The importance of exploring reproductive hormones
The doctors at our Tennessee fertility clinic help women and men with exploring reproductive hormones. These hormones play an integral role in fertility, sometimes being the key to developing a healthy pregnancy. If a patient experiences fertility challenges due to hormonal issues, our specialists can often correct the problem with medications and fertility treatments.
Exploring reproductive hormones
When a patient comes to our Tennessee fertility clinic for help conceiving, one of the first diagnostic tools we use is bloodwork. This type of evaluation helps us determine the levels of a patient’s reproductive hormones.
FSH, or follicle stimulating hormone, causes the eggs in a woman’s ovaries to mature. A woman’s FSH level helps the doctor assess her ovarian function and egg quality.
LH, or luteinizing hormone, is an important reproductive hormone. It triggers the release of the egg from the ovary and causes the body to produce progesterone.
Progesterone supports the lining of the uterus, where the embryo will implant. The thickness of the lining is important for the development of a pregnancy.
Estradiol is a type of estrogen that the ovarian follicles secrete. A patient’s estradiol level helps the doctor gain more information about her ovarian reserve, or egg supply.
AMH, or anti-Mullerian hormone, is also produced in the ovarian follicles. A woman’s AMH level provides information about her egg quantity.
Testosterone is essential to the production of sperm in the testes.
After assessing a patient’s reproductive hormone levels, the doctor helps them determine whether they need additional tests. These tests reveal which fertility treatments will likely result in a healthy pregnancy.
Treatments for hormonal imbalances
The next phase of exploring reproductive hormones involves understanding how the doctors at our Tennessee fertility clinic can help when the tests show an imbalance in a certain reproductive hormone. Many times, they recommend medications that help restore normal function of the female or male reproductive system.
When conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) cause hormonal challenges, the doctor might suggest a more involved treatment, like in vitro fertilization (IVF). Because each patient has unique needs, our doctors work closely with them to create a customized treatment plan that provides the best chance of taking home a baby.
Contact us for more information about exploring reproductive hormones.
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