What Fertility Hormones Tell Us About Our Health (and Why Monitors Can Help & Are So Cool)

Women’s bodies are amazing and one of the coolest things about them is how our hormones help us get ready for pregnancy each month. But, these hormones don’t just matter for making babies (obviously, that is super important, too!). They tell us a lot about overall health, too.

In the past few years, lots of new fertility monitors have come out that help us learn more about our hormones. Before we talk about the tools, let’s understand the hormones themselves.

What Are Fertility Hormones?

Hormones are tiny messengers in your body. They float around in your blood or urine and tell your body what to do.

When it comes to fertility and pregnancy, the main hormones to know are:

1. FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)

• What it does: FSH helps your ovaries grow a tiny egg at the beginning of your cycle.

• Why it matters: If your body doesn’t make enough FSH, or too much, it can affect whether you ovulate (release an egg) at all. It’s also one of the first hormones to change if your body is under stress or nearing menopause.

2. LH (Luteinizing Hormone)

• What it does: LH gives your ovary a “go” signal to release the egg. This is called ovulation.

• Why it matters: A big surge of LH means your body is ready to try for a baby. No surge? No ovulation. This hormone helps you know when your fertile window is open.

3. Estrogen

• What it does: Estrogen builds up the lining of your uterus so a baby can implant. It also helps you feel more energetic, social, and confident right before ovulation.

• Why it matters: Low estrogen can mean thin uterine lining, no ovulation, or poor bone health. Too much can cause heavy periods or PMS symptoms.

4. Progesterone (measured in urine as PdG)

• What it does: After ovulation, your body makes progesterone to keep the uterine lining thick. If you get pregnant, it helps hold that baby in place.

• Why it matters: If progesterone is too low, you may have trouble staying pregnant or feel extra moody, tired, or anxious. It’s also super important for sleep and calming the brain.

Why Does This Matter for Women’s Health?

Your hormones are like your body’s monthly report card.

When they’re in balance:

• You ovulate (which means your body is working the way it was designed).

• Your periods are regular and not too heavy or painful.

• You feel more calm, strong, and steady throughout your cycle.

• Pregnancy is more likely to happen and to stick.

When hormones are off, it can show up as:

• Trouble getting or staying pregnant

• Irregular or missing periods

• Mood swings or anxiety

• Low energy or burnout

• Signs of thyroid issues or PCOS

Tracking these hormones helps you listen to your body’s messages, instead of guessing or ignoring symptoms (especially tracking BEFORE you want to have a baby is so important).

How Do Fertility Monitors Help?

Now that you know what the hormones do, let’s go back to the tools.

There are two types of monitors:

1. Simple monitors (like Clearblue used in the Marquette Method)

These tell you when your hormone levels rise, but they don’t show the exact numbers. You just get a happy face (you’re likely fertile) or a sad face (not fertile).

✅ Great for women who want ease and clarity.

❌ Doesn’t show what’s happening behind the scenes.

2. Advanced monitors (newer tech tools)

These measure real numbers of LH, PdG, FSH, and more. (I use Mira to help get an idea of what my body is doing...I think it is fascinating!)

✅ Great for women who want to understand what’s working or not in their cycle.

✅ Can catch issues like low progesterone or skipped ovulation.

❌ Takes a little more learning, but gives you more control.

Why I Teach Women to Understand This

As a women’s health coach, I teach women how to listen to their bodies through their hormones and cycles, not just to avoid or achieve pregnancy, but to feel strong, peaceful, and whole.

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, wondering why your cycles are off, or just wanting to feel better in your skin, your hormones have the answers. And using the right monitor can help you tune in.

Ready to Learn More?

If you’re curious about what your hormones are saying or you want help choosing a monitor that fits your goals and beliefs, I’d love to help.

Click [here] to book a free discovery call, and let’s take the guesswork out of your cycle so you can feel confident and peaceful in your body again.