4 Key Imbalances Keep You From Growing Your Family
Hormone balance is like a delicate symphony, where each instrument plays a crucial role in creating a harmonious piece. In the body, hormones are the different instruments that must work together in perfect balance to create the optimal environment for fertility.
Just as an off-key note can disrupt a musical performance, an imbalance in hormones can disrupt the delicate dance between the reproductive organs and ultimately impact fertility. Unfortunately, about 1 in 5 couples will struggle with infertility. And while there are many potential issues at play, hormone imbalance is almost always present.
Here we’ll explore the key hormones that affect fertility, the most common imbalances that make it harder to conceive, and how you can restore your balance and increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy.
What Are Fertility Hormones?
At Moringa Natural Health, we have treatment plans for menopause and hormone imbalance. We personalize each plan according to each person’s unique biological makeup. Want to learn more about our treatment plans? Schedule your free appointment with Dr. Fernandez today!
Your body makes over 50 different hormones which are responsible for hundreds of body processes, from growth and development to metabolism, mood regulation, and more. While each one can impact your fertility in either a direct or indirect way, there are a few key hormones that are most likely to be at the root of fertility issues:
- Estrogen
Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone that plays a crucial role in the development and regulation of a woman’s reproductive system. Estrogen is crucial in regulating the menstrual cycle and stimulates the production of cervical mucus. During ovulation, estrogen levels peak, and this stimulates the release of another hormone (luteinizing hormone), which triggers the release of the egg. Estrogen is also responsible for the growth of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) to encourage healthy implantation by an embryo. - Progesterone
- Progesterone is another female sex hormone that is produced by the ovaries after ovulation. Its main function is to prepare the uterus for pregnancy by thickening the endometrium, making it a supportive environment for an embryo to implant and develop. Progesterone also regulates the menstrual cycle, helps to maintain a pregnancy, and prevents the uterus from contracting prematurely during early pregnancy.
- Testosterone
Testosterone is the primary male sex hormone, but it is also present in women in smaller amounts. It plays a crucial role in both male and female fertility by promoting the development of follicles in the ovaries and regulating the menstrual cycle. In men, testosterone is essential for healthy sperm production. - Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
LH is a hormone that is produced by the pituitary gland and plays a crucial role in the reproductive system. In women, LH stimulates ovulation, which is the release of the egg from the ovary. LH also helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and promotes the production of estrogen and progesterone. - Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
In women, FSH stimulates the growth of follicles in the ovaries, which contain the eggs. FSH also helps to regulate the menstrual cycle and promotes the production of estrogen. - Thyroid Hormones
Thyroid hormones are best known for regulating our metabolism and energy production, but they are also essential for the proper functioning of the ovaries and the menstrual cycle in women, and sperm production and motility in men.
At Moringa Natural Health, we have treatment plans for menopause and hormone imbalance. We personalize each plan according to each person’s unique biological makeup. Want to learn more about our treatment plans? Schedule your free appointment with Dr. Fernandez today!
4 Common Hormone Imbalances and How They Impact Fertility
When one of these fertility hormones is too high or too low, it causes fluctuations and shifts in the other hormones as the body tries to regain homeostasis. Soon, several hormones are off balance, which leads to issues such as irregular menstrual cycles, difficulty with implantation, or miscarriage. Let’s explore the most common hormone imbalances that could be at the root of your fertility challenges:
- Low Estrogen
Estrogen is needed for growth – the growth of the follicles that contain an egg, and the growth of the uterine lining that will support a growing embryo. When estrogen levels are too low, crucial processes like ovulation may be irregular or absent altogether. The low levels of estrogen can also slow the follicles’ development which then delays ovulation. Additionally, low estrogen levels can prevent the endometrial lining of the uterus from thickening enough for an embryo to implant, leading to difficulties in achieving and maintaining pregnancy.
At Moringa Natural Health, we have treatment plans for menopause and hormone imbalance. We personalize each plan according to each person’s unique biological makeup. Want to learn more about our treatment plans? Schedule your free appointment with Dr. Fernandez today!
What causes low estrogen?
- Excessive exercise
- Being underweight or having very little body fat?
- Thyroid disorders
- Poor pituitary function
- High Estrogen
Estrogen is necessary for a healthy reproductive system. But like all things in life, you can have too much of a good thing! Increased estrogen levels also lead to fertility issues, including conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Endometriosis is a condition where the tissue lining the uterus grows outside of it, causing pain and affecting fertility. High levels of estrogen promote the growth of the inflammatory tissue that leads to endometriosis symptoms and throws your hormone balance further off track.
