Normal Female Hormone Levels

Hormones are necessary for the proper functioning of the human body. Abnormal hormone levels can impact anything from sleep cycles to the ability to learn. Female hormones are different than those found in males. Normal female hormone levels vary from one woman to the other and within a woman depending on age, ethnicity and even the environment.

Female Hormone Types

Hormones in women can be divided into groups depending on what function they perform, though the groups are not mutually exclusive. Reproductive hormones control the production and release of eggs from the ovaries. Growth hormones control the development of the body particularly as it transitions through puberty and into adulthood. Other hormones deal with production of breast milk. Still others deal with mood.

Reproductive Hormones

Hormones involved in the female reproductive system include Leuteinizing Hormone (LH), Follicle-stimulating Hormone (FSH), Estrogen and Progesterone. Together, these hormones are responsible for the production, maturation and release of eggs from the ovaries. The levels of these hormones vary depending on the time of the menstrual period and on the sexual maturity of a woman. For this reason, no particular normal ranges are applicable.

Growth Hormone

Human growth hormone (hGH) aids in the growth and development of the human body. Levels of it are slightly lower in women compared to men. The levels of the hormone also vary by time of day and by age. Like other hormones, hGH does not do work in making the body grow. It only signals other tissues and organs to act. The levels of the hormone also vary by time of day and by age. So a normal level is difficult to establish without the context of when the sample is taken or how old the patient is.

Pregnancy Hormone

The Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the developing placenta once a human embryo (fertilized egg) implants itself in the uterus. Non-pregnant women and men have no detectable levels of hCG. Pregnant women double the level of hCG in their blood almost every day from about the first day of pregnancy to about the second trimester of pregnancy. The level then remains steady and decreases to undetectable levels immediately after pregnancy.

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormonal imbalances can be the result of a number of diseases and conditions. Because the pituitary gland, which resides near the brain, is the source of many hormones in the body, cranial trauma, brain tumors and certain medications may cause FSH, LH and other hormones to be produced in abnormally low or even high levels. Tumors of the ovaries may throw estrogen and progesterone levels off balance as well. Also, because estrogen is stored in fat cells, women with higher body fat levels may exhibit higher levels of estrogen.