Hormones are quintessential for complete well-being. They act as chemical messengers in the body and help coordinate the functions of various organs. A small variation in the hormone levels can lead to regulatory imbalance. The chief process that is influenced by the hormonal balance is the reproductive system. Any disturbance in hormones can cause difficulties with conceiving. It is important to treat hormonal imbalance to get pregnant.
Hormones play a key role in regulating menstrual cycles and in maintaining pregnancy. Hence, hormonal imbalance can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, and ovulation disturbances and in the long term can lead to infertility. There’s an increase in Polycystic ovarian Disease (PCOD) incidence these days due to hormonal imbalance.
In This Article
- What is Hormonal Imbalance?
- How Does Hormonal Imbalance Affect Fertility?
- What Are The Vital Hormones Essential For Conception?
- Impact of Hormonal Imbalances on Fertility
- How to Check for Hormonal Imbalance?
- How to Treat Hormonal Imbalance to Get Pregnant?
- Are There Any Natural Remedies to Maintain Hormonal Balance?
- When to Consult Doctor
- FAQ’s
What is Hormonal Imbalance?
Too much or too little of these chemical messengers in the body can lead to an imbalance. A slight change in hormonal values can lead to major changes in the body. It can be temporary or chronic and depending on that treatment is required. Both men and women can develop this imbalance (1).
How Does Hormonal Imbalance Affect Fertility?
Many hormones come together to play in regulating fertility in both men and women. So, any imbalance in even one of the hormones can have grave effects on fertility. These hormones are important in maintaining proper menstrual cycles and timely ovulation in women. For a successful pregnancy to occur, it is essential to have sufficient hormones in the body to signal and regulate the development and release of mature eggs in the ovary. Another prime responsibility of reproductive hormones is to thicken the endometrial lining for implantation. The fertilization of the released egg requires a healthy sperm, whose maturation is also regulated by hormones in the male’s body. These are the important steps to achieve a pregnancy. Hence, any absence or disruption in the hormone levels can make it difficult to conceive and lead to infertility.
What Are The Vital Hormones Essential For Conception?
Many hormones play a pivotal role in regulating the menstrual cycle in women. Some of them which can affect the ability to get pregnant are
1. Thyroid Hormones
The thyroid gland secretes T3 (Triiodothyronine) and T4 (Thyroxine) hormones have a role in achieving a healthy pregnancy (2). ]They also have a role in ovulation and implantation.
2. Prolactin
Apart from regulating the production of breast milk, this hormone plays a role in maintaining regular menstrual cycles in females. An excess of this hormone in males can lead to erectile dysfunction.
3. Anti-mullerian Hormone (AMH)
This hormone secreted by the ovary helps in maintaining the body’s immature eggs. In women, the levels of this hormone decrease with age (3). By measuring AMH, we can get to know the egg reserves in the ovary.
4. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
It is one of the most important hormones for fertility. It is secreted by the Pituitary Gland and is responsible for regulating timely menstrual cycles and in the production of healthy mature eggs in women. In men, it controls sperm production.
5. Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
This hormone is responsible for the release of mature egg from the ovary. Ovulation predictor kits help predict ovulation by detecting the levels of this hormone in urine (4). In men, it directs the release of testosterone hormone which is required for sperm production.
6. Progesterone
Progesterone is essential in maintaining a healthy pregnancy. It signals the endometrial to thicken to prepare for the implantation of the embryo.
[Read : Prolactin Levels Test For Pregnancy]
Impact of Hormonal Imbalances on Fertility
There are two most common fertility issues associated with hormonal Imbalance. They are:
a. Ovulatory Dysfunction
PCOS affects 5-10% of premenopausal women and disrupts the regularity of ovulation cycles (5). Irregularities in ovulation can greatly decrease the chances of conception
b. Short Luteal Phase
The phase of the menstrual cycle that follows ovulation is the luteal phase. The average duration of this phase is 13-14 days and is under the control of the progesterone hormone. If the length of this phase is less than 10 days, then the implantation doesn’t take place.
[Read : Luteal Phase Defects]
How to Check for Hormonal Imbalance?
The obstetrician will advise you to get the undermentioned tests done to check if there is a hormonal imbalance in the body. The tests given below are the actual markers to indicate a hormonal balance, and they are as under:
- Saliva Test to check estrogen and progesterone levels, Cortisol, and DHEA levels.
