a tumor there that causes over-production of prolactin. This benign tumor is called Prolactinoma.
High prolactin level is not always caused by a tumor in your brain. Sometimes it is as a result of some drugs you have been taking. Maybe drugs that were prescribed by your doctor to treat high blood pressure, depression or even psychosis. These drugs are known to increase prolactin in your blood. So check with your doctor to find out how best to treat it.
The bottom line is that with high prolactin in your blood you cannot get pregnant.
Unlike FSH, LH and Progesterone which actually help you get pregnant if the levels are within normal levels, high prolactin will prevent you from getting pregnant.
In summary, the best way to tackle infertility is to register with a certified gynaecologist. He or she will listen to you and give you the best advice on how to get pregnant. These hormones and even more will be tested and results will determine the best way to go.
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