Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is responsible for the ripening of the eggs in a woman’s ovaries which causes ovulation each month. This means that a deficiency in FSH and infertility may be heavily linked if a woman is not producing enough of this hormone. This can occur in combination with other hormonal issues, often caused by a malfunction in the pituitary gland or thyroid.
Women with a deficiency in FSH and infertility struggles generally have an underlying condition, and additional hormones are usually affected as well. The pituitary gland is responsible for sending the signal to the ovaries telling them to begin stimulating egg ripening each month. When this does not occur, ovulation cannot take place and pregnancy cannot occur. Sometimes conditions involving the thyroid gland or the reproductive tract itself may also cause this deficiency.
The primary treatment for a deficiency in FSH is to treat the underlying cause. This can include hormonal replacements to stimulate proper pituitary or thyroid function, or to replace the missing hormones directly. In many women, this is sufficient for returning fertility to normal. Others may need additional supplemental therapies; often when one hormone is not being secreted normally, others aren’t either. Many women have a combination of problems leading to infertility.
It is important for any woman who is not ovulating regularly to be checked by her doctor. If the reproductive tract appears normal upon investigation, hormones may be tested to determine the issues. If low FSH and infertility seem to be problem, appropriate steps can be taken to replace missing hormones.
For those who do not wish to become pregnant, it is still important to notify a doctor of any unusual menstrual symptoms. Sometimes an underlying health condition could be to blame. Additionally, pituitary malfunction can lead to life-threatening complications if not treated early, since this gland helps regulate and control many systems within the body aside from the reproduction.
In most cases, lack of FSH and infertility which can result is caused by other hormonal imbalances within the body. Estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones can be thrown off kilter by a variety of situations, and this can lead to a temporary lowering of FSH as well. One month of no ovulation is generally nothing to worry about, since stress, weight gain or loss, and other factors can all delay or prevent ovulation from occurring. A longer lack of ovulation should be carefully investigated.