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The 7 Key Fertility Hormones

Which hormones are commonly included in a fertility panel?

1️⃣ AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) is released by cells around your follicles and is the most important hormone for testing ovarian reserve, the ehss you have “waiting in the wings”. You can teat AMH even if you’re taking birth control.

2️⃣ TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone) is produced by your pituitary gland. It regulates thyroid health and can be tested even if you’re taking birth control.

3️⃣ FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) is responsible for growing follicles and starting ovulation. Too much FSH can mean your body needs extra OOMPH to get things moving. You can test FSH only if you’re NOT on hormonal birth control.

4️⃣ E2 (Estradiol) is a sex hormone produced by ovaries. Since high E2 can mask a high FSH, testing these hormones together is necessary. You can test E2 only if you’re not on hormonal birth control.

5️⃣ fT4 (Free Thyroxine) plays a key role in thyroid health. It is tested in order to get a better picture of thyroid function as it relates to fertility. fT4 is included as a follow-up test depending on your TSH result. You can only test fT4 if you’re not on hormonal birth control.

6️⃣ PRL (Prolactin) stimulates milk production and pauses ovulation after childbirth. You can test PRL only if you’re not using hormonal birth control.

7️⃣ LH (Luteinizing Hormone) is produced by your pituitary gland and it regulates cycle LENGTH (not duration). You can only test LH if you’re not using hormonal birth control.

Information gleaned from this panel will help you learn all about your ovarian reserve and your thyroid levels (which affect your mood, skin, weight, energy, and OVULATION). They’ll also help you detect any red flags associated with PCOS while painting a picture of what your “timeline” could look like especially as it pertains to egg freezing and projected IVF outcomes.

Keep your body ready so you’re set for pregnancy one day… well, if you so choose.