Hormonal balance can be tricky. There are many things that affect it, and consequently, it can affect numerous functions in our body. If you are planning to have a baby, it is important to have the right number of hormones at the right period of the month.
One of the main causes of infertility is a hormonal imbalance which is characterized by a common condition called Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS. PCOS affects 5-10% of women within the childbearing age in the United States. What are the common ways that hormones affect fertility?
Hormones Play A Role in Ovulation.
There is an interplay of the hormones progesterone and estrogen during the regular cycle of childbearing females. During the phase before ovulation, women should be producing estrogen in order to promote releasing a healthy egg. This is a critical period to determine if a woman is fertile or not.
In the second phase, progesterone takes over, and this is also important to make sure that the fertilized egg is able to implant properly in the uterine lining. The perfect balance of these hormones makes successful fertilization and implantation. When there is an imbalance, there is a risk to have unhealthy eggs, absent ovulation or failure for the fertilized egg to implant.
Hormones Affect Stress Levels.
Remember when people say “Just relax and everything will happen in its own time” when people are trying to conceive? Well, the “relax” portion seems to have some truth into it. When people stress themselves out, the body’s level of cortisol increases, which in turn may delay or make a female’s regular cycle absent.
This delay may prevent proper ovulation, which can also cause infertility. Always remember to decrease stressors in your environment. Having a good diet, exercise, and practicing meditation can help.
Hormonal Fluctuations During Hunger Prevent Ovulation.
Although it is good to keep a healthy weight when trying to conceive, it is important to still eat the right amount of food. Some women take it the extreme and find ways to lose weight without getting the right nutrition. Women’s bodies are more sensitive to nutritional changes.
During a period of starvation, hunger hormones ghrelin and leptin take over, which may signal the body to reduce its functions during pregnancy. In some ways, the body is operating in survival mode, making sure to only operate using the “necessary” functions. This is why some women with Anorexia or eating disorders do not regularly menstruate.
Hormonal Changes Can Also Affect Sperm Quality.
Being overweight, having diabetes, or other health conditions may cause a disruption in a man’s testosterone levels, making it difficult to produce the right quality of sperm. In this case, there are available hormone therapy san diego ca services for people who need extra stimulation of their hormones. Hormone therapy can improve sperm quality, sperm motility and sperm count for males who are suffering from infertility.
When it comes to our bodies, it is always important to achieve a perfect balance. As you plan to start a family, consider these hormone facts and make sure that your health habits are aligned to increase your chances of conception.
