What Are the Pathological Hormonal Imbalance Effects Fsh Follicle Stimulating Hormone?

¶ … pathological hormonal imbalance effects of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), one first needs to know what FSH is. This essay, accordingly, starts off with describing FSH before proceeding with a description of how FSH imbalance affects the body and providing concise description of the hormone, the target organs, and the cells. The essays also describes the types of receptors that are affected with the imbalance (i.e. The specific cellular effects); the mechanism that is being affected, and the type of receptors that are interfering with the mechanism.

Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)

FSH is a hormone found in humans and animals that regulates the growth, development, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes of the body. It is synthesized and secreted by gonadotrophs of the anterior pituitary gland. FSH is intimately involved in reproduction by stimulating maturation of germ cells in both males and females and, in females, by initiating follicular growth. By leveling the decline in the late follicular phase, it selects only the most advanced follicle to proceed to ovulation.

There is also a slight rise in DSH at the end of the luneal phase in the females that is significant in starting the next ovulatory cycle.

Follicle stimulating hormone is usually measured in early follicular phase at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, which is usually the third to the fifth day from the last menstruation. Also known as basal FSH levels, levels of estradiol and progesterone are then at their lowest point.

Pathological hormonal imbalance effects of follicle stimulating hormone

High serum FSH concentration is, in health normal situations found in a female who is experiencing or who has recently experienced menopause. High levels indicate that the normally restricting influence of the gonad is absent, resulting in liberated and unimpeded pituitary FSH production.

Abnormal high levels of FSH are declared as such when they are seen during the reproductive years. The mechanisms associated with this include:

1. Premature menopause, which is also known as premature ovarian failure -- sometimes having a genetic origin, this, is loss of the ovaries before 40. Reasons maybe attributed to amenorrhea, hypergonadotropinism, and hypoestrogenism.

2. Castration -- female loses function of ovaries or male loses function of testicles.

3. Poor ovarian reserve, otherwise known as premature ovarian aging -- low reproductive ferity characterized by few oocytes in ovaries or impaired preantral cycle. Quality of eggs may also be corrupted.

4. Gonadal dysgensis (i.e. Turner syndrome) - several reproductive disorder usually genetic and due to declining germ cells on developing gonads of an embryo. This results in dysfunctional gonads that are mainly comprised of fibrous tissue.

5. Swyer syndrome (otherwise known as XY gonadal dysgenesis) where the person is externally female with streak gonads and, if not treated, will not expereince puberty. Therpay inlcudes hormone replacement therpay with female hormones.

6. Testicular failure

7. Certain types of Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) where girls are masculinized due to their adrenal glands secreting large amounts of androgen as embryo. Hormone replacement theory or surgery can be performed. CAH sometimes results in Addison's disease

Most of the categories above are connected with infertility or subfertility

Low FSH level, on the other hand, may result in hypogonadism, in simple language known as failure of the gonadal function. This is a condition that exists in males and is characterized by decrease and reduction of sperm cells. When existent in females, it is accompanied by diminishment and drying-up of reproductive cycle.

Extremely Low FSH conditions include the following:

1. Kallman syndrome

2. Plycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) -- Evidence strongly points to it being a genetic disease. It is one of the key causes of female infertility and its characteristics include irregular menstruation, anovulation, excessive amounts of masculinizing hormones, acne, insulin resistance, and, often times, obesity, Type 2 diabetes, hirsutism, and high cholesterol levels.

3. Obesity in conjunction with infertility and hirsutism

4. Kallman syndrome -- inability to distinguish smells and decreased functioning of glands that produce sex hormones. There may also be deficiencies in hypothalamus and it is this that results in abnormal FSH levels