- Blood or Serum Testing to check the levels of hormones – both free and total
How to Treat Hormonal Imbalance to Get Pregnant?
Detecting the cause of the imbalance is important when starting the treatment. PCOS is one of the most common causes affecting the ability to get pregnant. Here, firstly the healthcare provider will instruct the patient to lose weight, especially around the belly area. Some studies have suggested reducing weight to enhance the process of ovulation in infertile women (6). Medications that help treat it are ovulation-inducing medicines like Clomid.
If the imbalance is due to thyroid hormone imbalance, then the doctor may suggest thyroid medications. In the case of hypothyroidism, one of the important causes of infertility, you may need to undergo hormone therapy.
[Read : Getting Pregnant With Hypothyroidism]
Are There Any Natural Remedies to Maintain Hormonal Balance?
Along with medication and treatments, there are some natural ways to balance the hormones:
- Have a balanced diet rich in protein, and reduce your carbohydrate intake.
- Avoid processed food. This will help with weight loss and help maintain hormone balance.
- Regular exercise is a must to keep the weight in check. Higher body mass index is directly linked with insulin resistance and diabetes (7).
- Avoid taking stress as it causes elevated levels of cortisol in the body, creating an imbalance.
- Meditation and yoga help in keeping the body stress-free and keep the hormone levels in check.
- Getting enough sleep helps in regulating the hormone levels. Inadequate sleep can lead to obesity and diabetes too.
[Read : Top 10 Practical Tips to Reduce Stress When Trying to Conceive]
When to Consult Doctor?
You can consult an endocrinologist if you feel any changes in your body. If you notice that your periods have been irregular or there’s any increase in bleeding then better to get yourself checked for any hormonal imbalance. Any changes in weight should not be overlooked. Couples struggling to have a baby must immediately consult and get themselves checked for any changes in levels of hormones.
Whether you are attempting to conceive or have been trying for some time, having knowledge regarding hormones is very helpful as they affect fertility and conception, and it is important to understand the causes of hormonal imbalance so that the imbalance can be treated for improved pregnancy chances.
FAQ’s
1. How Can I Balance my Hormones to Get Pregnant Fast?
Make sure that you eat healthy along with regular exercise. Adequate sleep along with avoiding undue stress also helps in correcting the balance. Cutting down on sugar also helps in maintaining fertility.
2. Can I Get Pregnant if I Have a Hormonal Imbalance?
Getting pregnant becomes difficult with hormonal imbalances, but it can be corrected with a few lifestyle modifications and with the help of medications.
3. What Hormone Helps You Get Pregnant?
FSH and LH are important fertility hormones responsible for ovulation. Progesterone is another important hormone essential for preparing the womb for pregnancy.
References
- Acta-Scientific-Clinical-Case-Reports-The-Perspective-of-Hormonal-Imbalance-in-Humans-A-Review-Case-Report.pdf – [https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Johnkennedy-Nnodim/publication/368720563_Acta_Scientific_Clinical_Case_Reports_The_Perspective_of_Hormonal_Imbalance_in_Humans_A_Review_Case_Report/links/63f736030d98a97717af7d00/Acta-Scientific-Clinical-Case-Reports-The-Perspective-of-Hormonal-Imbalance-in-Humans-A-Review-Case-Report.pdf]
- Role of hypothyroidism and associated pathways in pregnancy : Tzu Chi Medical Journal – [https://journals.lww.com/tcmj/fulltext/2020/32040/role_of_hypothyroidism_and_associated_pathways_in.2.aspx]
- Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH): what do we still need to know? | Human Reproduction | Oxford Academic – [https://academic.oup.com/humrep/article/24/9/2264/601702?login=false]
- The usefulness of a urinary LH kit for ovulation prediction during menstrual cycles of normal women – ScienceDirect – [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0029784495003525]
- Genetic, hormonal and metabolic aspects of PCOS: an update – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4947298/]
- Obesity and Infertility: A Metabolic Assessment Strategy to Improve Pregnancy Rate – PMC – [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7048694/]
- Insulin resistance in obesity: an overview of fundamental alterations – PubMed – [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29397563/]
