The role of the hormone FSH in pregnancy

The hormone FSH is one of the most important hormones in a woman's body. However, most of us do not really understand this hormone.

During pregnancy, your hormones are changed to best facilitate your baby's development, while supporting later breastfeeding and maintaining the function of other organs. One of the hormone changes you should be aware of is a change in the hormone FSH. Please join aFamilyToday Health to continue to share the following to understand more about this hormone.

What is the FSH hormone and what role does it play during pregnancy?

The FSH hormone, also known as the follicle-stimulating hormone, is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. The main function of this hormone is to control the menstrual cycle and stimulate the growth of the eggs, making the eggs mature and ready for ovulation. Therefore, women's FSH levels will vary at times in the menstrual cycle, with the highest occurring just before the ovary is released (the moment of ovulation).

One of the important roles of the hormone FSH during pregnancy is to help form the placenta during the early months. The amount of FSH hormone during pregnancy usually ranges from 3 - 10mIU / ml. However, in the early stages of pregnancy it will be at 2mIU / ml.

What does low FSH hormone levels indicate?

During pregnancy, FSH hormone levels are quite low. However, if this level is much lower than normal, it could be a warning sign of the following problems:

Pituitary failure

A condition in the pituitary that does not produce enough or very little of some of the necessary hormones.

Turner syndrome

This is the result of a decrease in levels of the hormone FSH. Turner syndrome is a chromosomal disorder affecting the growth, development of height and the ovaries in women.

What causes the decline of FSH hormone during pregnancy?

Here are the possible causes of lower FSH hormone levels during pregnancy:

Psychological anorexia or psychological anorexia, psychological anorexia, is a form of an eating disorder, with symptoms such as low body weight and abnormality in one's sense of appearance, obsessive fear of gaining weight.

The disorders involve the hypothalamus, located at the base of the brain.

The pituitary gland is abnormally active.

How is FSH hormone level measured during pregnancy?

There are two methods to check FSH hormone levels during pregnancy:

Blood tests

Your doctor will take a small amount of blood from a vein for testing. It may be uncomfortable to draw blood, but it is fast.

Urine test

The doctor will order a urine sample or more in a 24 hour period. This method will provide an accurate view of the changes in FSH hormone levels during the day.

There are usually no special requirements before a test. You can continue to maintain a normal diet. Consult with your doctor and find out what to prepare before performing the test. Your doctor may recommend that you stop taking certain medications for 48 hours before performing the test.

Frequently asked questions revolve around FSH hormone testing

Here are some frequently asked questions related to FSH testing in pregnancy:

1. Are there any special notes after the test?

There are no special considerations when testing the hormone FSH. It is important to tell the doctor you are pregnant. If you experience dizziness or discomfort during or after the test, get help.

Are there any side effects from taking FSH tests during pregnancy?

The FSH test is one of the safest and no side effects have been reported. Very few cases of pregnant women experience dizziness or discomfort.

Before having any tests, you need to talk to your doctor to understand why you should do it. This will help reduce the stress of having to have these tests done during pregnancy.