What do you understand by follicle-stimulating hormone

What do you understand by follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) Blood Test?

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and plays a crucial role in both men and women.

In women, FSH stimulates the production of eggs within the ovaries, while in men, it promotes the production of sperm.

For women of childbearing age, FSH blood tests are typically conducted on specific days of the menstrual cycle to assess fertility and reproductive health. Your doctor may recommend an FSH blood test to diagnose issues related to sexual development, menstruation, and fertility.

It’s important to note that normal FSH levels can vary depending on the individual’s sex and age.

  • Before puberty: 0-5.0 IU/L
  • During puberty: 0.3-10.0 IU/L
  • Adult: 1.5-12.4 IU/L or 5 to 20 mIU/mL

•    Females   

  • Before puberty: 0-5.0 IU/L
  • During puberty: 0.3-10.0 IU/L

•    Women during menstruation: 3.5-3.0 IU/L or 5-20 m U/L

•    Postmenopausal Women: 40-250 IU/L or 50 mIU/mL to 100 mIU/mL

Certain conditions which can be diagnosed or evaluated by FSH blood test include:

  • Menopause
  • Women with polycystic ovary disease, ovarian cysts, irregular vaginal bleeding, or infertility
  • Children with early sexual development (before the expected age of sexual maturity).
  • Men with infertility
  • Men with absent testicles or small and underdeveloped testicles

Some disorders in which the FSH result may be abnormal include:

  • Hypopituitarism
  • Klinefelter syndrome
  • Polycystic ovary disease
  • Turner syndrome
  • Ovarian failure
  • Ovarian or adrenal cancers
  • Precocious puberty in girls and boys
  • Anorexia