Follicle stimulating hormone, or FSH, is necessary for ovulation in women and the production of sperm in men. According to the June 18, 2003 online issue of "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology," FSH levels are known to peak during menstruation and ovulation, and lower during the late follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle. FSH is part of the gonadotropin family, and measurements of its levels in the bloodstream are used in diagnosing various reproductive and developmental disorders.
Pituitary Tumor
The Pituitary Network Association describes the pituitary gland--the gland responsible for producing FSH--as a small ductless gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream. It is about the size of a pea and is located at the base of the brain. According to the Association, 1 out of every 5 people in the world has a pituitary tumor. Tumors are the abnormal growth of pituitary cells, and are rarely cancerous. In men, suppressed FSH can cause decreased testosterone and sperm counts, low libido, erectile dysfunction and loss of masculine characteristics. In women, ovulation is suppressed, menstruation ceases and estrogen lowers. Osteoporosis is prevalent in both sexes.
Melatonin Production
According to J.E. Roberts of Fordham University, melatonin, a neurohormone, plays a part in circadian rhythms that control waking and sleeping cycles, as it increases in a darkened environment and decreases in a lighted environment. Secreted by the pineal gland, melatonin lowers body temperature and induces drowsiness. FSH levels differ in light and dark, and are decreased by melatonin production. The June 23, 2006 issue of "The New York Academy of Sciences" journal states that there's a close link between human reproduction and melatonin.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
The University of Maryland Medical Center describes polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, as a condition that appears in 6 percent of women and produces high amounts of the male hormones androgens. Increased androgen levels decrease production of FSH. This inhibits the follicles from producing mature eggs.
References
- "Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology"; Reliability of Follicle-stimulating Hormone Measurements in Serum; Alan A. Arslan, et al.; June 2003
- Pituitary Network Association: What is the Pituitary gland?
- "Circadian Rhythm and Human Health"; J.E. Roberts; Fordham University
- "Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences"; Effects of Melatonin in Perimenopausal and Menopausal Women: Our Personal Experience; G. Bellipanni, et al.; January 2006
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Infertility in Women
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