In a patient diagnosed with primary ovarian insufficiency, which hormone levels would you expect to be elevated?

In primary ovarian insufficiency, the ovaries do not produce sufficient amounts of estrogen and progesterone due to a depletion of the ovarian reserve. As a result, the body compensates for the low levels of these hormones by increasing the secretion of gonadotropins from the pituitary gland, namely follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

The elevation of follicle-stimulating hormone is particularly indicative of primary ovarian insufficiency because, in a healthy feedback loop, rising levels of estradiol from functioning ovaries would suppress FSH and LH production. However, when the ovaries are not responding properly, estradiol levels tend to be low, leading to a lack of negative feedback on the pituitary. Consequently, FSH levels rise as the pituitary gland attempts to stimulate the ovaries to produce follicles.

While luteinizing hormone also tends to be elevated in this condition, the most definitive marker for primary ovarian insufficiency is the significantly high follicle-stimulating hormone level, which distinguishes this condition from other causes of amenorrhea or menstrual irregularities. In summary, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone levels are a hallmark of primary ovarian insufficiency due to the disrupted hormonal feedback mechanism