Endocrinology Plus

TSH is produced by the pituitary gland in the brain, acts on the thyroid gland to regulate thyroid hormone production.

T4 is a thyroid hormone responsible for many bodily functions including (but not exclusive to) the metabolism, mood, body temperature.

T3 is a thyroid hormone. It plays an important role in the body’s control of metabolism (the many processes that control the rate of activity in cells/tissues.

An anti-Tg (antithyroglobulin) blood test measures the level of antibodies in your blood that target thyroglobulin.

TPO plays an important role in the production of thyroid hormones. A TPO test detects for thryoid related autoimmune disorders.

An HbA1c blood test, also known as a glycated hemoglobin test, is a blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. 

Insulin is a hormone that your pancreas makes. It helps move blood glucose (blood sugar) from your bloodstream into your cells where it’s used for energy. Testing measures the amount of insulin, the hormone that lets cells take in glucose.

Cortisol is a steroid hormone, often referred to as a ‘stress’ hormone – that regulates a wide range of vital processes throughout the body, including metabolism and the immune response.

DHEA-S is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which plays an important role in testosterone and oestrogen production.

Female: In females, FSH helps control the menstrual cycle and the production of eggs by the ovaries.

Male: In males, follicle stimulating hormone helps control the production and maintenance of sperm cells.

Female: In females, LH stimulates the ovaries to produce oestradiol, triggering ovulation and development of the corpus luteum.

Male: In males, Luteinising hormone stimulates Leydig cells in the testes to produce testosterone, which acts locally to support sperm production.

Female: In females, oestradiol interacts with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to control the development of the follicle, ovulation and the menstrual cycle.

Male: Oestradiol is a form of oestrogen, in men it is essential for modulating libido, erectile function, and spermatogenesis.

Female: Progesterone is a sex hormone produced in the adrenal glands and ovaries, it plays an important role in regulating menstruation and pregnancy.

Male: Progesterone is a sex hormone produced by adrenal glands and testes in males, necessary for spermatogenesis binds testosterone

Female: Prolactin is a hormone responsible for lactation, breast development, and hundreds of other actions needed to maintain normal bodily function.

Male: Prolactin is a sex hormone produced by the pituitary gland, typically exists in low levels in men.

Female: Testosterone is produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands, it regulates many bodily processes including: fertility, libido, muscle mass, fat distribution.

Male: Testosterone is produced in the testes and adrenal glands, it regulates fertility, muscle mass, strength, libido, fat distribrution.

Free testosterone is the portion of testosterone in the blood that is not bound to proteins such as sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) or albumin. It represents the biologically active form of testosterone that can enter cells and exert effects on tissues.

Free Androgen Index (FAI) is a calculated ratio of total testosterone to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), used to estimate the amount of biologically active (free) testosterone available in the body.

Female: Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a protein that transports androgens and oestrogens in the blood and regulates their access to target tissues.

Male: Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is a protein that transports androgens and oestrogens in the blood and regulates their access to target tissues.

An AMH test monitors the hormone produced by the ovaries and is a good indicator of a woman’s ovarian reserve, or the number of potential eggs remaining.