Fertility hormones directory

Hormones are vital for health and fertility. Together they act like an orchestra, performing a symphony of bodily functions. The body is incredibly interconnected with many processes acting like a chain reaction. When hormones are performing in tune, fertility is balanced and harmonised. When they fall out of tune, the result is hormonal imbalance and infertility.

This directory provides individual profiles for each of the major hormones involved in male and female fertility. Each page covers what the hormone does, where it is produced, normal reference ranges, what high or low levels mean, the causes of imbalance, and how acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help to regulate the hormone naturally.

Important note about reference ranges: hormone reference ranges vary from country to country, between laboratories, and according to the assay method used. The values listed throughout this directory are general guides drawn from UK and international literature and from my book My Fertility Guide. Always interpret your own results against the reference range provided by the laboratory that performed your test, and discuss them with your doctor or fertility specialist.

I am Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto, a fertility specialist with over 25 years of clinical experience and the author of My Fertility Guide. I treat hormonal imbalances using acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine and tailored dietary and lifestyle guidance at my clinic in Wokingham, Berkshire, and via online consultations.

Hypothalamus hormones

The hypothalamus sets the scene for the entire reproductive endocrine system. It produces releasing hormones that control the pituitary gland.

Pituitary hormones

The pituitary gland produces several hormones that are vital for fertility. It receives signals from the hypothalamus and acts on the ovaries, testes, breasts, uterus and thyroid gland.

Ovary hormones

The ovaries produce follicles that release oestrogens and anti-Müllerian hormone. After ovulation, the empty follicle (corpus luteum) produces progesterone. Once a pregnancy is established, the embryo releases human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG).

Thyroid hormones

The thyroid gland produces hormones that influence almost every aspect of metabolism, including fertility, ovulation, the thickness of the uterus lining and the maintenance of pregnancy.

Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)

Adrenal hormones

The adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys. They produce hormones that influence stress, metabolism and fertility.

Liver and binding hormones

The liver produces sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which regulates the amount of free, biologically active testosterone in the body.

Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)

Sex hormones produced at multiple sites

Some hormones are produced at more than one site in the body, including the adrenal glands, ovaries, testes and adipose (fat) tissue.

Testosterone

Pancreatic hormones

The pancreas produces insulin, which regulates glucose in the body and has a powerful indirect effect on fertility through its influence on testosterone and SHBG.