Understanding FSH Inhibition: Factors & Impact on Fertility

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a gonadotropin released by the anterior pituitary gland that binds to localized receptors. In women, it stimulates egg production and estradiol release during the first half of the menstrual cycle. In men, it stimulates sperm production.

Hormonal Inhibition

• Sex steroids such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone, inhibit the release of GnRH, thereby inhibiting the release of FSH. This inhibition leads to pulsatile secretion of FSH, which is related to the stage in a women's menstrual cycle.

Receptor Inhibition

• There are other hormones that compete with the FSH receptor, therefore inhibiting the ability of FSH to bind or displacing an already bound FSH molecule, leading to impaired FSH activity. Infertility and gonadotropin resistance may result from receptor inhibition. Receptor mutation can lead to an inability for FSH to bind as well, which can result in specific disease states.

Medicinal Inhibition

• In the case of infertility and artificial reproductive therapy, medication can be used to inhibit FSH in order to stimulate ovarian function. The medications are GnRH agonists that work to suppress the formation of new FSH. One of the available medications is more specific in the inhibition process. as it initially signals the pituitary gland to release all stored gonadotropins, followed by inhibiting hormone production.