• the right doctor
• basal fertility testing
• female symptoms
• additional tests for women
• female diagnosis
• male symptoms
• additional tests for men
• male diagnosis
  • sperm problems
  • azoospermia
  • occlusion
  • bilateral absence of the vas deferens
  • klinefelter's syndrome
  • cryptoorchidism
  • retrograde ejaculation
  • vasectomy reversal
  • varicocele
  • epididymitits
  • immunological infertility (antibodies)
  • hormonal imbalance
• unexplained subfertility

hormonal imbalance

Normal sperm production and sexual function are dependent on normal hormonal balance. Measuring blood levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone and prolactin may be carried out in some men to identify further information.

For example the measurement of FSH and LH can help identify the underlying cause of azoospermia. Those patients who have azoospermia due to an obstruction in the vas deferens have normal FSH levels, whereas those patients who are not making sperm have raised FSH levels. Low levels of FSH and LH may indicate that the pituitary gland is not producing enough hormones.
Besides this, an over-production of the hormone prolactin, or a deficient thyroid gland can disrupt the hormone balance and thereby have an effect on fertility. However, hormonal causes of male fertility problems rarely occur.

symptoms

Hormonal imbalances in the man can produce more non-specific symptoms such as impotence, eye problems, sudden weight-loss or weight-gain, mood swings or depression. However, this imbalance is generally only discovered if a blood test is done as a result of an abnormal sperm test.