Ovulation

World Health Organization organizes women who do not ovulate into categories.

LOW ESTROGEN AND LOW FSH Due to poor function of the pituitary gland. Estrogen levels are low, and so are the levels of the pituitary hormone FSH. These women might be the runners, those suffering from stress.

HIGH ESTROGEN DUE TO PCOS. The second group is the most common, and includes the women with PCOS. Their pituitary hormones like FSH are normal, usually the estrogen levels are normal too. It is thought that the ovary may be resistant to the normal cycles of hormones from the controlling centers of the brain. Other factors make make the ovary resistant for instance insulin or male hormone levels may be abnormal.

PREMATURELY AGING OVARY, LOW ESTROGEN High levels of pituitary hormones. These are women who usually have one of two types of problems. Either they have prematurely gone into menopause and their FSH is high. Or, they have other pituitary over production of hormones, such as high prolactin, which is a treatable condition. Like other medical conditions, appropriate treatments come with accurate diagnosis. In this case blood hormone testing is very helpful.