Hello! Welcome to our hormone summary resource. This resource is meant to be a quick reference guide to hormones you should be aware of when it comes to fertility and general health for women and men. We will be covering thyroid hormone extensively at a later date. For now, use this hormone summary as a way to gain an understanding of the hormones at play during your health and fertility journey.
Regards
Carolyn.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a gonadotropin hormone (stimulates sex organs) that plays a major role in the reproductive process. In both men and women, FSH is released by gonadotropic cells within the anterior pituitary gland and is responsible for the maturation of a woman’s eggs and a man’s sperm; playing an important role in both genders during puberty. For women, FSH rises and falls throughout the ovarian cycle stimulating the growth, selection, and release of follicles during ovulation.
Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a gonadotropin hormone (stimulates sex organs) working with FSH to trigger ovulation mid-cycle. After ovulation has occurred LH is responsible for turning the follicle into the corpeus luteum during the luteal phase. The corpus luteum secretes hormones for a few days (~10-14) after ovulation before degenerating. LH is the primary hormone responsible for initiating the production of important fertility hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.
Sex hormone binding protein globulin in is an hormonal glycoprotein that binds to, and prevents the function of, the sex hormones androgens and estrogen. If androgens and estrogen is not bound to SHBG it is likely bound to serum albumin or corticosteroidbinding-globulin — only a small portion of androgens and estrogens are not bound and are biologically active. If there is too much SHBG hormone within the body it will bind up all androgens and estrogens, making them unavailable for use. SHGB levels are regularly almost twice as high for women than men. This helps women limit their exposure to excess estrogens and androgens.
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Testosterone is an anabolic hormone — meaning it helps the body build things such as muscle tissue or repair things such as damaged muscle tissue — that plays a role in female fertility through increasing libido, and stimulating blood circulation/mucus production within female sex organs. If a woman’s testosterone is too low, she may experience: low energy, loss of muscle mass, low sleep quality, low sex drive, hair loss, trouble losing weight, trouble regulating body temperature, depression, and vaginal dryness. If a woman’s testosterone is too high, she may experience: more acne than usual, low HDL (good cholesterol), fertility problems, hair loss, more body hair growth, deepening of voice, irregular or absent menstruation, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and an enlarged clitoris.
Prolactin is the only fertility hormone that does not play a major role until after birth. It is the primary hormone that initiates breast milk production. Prolactin levels remain high when a woman is breast feeding her child for the first several months after giving birth. These higher levels of prolactin circulating within the body have an inhibiting effect of ovulation; reducing a woman’s fertility during the breastfeeding period. Women who have high levels of prolactin (hyperprolactinemia) when they are not breastfeeding, or pregnant, are more likely to experience fertility issues due to the presence of higher levels of ovulation suppressing prolactin hormone. Prolactin interferes with fertility in a variety of ways. It can halt ovulation all together, or only once in awhile producing highly irregular menstrual cycles. Some women who have high prolactin levels are not able to produce enough progesterone after ovulation which in turn reduces the likelihood of embryo implantation within the ovaries.
Progesterone is one of the most important hormones for fertility. It is involved in the development of embryos, pregnancy, and the menstrual cycle. Progesterone initiates the secretory stage of the endometrium, which in turn, prepares the uterus for egg implantation and suppresses maternal immune responses — making pregnancy and survival of the baby more likely. Luteinizing hormone (LH) initiates progesterone production in the corpus luteum. The corpus luteum makes progesterone for several wessseks. If pregnancy does not occur, the corpus luteum begins to disintegrate and progesterone levels begin to fall. This triggers the disintegration of endometrial tissue and marks the beginning of menstruation. This cycle repeats until pregnancy occurs. When pregnancy occurs human gonadotropin hormone is released and stimulates the survival of the corpus luteum and maintains progesterone production. One of the main functions of progesterone during pregnancy is to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels within the endometrium that support the growing fetus. After birth, progesterone levels fall and this helps prepare the breasts for milk production alongside prolactin and estrogen.
Estrogen is a significant hormone for reproductive development and is primarily made by the ovaries. During puberty, a woman’s estrogen levels begin to rise which initiates the development of the typical features of a woman; most notably breasts, wider hips, and the menstrual cycle. During the first part of the menstrual cycle estrogen levels remain high. Estrogen levels drop significantly at the onset of menstruation. When pregnancy occurs estrogen in combination with progesterone have the combined power to completely stop menstruation. Estrogen also plays important roles in the body that are not related to fertility. For example, estrogen plays key roles in bone formation, blood clotting, hormonal regulation, and inflammation. If estrogen levels are too low and woman may experience: headaches, impaired ability to cool down, infertility (prevents ovulation and inhibits thickening of endometrium), and vaginal dryness. If estrogen levels are too high a woman may experience: headaches, irregular menstrual cycles, mental health issues such as depression or anxiety, weight gain, heart palpitations, problems with digestion, and weight gain.
Estradiol is a specific estrogen hormone produced by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and placenta.The growth and maturation of female sex organs (vagina, fallopian tubes, endometrium, and cervical glands) is a direct result of estradiol production. Estradiol levels increase during puberty and lead to typical female development such as breast growth, changes in body shape, changes in skin, and development of fat profiles characteristic of women. Estradiol levels drop closer to pre-pubescent levels later in life when menopause occurs. Estradiol works with luteinizing hormone and progesterone for the initiation of ovulation and the preparation of the endometrium for implantation.The effect of estradiol during pregnancy is not well known, but it is thought to play a maintenance role and may play a role in initiating labour. Aside from the developmental and fertility roles of estradiol, it also plays a role in the general health of the body. Estradiol plays an important role in bone growth/health, joint health, neuroprotection, and blood flow.
Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) works the same for men as it does for women. Sex hormone binding globulin in is an hormonal glycoprotein that binds to, and prevents the function of, the sex hormones androgens and estrogen. If androgens and estrogen is not bound to SHBG it is likely bound to serum albumin or corticosteroidbinding-globulin — only a small portion of androgens and estrogens are not bound and are biologically active. If there is too much SHBG hormone within the body it will bind up all androgens and estrogens, making them unavailable for use. SHBG levels are regularly almost twice as high for women than men. This helps women limit their exposure to excess estrogens and androgens.
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Testosterone is an anabolic hormone. It helps the body build things such as muscle tissue or repair things such as damaged muscle tissue. If testosterone is too low men may experience: reduced libido, infertility, less erections, increases in body fat, cholesterol problems, decreased strength, less body hair, fatigue, weaker bones, insomnia, sleep apnea, and irritability. If testosterone is too high men may experience: impaired cognitive ability, increased aggression, mood swings, depression, acne, oily skin, hair loss, shrinking testicles, increased blood clotting (increases risk of heart attack and stroke), and elevated estrogen levels.
In men, estradiol plays a role in libido, erectile function, and the production of mature sperm. Men who have elevated estradiol levels are at risk for developing cardiovascular problems and enlarged prostate glands (if free testosterone is also low). Low estradiol levels in men are linked to osteoporosis and increased risk of bone fractures.
