Hormonal fertility disorders can be treated. Therapy usually involves the use of preparations containing the necessary hormones. They are administered in tablets or injections. Hormone treatment must be applied for at least several months. During its course, tests have to be performed several times to see if the therapy is having an effect. In most couples, hormone treatment is successful, leading to the welcoming into the world of the child of their dreams.

Experts say that 30-40% of infertility cases are caused by hormonal disorders. A woman’s endocrine system is responsible, among other things, for the proper functioning of the ovaries and the secretion of substances needed for the embryo to implant and maintain pregnancy. Problems with the proper functioning of the endocrine system affect women of all ages. Hormone testing is therefore the first step in diagnosing female infertility.

The basic hormonal diagnosis is based on evaluation of the levels of the following hormones:

• FSH (folliculotropic hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) – these are hormones produced by the pituitary gland. Their function is to stimulate the maturation of the ovum and the development of the corpus luteum necessary to maintain pregnancy.
• Estradiol – this hormone regulates menstrual cycles in women and the development of their sexual organs. Its appropriate level determines the maintenance of pregnancy.
• Progesterone – the main function of this hormone is to prepare the mucous membranes to receive the embryo and maintain pregnancy. Its improper concentration can lead to ovulation disorders and ovarian failure.
• Prolactin – this hormone stimulates the corpus luteum to produce progesterone. Its excess is called hyperprolactinemia.
• TSH (thyroid hormone) – a deficiency of this hormone leads to hypothyroidism. It is a condition that manifests itself in menstrual cycle disorders, leading to ovulation disorders.
• AMH (antimüllerian hormone) – it is an indicator of a woman’s ovarian reserve. The lower this reserve is, the lower our chances of getting pregnant. In healthy women, AMH levels should decrease with age. Performing this test also helps diagnose conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or premature expiration of ovarian function.

Among the most common hormonal problems causing infertility or reduced fertility in a woman are:

• Ovulation disorders – without ovulation, fertilization is not possible. It should occur every menstrual cycle, specifically 14 days before the expected period. Unfortunately, techo does not always occur. Ovulation disorders can have various causes. Most often they are caused by polycystic ovary syndrome and thyroid disease. This problem affects so many women that ovulation problems are the most commonly diagnosed hormonal fertility disorder.
• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) – is one of the most commonly diagnosed conditions in reproductive endocrinology. In the course of this disease, a woman’s ovaries produce egg cells, but they do not escape into the fallopian tube. As a result, ovulation does not occur every menstrual cycle, making it much more difficult to get pregnant.
• Hyperprolactinemia, or elevated levels of prolactin. This condition leads to, among other things, menstrual cycle disorders, lack of ovulation and corpus luteum failure.
• Hypothyroidism – this is a condition that manifests itself in menstrual cycle disorders, which leads to ovulation disorders.
• Premature extinction of ovarian function/lower ovarian reserve – this is a condition caused by a low number of ovarian follicles. This results in disrupted menstrual cycles, which in most cases are ovulatory.
• Pituitary insufficiency – the pituitary gland is a gland that produces hormones that affect fertility (prolactin, LH, FSH). Its failure can significantly reduce the concentration of these hormones, leading to problems with getting pregnant.
• Hypoandrogen syndrome, a condition caused by too high levels of androgens. It leads to menstrual cycle disorders and ovulation problems.

Hormones in men are responsible for spermatogenesis, the process of the formation and maturation of male reproductive cells – sperm. Hormonal imbalances usually result from failure of the hypothalamic-pituitary system, which regulates the secretion of hormones important for sperm production by the testes.

The cause of endocrine disorders in men can be:

• Disorders in the secretion of gonadotropin – the hormone responsible for stimulating testosterone synthesis and sperm production.
• Disorders in the pituitary gland’s production of sufficient amounts of luteinizing hormone (LH), responsible for testosterone production, and folliculotropic hormone (FSH), responsible for spermatogenesis. Low levels of LH and FSH lead to the arrest of sperm development, as well as the gradual disappearance of sperm cells in the testes.
• Leydig cells, which produce testosterone, do not respond to the presence of luteinizing hormone.
• Other hormones that disrupt male sex hormones.

These problems can lead to such disorders as:

• Hyperprolactinemia, which is an elevated concentration of prolactin in a man’s blood. This is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland. Hyperprolactinemia in men can cause secondary testicular insufficiency, leading to decreased sperm production, erectile dysfunction and decreased libido.
• Hypothyroidism caused by a deficiency of the hormone TSH. This condition reduces semen quality and impairs erection. It is one of the most common hormonal fertility disorders in men.
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia, the organs that produce the hormones responsible for the normal functioning of the body (cortisol, aldosterone, androgens). The disorder causes a low number and reduced motility of sperm in a man’s semen.

Hormonal imbalances in men are often the cause of reduced fertility or infertility in men. It is therefore important to detect abnormalities early, before the changes prove irreversible, such as when sperm cells atrophy before treatment.