A breakdown of the different sex hormones:

• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
  • FSH is a hormone released from the pituitary gland that communicates to the follicles in the ovaries to mature in preparation for ovulation (the release of an egg from the follicle in the ovary). 
  • The developing follicle is important in the production of estrogen and progesterone
  • FSH should be drawn on day 3 of your menstrual cycle if you are menstruating. FSH is also important in people with testes for the development of sperm. 
• Luteinizing Hormone (LH)
  • Luteinizing hormone is released in response to increasing estrogen levels and is the hormone that triggers ovulation. 
  • FSH should be higher than LH but they can also be equal or LH is sometimes higher than FSH (most often in the case of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS).
• Estradiol
  • Estradiol is the hormone responsible for building the lining of the uterus in the first half of the menstrual cycle. 
  • It is primarily produced by the ovaries and the adrenal glands. 
  • When measured from a blood test, estrogen should be drawn on day 3 of your cycle, if you are menstruating. 
• Progesterone
  • Progesterone is responsible for infiltrating the uterine lining with blood vessels to bring nutrients to the fertilized egg if implantation/pregnancy were to happen.
  •  It is primarily released from the corpus luteum (which is the follicle in the ovary after it has released the egg). 
  • Progesterone should be drawn 7 days after ovulation. Progesterone should ideally be greater than 18 ng/ml but anything above 5 ng/ml confirms ovulation has occurred.
• Prolactin:
  • Prolactin is released from the pituitary gland in the brain 
  •  It is responsible for lactation in women. 
  • When elevated, it can interfere with estrogen and progesterone production. Elevated estrogen, stress and hypothyroidism are other reasons prolactin can be elevated.
•  Antimullerian Hormone (AMH)
  • This test is usually ordered in the context of fertility or PCOS testing. 
  • AMH is produced from antral follicles, which are follicles that are follicles that are at rest or not actively maturing. 
  • AMH can help determine ovarian reserve.
  •  In the situation of PCOS, there may be an elevated number of antral follicles and therefore AMH may also be elevated. 
  • Elevated AMH can also slow down follicle development and increase LH, which can lead to anovulation. 
  • AMH can be tested on any day of the menstrual cycle.
• Testosterone
  • Testosterone is the major sex hormone in males. It is essential to the development of male growth and masculine characteristics.
  • Signals sent from the brain to the pituitary gland at the base of the brain control the production of testosterone in men. The pituitary gland then relays signals to the testes to produce testosterone. A "feedback loop" closely regulates the amount of hormone in the blood.
  • In men, testosterone is responsible for:
    • development of the penis and testes
    • deepening of the voice during puberty
    • appearance of facial and pubic hair starting at puberty; later in life, it may play a role in balding
    • muscle size and strength
    • bone growth and strength
    • sex drive (libido)
    • sperm production.
  • In women testosterone plays a role in:
    • bone strength
    • sexual behavior, including normal libido (although evidence is not conclusive)
      
    • the proper balance between testosterone (along with other androgens) and estrogen is important for the ovaries to work normally