If irregular menstruation, investigate as per secondary amenorrhoea. Fertility in males - - - Following abnormal semen analysis. Precocious puberty Precocious early puberty is generally defined as the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics in girls aged under eight years or in boys aged under nine years.
Hyperprolactinaemia Stress, medicine use and hypothyroidism need to be considered as causes of hyperprolactinaemia. Investigating menopause Hormone testing is usually not necessary for diagnosing menopause or monitoring treatment. Investigating hypogonadism in males Delayed puberty The first sign of puberty in males is an increase in the size of the testes, which normally occurs around age 12 years. Gynaecomastia Gynecomastia is a benign enlargement of the breast tissue in males, which indicates an imbalance between free oestrogen and androgens.
Late-onset hypogonadism In an adult male with clinically significant signs and symptoms of hypogonadism e. Androgen resistance Oestradiol measurement is recommended in males with a finding of high serum testosterone and LH levels, along with features of undermasculinisation e. Investigating early pregnancy A random urine hCG test can be used in primary care to diagnose early pregnancy.
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ABC of sub-fertility: Making a diagnosis. BMJ ; —7. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Infertility: RCOG guidelines. Mayo Clinic. Home pregnancy tests: Can you trust the results? Comments There are currently no comments for this article. Make a comment:. Please login to make a comment. This article is 8 years and 9 months old. Social sharing. In this issue Best tests? The general principles of laboratory investigations in primary care Reproductive hormones: The right test, at the right time, for the right patient.
You may also like FSH follicle-stimulating hormone and LH luteinizing hormone are two hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary. Since they stimulate gonads in both females and males, they are commonly called gonadotrophins. FSH is a type of gonadotropin, which regulates the functions of ovaries and testes.
It stimulates the growth of the ovarian follicle in females. This hormone also stimulates the production of steroids by the ovary; estradiol is produced during the follicular phase while progesterone is produced during the luteal phase. On the other hand, in the middle of the menstrual cycle, FS, along with LH, triggers ovulation. FSH causes the maturing of the egg inside the follicle, while LH causes it to be released from the follicle. A deficiency of FSH in the body is indicated when a woman has amenorrhea or a stopping of the monthly cycles.
It also causes infertility in a couple. In men, a deficiency of this hormone may be characterised by loss of facial hair, lack of interest in sexual activity, erectile dysfunction as well as infertility. A deficiency of the LH hormone in women is usually indicated by a progesterone deficiency. These may be indicated by an abrupt weight gain, heavy menstruation, insomnia, irritability, indigestion and migraines.
In men, it results in testosterone insufficiency and resulting complications. Low levels of FSH and LH is treated with the help of low doses of the hormone estrogens and progesterone. This is of course if fertility is not an issue.
A woman may also be put on low dose birth control pills. Men may also be given additional testosterone through injections or skin patches.
FSH causes maturing of the follicle in females. This follicle contains the egg. These include breast growth and menstruation in girls, testicle and penis growth in boys, and pubic hair growth in both boys and girls. When LH levels start to increase, this can indicate ovulation will likely occur within one to two days. These types of tests can be done at home and are often used to enhance the chances of conceiving.
To administer an LH blood test, a health professional will draw a small amount of blood from you, most likely from your arm. The sample will then be analyzed for LH levels. To draw blood, a health professional will wrap your upper arm with an elastic band to make your veins easier to see.
A tube attached to the needle will collect a small sample of your blood. The process is short and mostly painless. Your doctor may request that you have samples of blood drawn each day for several days. Because the amount of LH in the blood varies with your menstrual cycle, a few samples may be necessary to get an accurate measurement of your LH levels. The needle site may bruise afterwards, but if you put pressure on it with a bandage, you can reduce this possibility. Phlebitis , while rare, may occur when blood is drawn.
This is when the vein becomes inflamed after blood is taken. If it occurs, your healthcare provider will likely have you apply a warm compress to the vein throughout the day. If you have any kind of bleeding disorder, make sure to tell your doctor to avoid complications from having blood drawn. Your doctor should give you exact directions to prepare for your blood test.
You may be told to stop taking certain medications that can affect the results, so be sure to inform your doctor of all medications and supplements you take. Your doctor will also want to know the date of your last period. As with many blood draws, you may be asked to avoid eating or drinking for up to eight hours leading up to the test. These substances can interfere with the results of your test. Your doctor can tell you when results of your test will be available and will discuss the meaning of your levels with you.
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