For many decades, the main tool for diagnosing the functional readiness of the female genital apparatus has been FLG. What it is? The hormone reproduced by the pituitary gland of the brain actually acts as a regulator of sexual function in both men and women. The level of this sex hormone in a woman’s blood is diagnosed by almost every gynecologist specializing in infertility problems. Usually an analysis of the amount of a hormone in a woman’s blood allows you to make a first impression of her reproductive health.
FLG - what is it?
FLG is part of a group of hormones that are produced by the pituitary gland of the brain. In the human body, the hormone is responsible for regulating the functioning of the sex glands, in particular, it promotes the reproduction of germ cells.
In the male body, the hormone FLH has a stimulating effect on the growth of testosterone in the blood, the work of the seminal glands, ensuring the normal maturation of spermatozoa. In women, follicle-stimulating hormone not only contributes to the healthy formation of the follicle, but also allows ovulation to be achieved.
The content of FLH in the body
Active release of the hormone into the blood occurs with the onset of the estrogen phase, which falls on the first days of the menstrual cycle. With the active influence on the process of another luteinizing hormone secreted by the pituitary gland, estrogen begins to be released in the follicle cells, which is responsible for regulating sexual function.
According to the FLG analysis of a healthy body, in the middle phase of the female cycle, the amount of estrogen reaches peak values. Then follows the rupture of the follicle, from which the germ cell ready for fertilization comes out.
In the final phase of ovulation, when the level of FLG in the blood decreases significantly, the so-called luteal phase occurs, during which the follicle turns into a fat-like mass and is naturally excreted from the body. At this time, an increased level of steroids prevents the active production of hormones by the pituitary gland. Then the cycle resumes, the pituitary gland becomes active and continues to actively produce FLH.
Norm FLG
During laboratory studies, the level of follicle-stimulating hormone in the body is measured by the content of its necessary norm per liter of blood. An FLG examination is performed on an empty stomach. Moreover, an analysis is given between the 3rd and 5th day of the cycle in the follicular phase.
If during the examination a deficiency of the hormone FLH was detected, in such a case, a woman may experience symptoms such as:
- lack of ovulation;
- irregular onset of menstruation;
- atrophic processes in the mammary glands and genitals;
- infertility.
Increased and decreased levels of FLH
What is the evidence of a high level of FLH? What it is? When there is an excess of the norm of sex hormone in the body of a woman, the phenomenon can lead to uterine bleeding that is not associated with the menstrual cycle, or a complete absence of menstruation.
Reasons for increasing the level of sex hormone:
- malfunctioning of the ovaries;
- the presence of a tumor in the pituitary gland;
- excessive alcohol consumption;
- consequences of exposure to x-rays on the body.
An overestimated level of follicle-stimulating hormone can cause a specialist to make such diagnoses as orchitis, menopause, pituitary tumor, alcoholism, or kidney failure.
If laboratory tests show an underestimated amount of follicle-stimulating hormones per unit volume of blood, in this case this may indicate the development of processes: obesity, amenorrhea, hypofunction of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, polycystic ovary syndrome.
How realistic is it to get pregnant with high FLH?
Often, high levels of follicle-stimulating hormone indicate premature ovarian aging. Moreover, for many women, the only way to become pregnant is artificial insemination by artificial injection of a healthy donor egg into the ovary. However, with targeted treatment using the latest advances in the restoration of women's health, there are considerable prospects for natural conception.
Norm FLG in children
When it comes to the content of follicle-stimulating hormone in the child's body, there are their own, separate standards for FLH in the blood. In a child, the hormone content increases markedly for a short period immediately after birth. Then its level gradually decreases until it reaches the norm.
During puberty in a child, the FLH norm is slightly exceeded. What it is? It's all about the active work of the pituitary gland, characteristic of most adolescents. Sometimes there is insufficient production of follicle-stimulating hormone in the child's body. In this case, the child has delayed puberty.