Sex Hormones and Infertility

The normal physiology of the female reproductive system involves a hypothalamus that secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)in a pulsatile manner, a pituitary gland that can be stimulated by the hypothalamus to regularly secrete both luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), an ovary that has both methodical enzymatic system and steroidogenesis for producing the sex hormones such as estrogen and progesteron, and a functional uterus that can be responded by these hormones. Sex hormones play a crucial role in reproductive biology as well as in general physiology. The most important aim of sex hormones is to design the cycle and to produce an optimal environment for pregnancy according to form ovarian physiology including follicular growth, ovulation, and corpus luteum formation and endometrial response including proliferative and secretuar phase for implantation. Among the various functions, sex hormones influence pregnancy, cardiovascular function, bone metabolism, and an individual's sense of general well-being. The action of sex hormones is mediated via extracellular signals to the nucleus to affect a physiologic response.