Hormones that affect your PCOS

Women with PCOS mainly face a hormonal imbalance and produce higher-than-normal amounts of male hormones. This affects the ovaries, and the imbalance causes their body to skip menstrual periods and makes it harder for them to get pregnant.

Prolactin: Prolactin is a hormone produced in the brain that stimulates milk production in nursing mothers. Prolactin levels are usually normal (< 25 ng/mg

TSH & thyroid antibodies: These should be tested to rule out hypothyroidism, another condition that can trigger similar symptoms to PCOS.

LH and FSH

Two hormones produced by the brain to help regulate the menstrual cycle. Typically, in PCOS, LH is 2-3x higher than FSH on day 3 of the cycle. FSH *should* be higher at this time.

Testosterone:
 

Normal total test = 6.0-86 ng/dl. Normal free test = 0.7-3.6 pg/ml. Women with PCOS often have an increased level of both.

SHBG:

A binding protein that helps regulate levels of free testosterone, DHT, and E2. Low levels of SHBG = higher levels of those 3 hormones, which = issues.

DHEAS:

DHEA-S is an androgen that is secreted by the adrenal gland. In PCOS, what’s often seen is levels greater than 200 ug/dl (HIGH).

Androstenedione:

A hormone produced by the ovaries and adrenal glands. Sometimes high levels of this hormone can affect estrogen and testosterone levels. Normal levels are generally between 0.7 ­and 3.1 ng/ml.

Progesterone:

Produced by the corpus luteum after ovulation occurs. If tested 7 days after ovulation likely occurred, If the level is low the egg was probably not released (ovulation did not occur).

Estrogen:

The hormone that is secreted mainly by the ovaries and in small quantities by the adrenal glands. Many find that their estrogen levels fall within the normal range (about 25-75 pg/ml).

C-Reactive Protein (CRP):

The most commonly used marker to test for chronic inflammation. Typically, a score above 1 = an inflammatory state.

Insulin:

Often high in PCOS. Due to insulin resistance. Usually tested via fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance, or HbA1c tests. 

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