Female Reproductive Health Problems

Hormones are key to reproductive health in all aspects of a woman’s sexual life. They regulate menstruation, fertility, menopause, and sex drive (libido). The main hormones affecting the menstrual cycle and fertility are produced by glands in the brain and by the ovaries.

A part of the brain called the hypothalamus produces GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone).  GnRH is a hormone that triggers the pituitary—a pea-sized gland just below the hypothalamus—to release two other hormones: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).  FSH and LH in turn start the process of ovulation (egg release) in the ovaries.

During this process, the ovaries also produce estrogen and progesterone, both of which help prepare the uterus for pregnancy. If pregnancy doesn’t occur, menstruation, the shedding of the lining of the uterus, marks the end of the menstrual cycle. If any of the hormones involved in the menstrual cycle are out of balance, the result can be irregular or missed periods.

Diagnosis of a female reproductive health problem starts with a woman’s medical history, physical and pelvic exams, and blood tests to measure hormone levels. Depending on the initial findings, other tests may be needed to complete the diagnosis. This approach applies to a wide range of female reproductive health issues—amenorrhea (lack of periods), infertility, menopause, and hormone-related female sexual dysfunction.