Infertility Profile Female
What is this test?
Infertility profile test for females looks for the hormonal imbalances which may be the reason for infertility. This involves luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, prolactin, etc.
Test parameters:
- Luteinizing hormone
- Prolactin
- Estradiol
- Follicle stimulating hormone
Luteinizing hormone (LH):
LH is a gonadotropin hormone produced in the anterior pituitary gland. It affects the sex organs in both men and women during sexual development. In women, LH works with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) to stimulate the ovarian follicle to produce the female sex hormone, estrogen. The rise in estrogen stimulates the release of more LH. This cause the ovarian follicle to release the mature egg from the ovary, a process called ovulation and turns the remnants of the follicle into a corpus luteum. If fertilization occurs, the LH stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone. Progesterone is an essential hormone needed to maintain pregnancy. If fertilization does not occur the levels of progesterone drop off leading to the beginning of next cycle. Thus this hormone plays an important role in menstruation, ovulation, and puberty.
Prolactin:
Prolactin is also known as PRL or lactogenic hormone and is produced by the pituitary gland. It has wide-ranging functions in the body, from acting on the reproductive system to influencing behavior and regulating the immune system. Prolactin helps in the production of breast milk in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Small amounts of prolactin are produced in both men and women that help to measure the sexual satisfaction in both men and women.
Estradiol:
Estradiol is a form of estrogen called as 17 beta-estradiol. It is made by ovaries, breasts and adrenal glands. Placenta also makes estradiol during pregnancy. It is the most important hormone during a female’s reproductive years and is required for reproductive and sexual function. Estradiol is useful in the growth and development of breasts, vagina, fallopian tubes, uterus. It also controls the fat distribution in the female body and is essential for bones and joints health in females.
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH):
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. It plays an important role in sexual development. In women, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) helps in the growth of ovarian follicle and also stimulate the ovarian follicle to produce the female sex hormone, estrogen. Thus, this hormone plays an important role in menstruation, ovulation, and puberty.
What is infertility?
Infertility is a condition in which an individual is unable to get pregnant. It is diagnosed after a couple has tried to get pregnant for 12 months without success. Infertility may also be diagnosed when a woman succeeded to get pregnant but has been unable to carry a fetus to term (miscarriage). Hormones produced by glands play important role in fertilization including the hypothalamus, thyroid gland, and pituitary gland and also woman’s ovaries and a man’s testicles. Age is an important factor which plays a role in fertility. Peak fertility in a woman occurs at her early 20’s and declines substantially by age 35 and even more so after age 40. By the time a woman reaches menopause, few eggs may be available or functional. As man ages, the number of sperm decreases, along with sperm motility, thus reducing the chances of pregnancy. Other age-related problems are erectile or ejaculation problems and low testosterone and prostate. Apart from age, the other factors that may affect fertility in both men and women are diabetes, obese or being underweight, exposure to chemicals or toxins, excessive exercise, unhealthy lifestyle or habits like smoking, alcohol, or drugs, diabetes, etc.
Why this test is performed?
This test may be recommended to you to rule out the causes of infertility. This test also helps in selecting the suitable treatment based on the test results.
Precautions:
Some medicines may interact with the test results like birth control pills, glucocorticoids like dexamethasone, betamethasone, prednisone, hydrocortisone, etc, phenothiazines, antibiotics like ampicillin, tetracycline, etc and hormonal therapy. Some medical conditions like decreased liver function, high blood pressure, anemia, kidney disease may also affect the test results. Hence inform your doctor or technician about all your current medications and medical conditions prior to the test.
Test Preparation
Inform your doctor if you are on any medications, have any allergies or underlying medical conditions before your Infertility Profile Female. Your doctor will give specific instructions depending on your condition on how to prepare for Infertility Profile Female.
No specific preparation is required for this test.
Understanding your test results
The normal test results may vary depending on age, health history, medical condition, etc.
In women, the increased levels of LH indicate a condition called primary ovarian failure, where the ovaries fail to work properly resulting in infertility.
Low levels of prolactin than the normal range in women may indicate a decrease in the release of hormones from the pituitary gland resulting in a hormonal imbalance which may be the reason for infertility.
If your estradiol blood test levels are lower than the normal range then it may indicate ovarian failure, menopause, hypopituitarism, hypogonadism, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), depleted estrogen production, early menopause, etc which may lead to infertility. In women, the increased levels of FSH and luteinizing hormone (LH) may indicate a condition called primary ovarian failure, where the ovaries fail to perform and result in infertility.
| Gender | Age groups | Value |
| FEMALE | All age groups | 5 - 62mIU/L |
| FEMALE | All age groups | 5.18 - 26ng/ml |
| FEMALE | All age groups | 10 - 44 pg/ml |
| FEMALE | All age groups | 26.7 - 133mIU/L |