FERTILITY HORMONES TESTS
Infertility is a serious worry for many couples because it is one diagnosis that has the potential to dramatically alter the life that a person always imagined for him/herself.
However, infertility is not as hopeless a situation as commonly imagined. A person may be considered infertile after one full year of trying to conceive, but 12 months may not mean that much. One recent study revealed that majority of women up to age 39 who didn't become pregnant in their first year actually became pregnant in their second year -- without any medical assistance. For women between ages 27 and 34, only 6% were unable to conceive in their second year. And for 35- to 39-year-old women, only 9% were unable to conceive in their second year -- provided their partner was under 40.
So even if a patient has been trying to get pregnant for a year, it does not mean she is infertile. Resist the temptation to rush into expensive infertility treatments before it actually becomes necessary.
PURPOSE OF FERTILITY HORMONES TESTS
The purpose of women’s hormone testing is to diagnose a hormonal imbalance or monitor the effects of treatment methods used to correct hormonal imbalances. A woman’s hormone tests are used to diagnose hypothyroidism, fertility problems, and polycystic ovary syndrome. If a woman has stopped menstruating for example or started experiencing unusual vaginal bleeding, hormone tests can also be used to determine if she has started menopause or will be starting menopause soon.
A woman should have hormone testing if she experiences any of the following:
- Symptoms of hypothyroidism, such as unexpected weight gain, joint pain, muscle pain, dry hair, or irregular menstrual periods
- Difficulty conceiving
- Inability to carry a pregnancy to term
- Symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), such as irregular menstrual periods, acne, weight gain, or too much facial hair
- Symptoms of menopause, including night sweats and hot flashes
- Postmenopausal vaginal bleeding
- Lack of periods before menopause has started
Hormone testing is a simple procedure and requires just a small sample of blood. No special preparation is required for women’s hormone testing.
The doctor will most likely ask both partners about:
- Medical histories, including any chronic illnesses or surgeries.
- The use of prescription medication.
- The use of caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs.
- Exposure to chemicals, toxins, or radiation in the home or at work.
- Sexual habits, including how often one has sex, any history of sexual problems or sexually transmitted diseases, and whether either partner has had sex outside the relationship.
- The man’s choice of underwear (tight fitting briefs can keep the scrotum temperature too warm for normal sperm production).
Fertility tests for women
Our doctors will also want to ask about the woman's gynecologic history and ask if:
- She has been pregnant before and the outcome of those pregnancies.
- Her menstrual periods have been frequent over the last year.
- The periods have been irregular and missed periods or has had spotting between periods.
- There has been any changes in blood flow or the appearance of large blood clots.
- She has used birth control and if she has, which methods.
- She has seen a doctor before for fertility problems and undergone treatment for them. If she has seen a doctor about fertility problems before, she should make sure to bring all fertility-related medical records and X-rays or sonograms, or at least have them sent ahead to our doctor.
As women age, natural changes in the body can result in hormonal imbalances. Hormone levels are also influenced by medical conditions that affect the ovaries, uterus, and fallopian tubes.
Hypothyroidism (Underactive Thyroid) - Hypothyroidism, commonly referred to as underactive thyroid disease, develops when a woman does not have enough thyroid hormone circulating in her bloodstream. Symptoms of this condition include constipation, heavy periods, irregular periods, fatigue, dry skin, thinning hair, weight gain, weakness, and depression.
There are several causes of Hypothyroidism, these include radiation treatments to the neck, tumors of the pituitary gland, and a history of surgery on the thyroid gland or pituitary gland, as well as the use of certain medications. In some women, hypothyroidism is caused by swelling and inflammation of the thyroid gland. Thyroid swelling sometimes occurs during pregnancy, but it may also occur in the event of a viral infection or if a woman has an immune disorder that causes her immune system to attack healthy thyroid tissue.
Fertility Problems
Infertility can generally be defined as the inability to conceive a child after at least one year of having unprotected sex. Women who get pregnant but cannot carry their pregnancies to term may also have fertility problems. Infertility has many causes, including;
- A lack of ovulation,
- A low supply of eggs in the ovaries,
- Polycystic ovary syndrome,
- Endocrine problems that interfere with the function of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, and any condition that affects the ovaries, uterus, or fallopian tubes.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome - For women with PCOS, the immature ovarian follicles are not able to release eggs. The immature follicles develop into small cysts that accumulate on the ovaries, which can cause infertility. Women with PCOS tend to have increased levels of testosterone and decreased levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, a hormone that plays a role in the menstrual cycle and stimulates egg production in the ovaries. Symptoms of PCOS include weight gain, difficulty losing weight, and excessive facial hair, irregular periods, darkening of the skin, and hairthinning.
Menopause - Menopause is not a disease; it is actually a normal phase of a woman’s life that occurs 12 months after a woman has her last menstrual period. The menopausal transition (the period leading up to menopause),typically lasts between 7 to 14 years and begins sometime between the ages of 45 and 55; however, the age may vary in some women. The menopausal transition can cause some uncomfortable symptoms. Some women experience hot flashes, night sweats, irregular menstrual periods, spotting, heavy bleeding, and vaginal dryness. These symptoms are caused by changes in women’s estrogen and progesterone levels. Estrogen and progesterone are hormones that play a role in menstruation, ovulation, and pregnancy.
How women’s hormone testing works
When a woman has symptoms of a condition that could be caused by a hormonal imbalance, her physician may order several hormone tests. These tests aim at checking the levels of the thyroid-stimulating hormone, estrogen, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone in a woman’s bloodstream.
TSH - Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) stimulates the thyroid gland to produce several other hormones. If a woman has too much TSH in her bloodstream, the indication could be that she has an underactive thyroid.
Estrogen - Estrogen, LH, FSH, and testosterone are all part of a woman’s reproductive system. Hormone tests usually check for three types of estrogen in the blood:
- Estrone: The main form of estrogen produced by women who have already gone through menopause
- Estradiol: Estradiol is the main form of estrogen made by women who are not pregnant.
- Estriol: Estriol levels typically increases in pregnant women.
LH and FSH - LH plays a role in the menstrual cycle, it is the hormone that signals the ovary to release an egg. FSH is involved in sexual development, plays a role in the menstrual cycle, and stimulates egg growth.
Testosterone - Testosterone in women, is necessary for normal growth and development of the reproductive organs. Testosterone also affects mood and helps women maintain their bone mass.
