Have you been trying to get pregnant for quite some time but not successful?
Then, hormonal imbalance in your body or that of your partner may be one of the likely causes.
The correct interplay of hormones is essential for regular menstruation and ovulation (egg release). The hormones that play a crucial role in the women of reproductive age group include estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH, prolactin and thyroid hormones. In the male partner, among the various hormones like estrogen, progesterone, FSH, LH, thyroid hormones, cortisol etc., and testosterone is the most important one. Hormonal imbalances in a woman may cause ovulation problems, while a hormonal imbalance in a man may interfere with sperm production.
Can you suspect if you have a hormonal imbalance?
Irregular periods, as well as periods that are increasingly lighter or heavier than normal, are a red flag that FSH and LH levels may be off. Hormonal imbalances may also cause some women to gain weight, grow hair in unwanted places (including the upper lip, chin, abdomen, and chest), lose hair on the scalp and develop acne. Stress, weight loss or gain and even a new intense workout are all enough to cause temporary problems with ovulation, but sometimes hormone imbalances occur because your body’s systems are malfunctioning. Stressful lifestyle and faulty dietary habits are the reason for increasing hormonal imbalances today. Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common conditions with hormonal imbalance encountered today.
Another condition known as premature ovarian failure (POF) is an ovulation disorder affecting, typically, women under the age of 40. Women with POF have ovaries that have stopped working, causing irregular periods (or none at all).
Thyroid disease may also cause hormonal imbalances that affect fertility. Hyperthyroidism is the condition where the thyroid gland produces too many hormones and when too few hormones are produced it is called hypothyroidism. Either scenario may disrupt a woman’s menstrual cycle.
To make an accurate diagnosis when a hormonal imbalance is suspected, tests to check your thyroid function, estradiol (estrogen) levels, progesterone levels, prolactin levels, and tests to determine your ovarian reserve, as well as a urine sample to test the level of LH may be ordered. After coming to the diagnosis, appropriate treatment will be advised to correct the hormonal imbalance and achieve a pregnancy. Eating a nutritious balanced diet, exercise and stress management also go a long way in tackling hormonal imbalance. In some cases where medications do not work, artificial reproductive techniques like IVF can help u get pregnant and have a baby.
Gain an insight on more issues related to high-risk pregnancy in our forthcoming articles on our blog.