oth the ovarian follicles and sperm cells reach maturity, while LH stimulates the production of sex steroids.
Increase LH and FSH Naturally
Oregano & Hormones
According to Yale Medicine, FSH levels fluctuate daily and reach their peak before ovulation. If they are higher or lower than normal, though, it may be a sign of an underlying issue that could affect fertility. Women with irregular menstrual cycles, for example, tend to have very low FSH levels and may find it difficult to get pregnant.
Your doctor can recommend FSH and LH tests to assess your reproductive function and check for disorders that may affect the pituitary gland. These tests can help detect ovarian or testicular failure, fertility problems and other reproductive issues.
- 1.4 to 15.5 international units per milliliter (IU/mL) for men
- 1.4 to 9.9 IU/mL during the follicular phase of a woman's menstrual cycle
- 6.2 to 17.2 IU/mL during ovulation
- 1.1 to 9.2 IU/mL during the luteal phase
FSH levels should be 19 to 100 IU/mL in post-menopausal women.
It plays a vital role in energy metabolism, bone health, cardiovascular function and cancer risk. Elevated FSH levels have been linked to obesity, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and other disorders.
What if you have too little FSH? Depending on the underlying cause, you may need hormonal therapy, medications or even surgery (in case of ovarian cancer, for example).
- According to Yale Medicine, FSH levels fluctuate daily and reach their peak before ovulation.
Eat Selenium-Rich Foods
According to a February 2018 study published in the journal Eating and Weight Disorders, higher GPx concentrations are linked to elevated FSH levels. Also, there seems to be a relationship between higher waist circumference and low FSH.
Another study, which was featured in the journal Obesity in April 2015, pinpoints a direct relationship between FSH hormone and body weight. As the scientists note, weight loss may slightly increase FSH levels in overweight, postmenopausal women 13.
One way to boost your GPx is to eat a diet rich in selenium 15. According to a small clinical trial published in Nephro-Urology Monthly in May 2014, this mineral is an integral component of glutathione peroxidase 9. Selenium supplementation has been shown to elevate GPx activity in chronic kidney disease sufferers 1415.
Organ meat, muscle meats, seafood and whole grains are all excellent sources of selenium, as the National Institutes of Health points out 15. Brazil nuts, for example, provide 777 percent of the daily recommended selenium intake per serving (1 ounce), according to the NIH 15.
- This enzyme reduces oxidative stress.
- According to a February 2018 study published in the journal Eating and Weight Disorders, higher GPx concentrations are linked to elevated FSH levels.
Fill Up on Leafy Greens
What Are the Causes of Fluctuating Thyroid Levels?
Leafy green vegetables won't directly increase FSH levels. However, they are low in calories and can help you lose weight, which in turn, may raise FSH concentrations, as noted in the above studies.
These foods boast high doses of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that support reproductive health. Antioxidants are particularly important when you're trying to conceive.
Oxidative stress may contribute to reproductive disorders and pregnancy complications. Alcohol consumption, bad eating, pollution and obesity only make things worse.
The antioxidants in vegetables and other whole foods neutralize free radical damage and reduce oxidative stress, according to a research paper posted in Frontiers in Pharmacology in October 2018 1618. These compounds protect against age-related diseases, cellular damage and chronic inflammation, among other health issues.
Men can benefit from an antioxidant-rich diet, too. Oxidative stress affects male fertility and sperm production, making it difficult to conceive. In women, it may cause inflammation in the reproductive organs and impair fertility.
Read more: 10 Scary Facts About Men's Sperm Count
Kale, for example, is rich in vitamin C, polyphenols, beta-carotene and other p