I made an appointment for August 8 2013. With me I brought all my blood results from my last visit to the fertility clinic. At the time I had my blood taken (June 2013) my LH (13.6) was more than double my FSH (5.09). When I first went in to see the Naturopath I had no idea about LH, FSH, Estrogen and Progesterone. I knew they were all related to one another but not really how or why. Here is a brief explanation of our cycles so we all understand what these numbers mean!

Our cycle can be split up into two sections, The Follicular Phase and the Luteal Phase. Day 1 is considered the first day you start bleeding and the first day of the Follicular Phase. On Day 1 our estrogen and progesterone levels are low which sends a signal to our hypothalamus and pituitary gland to naturally produce FSH(Follicle Stimulating Hormone). 

FSH is responsible for stimulating growth of the ovarian follicle (which includes the developing egg and cells surrounding the egg that produce hormones needed to support pregnancy). As the follicle grows, estrogen is produced and released into the bloodstream. 

The increase of estrogen in your bloodstream (called Estradiol) sends a signal to your pituitary gland to slow the production and release of FSH and send out surge of LH. This signifies the change from the Follicular Phase to the Luteal Phase. At this point you might start to notice changes in your cervical mucous, or if you are tracking your BBT you would notice a rise in your temperature. 

LH or Lutenizing Hormone is responsible for maturing the ovarian follicle that the FSH helped to create. When there is a surge of LH, the egg that has been maturing, bursts through the ovary wall and starts to travel down into the fallopian tube preparing to be fertilized.  

After ovulation, the cells that were surrounding your now traveling egg become what is known as the Corpus Luteum (which will later become your placenta!). The Corpus Luteum produces more estrogen as well as progesterone. 

The progesterone causes the uterine lining to thicken so it can support implantation of the fertilized egg. 

If the egg implants into the uterine wall,  you’re body will start to release hCG ( human chorionic gonadotropin). This is the hormone that will give you a + sign on your pregnancy test signifying you are in fact PREGNANT. If the implantation of the fertilized egg does not occur, the levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease which will cause the lining to shed bringing us back to Day 1 of your cycle- MENSTRUATION! 

There are a ton of visual references for you to see what’s going on. I haven’t found one I love yet so I haven’t put a link to any specific one, but if you are curious you can search out ‘menstrual cycle diagram’ or ‘ovulation cycle diagram’ and you should get a ton of results! 

So are you confused enough? It’s taken me a long time to understand this magical cycle and I promise you will too. Now, to get back to the point I was making above! My LH levels were over double my FSH levels. What this means is that my body wasn’t recognizing the LH surge my body was creating. With no surge, there is no egg being released, which in turn can mean no ovulation. 

So here I am, sitting in the Naturopath’s office with only one question. If I don’t want to go back on the pill as recommended by the fertility specialist and I don’t want to get pregnant right away, how can I balance my body so that I can regulate my hormones and get my cycle back?