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Female Hormone Testing

Female hormone testing is one of the first steps on the path to parenthood

Hormonal imbalances are one of the leading causes of female infertility. This fact highlights the importance of female hormone testing. The physicians at our DFW fertility center are experienced and skilled in diagnosing and treating these imbalances in women who hope to become mothers.

Before our fertility specialists develop a treatment plan for a reproductive hormone issue, they must first diagnose it. Diagnosis involves analyzing a woman’s blood to determine if she has a hormonal issue that is preventing pregnancy.

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Who can benefit from female hormone testing?

A woman’s body must have the right balance of hormones in order to ovulate, allow an embryo to implant in the uterus and carry a pregnancy to term. When a woman has abnormal hormone levels, she can experience infertility.
A hormonal imbalance often causes visible symptoms. The physicians at our DFW fertility center recommend that women who have the following symptoms make an appointment for female hormone testing.

  • Irregular menstrual cycles (less than 21 days or more than 35 days apart)
  • An absent menstrual cycle
  • Excessive bleeding – or very minimal bleeding during periods
  • Abnormal pain or cramping in pelvis or abdomen
  • Unexplained weight loss or gain
  • Male-pattern hair growth (hirsutism)

Female hormone testing and treatment

If one of our physicians suspects that a woman needs female hormone testing, the medical staff at our DFW fertility center will request blood work to assess her levels of various hormones.

  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) helps control egg production and menstrual cycles. A blood test on Day 3 of a woman’s cycle can provide information about her ovarian function. Women with high FSH levels may need fertility treatment to conceive. Normal FSH levels for women are between 4.0 and 10 mIU/mL.
  • Estradiol triggers ovulation and helps to maintain the eggs in a woman’s ovaries. A blood test on Day 3 to Day 5 of a woman’s cycle can determine her estradiol levels.
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH) stimulates the ovaries to release eggs and tells the body to produce progesterone, which is critical for embryo implantation in the uterus. A blood test of LH can determine whether a woman is ovulating. It can also reveal hormonal imbalances that may suggest polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
  • Progesterone is produced by a woman’s ovaries after ovulation and its levels peak about one week later. A progesterone blood test can determine whether a woman has ovulated. Progesterone levels fluctuate depending on ovulation and pregnancy.
  • Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is produced in the ovarian follicles, and it can tell our fertility specialists more about a woman’s ovarian function. The AMH blood test can occur at any time during a woman’s cycle. Women with high AMH levels tend to respond better to fertility medications and produce more eggs.
  • Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) plays a role in autoimmune function, so a woman needs to have healthy levels to promote fertilization and implantation. A simple blood test can determine whether a woman’s TSH levels are too high or too low.
  • Androgens can affect a woman’s fertility. Most women’s bodies convert androgens into estrogen to help grow the uterine lining and regulate the menstrual cycle. Female hormone testing can identify whether a woman has too much androgen. This can cause a woman not to ovulate. It may also be a sign of PCOS.

The results of a woman’s female hormone testing will help our fertility specialists develop an effective, individualized treatment plan. As sub-specialists trained in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the physicians at our DFW fertility center can successfully treat women with hormone conditions that range from common, to rare and complex.

Contact our DFW fertility center if you would like to schedule an appointment for female hormone testing. The right diagnosis can help you build the family of your dreams.