FSH = Follicle stimulating hormone
LH = Luteinising hormone
GnRH = Gonadotrophin releasing hormone
Fertility Treatments.
In a lot of cases, but not all, it is possible for people with Kallmann's syndrome or HH to undergo successful fertility treatment. There are a lot of other factors to be taken into consideration first, as with any couple wanting children. However it is quite possible for a man or woman with Kallmann's or HH to become fertile.
The initial aim is to provide the conditions for a natural conception, if this is not possible some form of assisted fertilisation programme may be possible.
Fertility treatments will vary from country to country, and some may not be available everywhere.
One point to bear in mind is that Kallmann's and HH are genetic conditions and as such may be inherited. It might be very difficult, if not impossible for your doctor to predict the chances of a child having Kallmann's or HH.
Straight forward hormone replacement therapy, testosterone for men and oestrogen / progesterone for women is not going to make a person with Kallmann's or HH fertile.
In order to induce fertility a different set of hormones are required:
FSH = Follicle stimulating hormone
LH = Luteinising hormone
GnRH = Gonadotrophin releasing hormone
The testes and ovaries have dual functions of providing the sperm or eggs to enable fertility and the production
of sex hormones which will produce puberty and then maintain the body in its adult state.
A person on hormone replacement therapy will just receive the sex hormones that should have been produced by the testes
or ovaries. They will not stimulate the production of sperm or eggs.
In most countries the usual approach for both men and women is to try the pituitary hormones first and only use GnRH as an alternative. Part of
this is due is that the pituitary hormones are more easily administered than GnRH, and are more readily available. There is also a small class of HH people
who are unable to respond to GnRH.