FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) is a fertility hormone produced by your pituitary gland. FSH plays a very important role in conception as it sets up the whole process each month during your menstrual cycle, together with LH. FSH’s main responsibility is the growth and maturation of your ovarian follicles, without which you would not be […]
Pregnancy Hormones
LH (luteinising hormone), also known as lutropin, is an important fertility hormone which affects your ability to ovulate. It is produced in the pituitary gland and is the hormone ovulation tests measure to determine when you will be ovulating. LH has an important role throughout your entire menstrual cycle. In the first two weeks of […]
Prolactin (PRL), also known as the luteotropic hormone (LTH), is the milk hormone which plays an important role in preparing your body for breastfeeding. Prolactin is mainly produced in your pituitary gland and in response to increased estrogen levels, its levels increase between 10 and 20 times during pregnancy. Prolactin’s first and foremost function during […]
hPL or human placental lactogen, also known as hCS (human chorionic somatomammotropin), is a pregnancy hormone produced by your placenta. It is very similar to the human growth hormones normally present in your body and has a very important role in the nourishment of your baby. Firstly, hPL inhibits the ability of your cells to […]
Testosterone, like estrogen and progesterone, is an important fertility hormone and your testosterone levels can greatly influence your ability to conceive and maintain a pregnancy. Testosterone is produced in your ovaries and adrenal glands and increases in your body at low levels during your pregnancy, however it is important that these levels are neither too […]
Oxytocin is another important hormone and though it is what causes those painful contractions during labour, you wouldn’t be able to hold your gorgeous baby without it. Oxytocin has an important role in conception, labour and breastfeeding. In conception, oxytocin is the hormone that is responsible for your sexual arousal and of course if you […]
Progesterone is a very important pregnancy hormone that is always at work in the female body, but during pregnancy its role becomes even more important. Progesterone is also known as the pro-pregnancy hormone, because without it your placenta and uterus cannot support your pregnancy. It has an important role not only during your pregnancy, but […]
We know this is probably not a new hormone for most mums-to-be, because it’s always busy at work in the female body. However, during pregnancy this hormone ups its game and does even more than normal. Estrogen is actually a group of 3 hormones: estrone, estradiol and estriol (which the placenta produces). All three are […]
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is the king of all pregnancy hormones, so much so that some people call it “the announcer of pregnancy”. From the moment you conceive your body starts to produce hCG, therefore it is the hormone that all pregnancy tests measure in order to determine if you are pregnant or not. hCG […]