Leptin receptors are mostly found in fat tissue, but researchers have found a receptor for leptin in endometrial tissue. It has also been discovered that leptin levels rise during the follicular phase in pre-menopausal women and fall at menstruation. Additionally, researchers have found in a small group of women who were sub-fertile that they lacked the leptin receptor in the endometrium. What does this mean?

All of this information points to a possible link between the leptin receptor and the ability to conceive. Leptin may play a role in preparing the endometrium for successful implantation. In order for implantation to occur, the endometrium must change after ovulation and grow in a certain pattern. Perhaps leptin promotes this differentiation of the tissue.

Now I said at the start that most leptin receptors are located in fat tissue. Technically, leptin is a hormone, and it serves as an appetite regulator. It works both ways, though. If your body fat is low, you will have low levels of leptin, and that will be a signal to your brain to shut down "non-essential functions," like ovulation.

Some research in women athletes who stopped menstruating and ovulating because of how much they exercise demonstrated the power of leptin. After a few months of supplementation with leptin, they began ovulating again.

That's all well and good in thin, athletic women, but what about other normal women who ovulate irregularly, like women with PCOS? That is not clear. Some research has shown that leptin levels are high in PCOS, so if leptin is the key to ovulation, then they should have normal ovulation. However, while leptin levels may be high, there may be a problem with the receptors. In other words, their leptin receptors are defective. That will require further investigation.

Leptin is not available commercially as a supplement yet. For now, it is still investigational. If you think leptin may help you, find a research center that is studying it in fertility. Again, the best advice is to get healthy and exercise moderately in order to get pregnant.