Follicle Stimulating Hormone Test- Why am I having this test?
Follicle Stimulating Hormone test can be used to help diagnose various conditions, including conditions that may be making it hard for you or your partner to have a baby.
You may have this test to help your health care provider diagnose what is causing:
- Inability to become pregnant (infertility).
- Problems with parts of your brain that produce hormones. These include the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus.
- Irregular or loss of menstrual periods.
- Low testosterone in men.
- Early or late sexual development (puberty) in boys or girls.
The FSH test can also help determine when menopause will start or confirm that you are in menopause.
What is being tested?
This test measures the amount of FSH in your blood. FSH is a hormone made by a gland underneath your brain (pituitary gland). FSH plays an important role in your ability to get pregnant or reproduce (fertility). In women, FSH helps regulate egg development and the menstrual cycle. In men, it helps control sperm production.
The level of FSH in your body can change at different times. It varies as you develop and get older. It also changes over the course of a woman’s menstrual cycle.
FSH works with several other hormones. You may have an FSH test along with other hormone tests, such as:
- Luteinizing hormone (LH).
- Estrogen.
- Testosterone.
What kind of sample is taken?
A blood sample is required for this test. It is usually collected by inserting a needle into a blood vessel.
Tell a health care provider about:
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any medical conditions you have.
How are the results reported?
Your test results will be reported as ranges. Your health care provider will compare your results to normal ranges that were established after testing a large group of people (reference ranges). Reference ranges may vary among labs and hospitals. For this test, common reference ranges are:
- Male adults: 1.42–15.4 international units/L.
- Female
adults:
- Follicular phase: 1.37–9.9 international units/L.
- Ovulatory phase: 6.17–17.2 international units/L.
- Luteal phase: 1.09–9.2 international units/L.
- Postmenopause: 19.3–100.6 international units/L.
- Children
(age 1–10 years):
- Male: 0.3–4.6 international units/L.
- Female: 0.68–6.7 international units/L.
What do the results mean?
Results within the reference range are considered normal. An FSH level that is lower than normal can indicate:
- Disorder of the pituitary gland.
- Disorder of the hypothalamus.
- Malnutrition.
An FSH level that is higher than normal can indicate:
- Menopause.
- Damage or disease of the ovaries in women.
- Damage or disease of the testicles in men.
- Early puberty.
Talk with your health care provider about what your results mean.
Questions to ask your health care provider
Ask your health care provider, or the department that is doing the test:
- When will my results be ready?
- How will I get my results?
- What are my treatment options?
- What other tests do I need?
- What are my next steps?
Summary
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone made by the pituitary gland. FSH plays an important role in your ability to get pregnant or reproduce (fertility).
- The FSH test is a blood test that can be used to help diagnose various conditions, including conditions that may be causing infertility.
- An FSH level that is lower than normal can indicate a disorder of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus.
- An FSH level that is higher than normal can indicate menopause, early puberty, or certain conditions involving the testicles or ovaries.