Similarly, in those with PCOS, high testosterone levels are often converted into estrogen, leading to higher estrogen or “estrogen dominance.” This hormonal imbalance leads to irregular menstrual cycles and a lack of ovulation – two factors that make it challenging (although not impossible!) to conceive.
What causes high estrogen?
- High testosterone levels
- Poor gut health and nutrient deficiencies
- High-sugar diet
- Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals
- Sluggish detoxification
- Low Progesterone
After ovulation, the body produces progesterone to prepare the uterus for pregnancy and support the developing embryo. If progesterone levels are too low, it may indicate that the body is either not ovulating, or that there is a luteal phase defect. In someone with a luteal phase defect, progesterone levels do not reach the level needed after ovulation and the uterine lining sheds earlier than expected. This process makes it challenging for a fertilized embryo to implant in the lining, leading to infertility or recurring miscarriages.
What causes low progesterone?- Chronic stress (high cortisol levels)
- Excessive exercise, undereating, or restrictive diets
- Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone)
- Hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin)
- PCOS
- Low Testosterone
Testosterone is crucial for male health and fertility. When levels are too low, men struggle with low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and other fertility problems. But did you know that women can struggle with low testosterone, too?
Studies show that testosterone helps follicles in the ovaries to grow and produce estrogen, which we’ve already learned is crucial for processes like ovulation and implantation. Testosterone also helps to prevent follicles from withering before they can mature.
What causes low testosterone?- Aging
- Long-term birth control use
- Certain medications
- Ovarian conditions
- Adrenal insufficiency
Trying to Conceive? 3 Ways to Balance Your Hormones Naturally
At Moringa Natural Health, we have treatment plans for menopause and hormone imbalance. We personalize each plan according to each person’s unique biological makeup. Want to learn more about our treatment plans? Schedule your free appointment with Dr. Fernandez today!
- Eat for fertility.
Eating for fertility is much like eating for general good health. You’ll want to focus on a variety of whole foods including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats, as these provide the necessary nutrients for hormone production and metabolism.
For example, consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids (like salmon, mackerel, avocados, and seeds) can help reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity, which improves hormonal balance. Foods high in antioxidants and fiber also support reproductive health and reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy. Seed cycling is a great way to support your hormonal health through the power of healthy fats, fiber, and antioxidant-rich seeds.
Along with eating the right foods, it’s important to avoid foods that can sabotage your hormone balance. Avoid processed and high-sugar foods, as they can disrupt hormonal balance and negatively impact fertility and pregnancy.
Brush up on the best foods for women’s hormone balance here, and the best food for men’s hormone balance here, or learn how IV nutritional therapy can help you get the optimal levels of nutrients your body needs to produce, manage, and support a healthy hormone balance.
- Try Bioidentical Hormone Therapy.
Bioidentical hormone therapy (BHT) is a form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) that uses hormones chemically identical to those naturally produced by the body to treat hormone imbalances. BHT is commonly used to address the symptoms of menopause naturally, but it can be used to relieve a variety of hormone-related conditions, including male and female infertility.
- Get weekly acupuncture.
Acupuncture is one of the most sought-after natural therapies for managing hormone imbalances and improving fertility naturally. By inserting thin needles into specific points on the body, acupuncture can help to regulate hormone levels, reduce stress, and improve blood flow to the reproductive organs. These benefits work to regulate the menstrual cycle and improve the quality of the uterine lining – two factors that significantly increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
Not to mention, acupuncture has been shown to stimulate the release of endorphins, which will help ease any fertility-related stress (as well as pesky high cortisol levels that trigger hormone imbalances).
At Moringa Natural Health, we have treatment plans for menopause and hormone imbalance. We personalize each plan according to each person’s unique biological makeup. Want to learn more about our treatment plans? Schedule your free appointment with Dr. Fernandez today!
Restore Your Balance to Build Your Family
You know you’re ready to grow your family. Now, you just need your body to get on board. While there are many different reasons why pregnancy may not be happening yet, many of these issues are tied to deeper hormone imbalances – imbalances that can be corrected with the help of nature and healthy habits.
Curious how Moringa Natural Health Center’s natural fertility therapies could help you? Schedule a consultation to learn how we can help you restore your hormone balance and welcome new life to your family.
Much love,
Dr. Lena Fernandez
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