Test Detail
Understanding the Test
Test Measures
Interpreting Results
FAQ's
City Price Info
Home Collection
References
Other Tests
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Dr. Betina Chandolia
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Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Also known as Follitropin
399538 25% Off
You need to provide
Blood
This test is for
Male, Female
Test Preparation
  1. In females, the preferred sampling time is day 2 or 3 of the menstrual cycle.
  2. Please provide the last day of your menstrual cycle at the time of sample collection.

Understanding Follicle Stimulating Hormone


What is Follicle Stimulating Hormone?

A Follicle Stimulating Hormone test measures the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). FSH is a hormone that plays a significant role in sexual development and reproduction in men and women. This test is performed to detect and monitor hormonal imbalance, fertility issues and early or delayed puberty.  

Follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH, plays an important role in sexual development and reproduction as it affects the function of ovaries in women and testicles in men. Evaluating the level of FSH is a crucial step in determining reproductive health in both men and women. FSH helps control the menstrual cycles and the production of eggs by the ovaries and facilitates the release of healthy eggs, a process called ovulation. In men, FSH helps control the sperm count and health of the sperm produced by the testicles (testes). FSH levels fluctuate constantly in women, with the highest volumes occurring prior to ovulation. While FSH levels in men normally remain stable after puberty.

A Follicle Stimulating Hormone test can be ordered when a woman is experiencing symptoms of irregular or heavy menstrual periods, has polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), she is facing difficulty in getting pregnant, and/or if problems with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus (an important part of the brain) are suspected. In men, this test can be performed when fertility issues and signs of low testosterone levels, such as decreased sex drive and low muscle mass, are observed. In children, especially teenagers, a Follicle Stimulating Hormone test is done if the doctor suspects a delayed or early puberty. This test may also be performed with other hormone tests such as prolactin, luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, and testosterone to give a more comprehensive overview of your sexual and reproductive health.

In women, the preferred time to collect the sample is the second or third day of the menstrual cycle. For men, the test can be done at any time. Before getting tested with Follicle Stimulating Hormone let your doctor know about all the medicines that you are taking. Your doctor may ask you to temporarily stop taking certain medications, such as birth control pills to get accurate test results.

Test result ranges are approximate and may differ slightly between labs depending on the methodology and laboratory guidelines. Talk to your doctor about your specific test results. The results will help them determine your medical condition and formulate your overall treatment plan.

What is Follicle Stimulating Hormone used for?

A Follicle Stimulating Hormone test is done to: 

  • Evaluate the function of reproductive organs (ovaries or testicles).

  • Assess menstrual irregularities and conditions such as amenorrhea or oligomenorrhea.

  • Detects disorders of the pituitary gland or diseases involving the ovaries.

  • Evaluate infertility issues in men and women.

  • Evaluate low sperm count in men.

  • Assess hypogonadism or gonadal failure in men.

  • Assess testicular dysfunction in men.

  • Evaluate early or delayed sexual maturation (puberty) in children. 

What does Follicle Stimulating Hormone measure?

A Follicle Stimulating Hormone test measures the level of FSH in your body. FSH is produced and subsequently released into the blood by the pituitary gland. Its production is controlled by a feedback mechanism involving gonadotropin-releasing hormone situated in the hypothalamus in the brain. The released FSH travels through your blood and then attaches to receptors in the ovaries and testes and exerts its functional effects on the reproductive organs, such as sexual development, puberty and maturation. FSH levels vary throughout the menstrual cycle in response to estradiol and progesterone. Any disruption or issue in this feedback mechanism can prevent normal function of the testicles or ovaries. Thus determining its level provides crucial information regarding your health.    

Interpreting Follicle Stimulating Hormone results


Interpretations

Reference range of FSH is age- and gender-specific. As for women, the reference range is menstrual cycle phase-specific.

The reference range for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is as follows (3rd generation immunochemiluminescence assay):

 Females reference range:

·       Age 0-7 years: <6.7 mIU/mL

·       Age 8 years to adult:

·       Follicular phase: 3.1-7.9 mIU/mL

·       Ovulation peak: 2.3-18.5 mIU/mL

·       Luteal phase: 1.4-5.5 mIU/mL

·       Postmenopausal: 30.6-106.3 mIU/mL

 

Males 

·       Age 0-7 years: <6.7 mIU/mL

·       Age 8 years-adult:1.3-19.3 mIU/mL

 

 The reference range may vary from lab to lab*

 

Answers to Patient Concerns & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Follicle Stimulating Hormone


Frequently Asked Questions about Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Q. Why do I need a Follicle Stimulating Hormone test?

You may need a Follicle Stimulating Hormone test to evaluate fertility issues, assess menstrual problems, detect disorders of the pituitary gland, evaluate people with suspected hypogonadism (a condition where little or no sex hormones are produced in males and females), low sperm count, or other diseases related to the reproductive function.

Q. What do high levels of FSH indicate in women?

High levels of FSH in women can indicate loss of ovarian function or ovarian failure, precocious puberty, menopause, polycystic ovarian syndrome, chromosomal abnormalities (e.g., Turner’s syndrome), and reduction in the production of good quality eggs and embryos for fertilization.

Q. What are the causes of high levels of FSH in men?

High levels of FSH in men may indicate Klinefelter’s syndrome, absence of testicles or impaired functioning of testicles, damage to testicles by a disease such as alcohol dependence, use of certain medicinal drugs, and testicular damage by treatments such as X-rays or chemotherapy.

Q. What other hormone tests may be required along with abnormal FSH values?

Following hormone tests may be required along with abnormal FSH values: estradiol test, luteinizing hormone test, progesterone test, and testosterone test.

Q. What can cause infertility in females?

The primary cause of infertility in females is failure to ovulate. This problem can occur due to polycystic ovarian disorder (PCOD) and primary ovarian insufficiency. Nearly 10% of women deal with infertility of some kind, and the chances of being infertile increases as a woman ages.

Q. What causes infertility in males?

Male infertility can be caused by various biological factors and environmental factors such as the inability to produce sperm or poor quality sperm, medical issues such as varicocele, ejaculation problems, undescended testicles, hormonal imbalances, and unhealthy habits including alcohol, smoking, and drugs.
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Follicle Stimulating Hormone test price for other cities


Price inMumbaiRs. 220
Price inBangaloreRs. 399
Price inGurgaonRs. 399
Price inPuneRs. 220
Price inKolkataRs. 399
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References

  1. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone [Internet]. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Medical Center; [Accessed 11 Jan. 2024]. Available from: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=follicle_stimulating_hormone External Link
  2. Follicle stimulating hormone [Internet]. Healthdirect; [Accessed 12 Jan. 2024]. Available from: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/follicle-stimulating-hormone#:~:text=Follicle%20stimulating%20hormone%20(FSH)%20is,of%20eggs%20by%20the%20ovaries. External Link
  3. Orlowski M, Sarao MS. Physiology, Follicle Stimulating Hormone [Internet]. Treasure Island, Florida: StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535442/ External Link
  4. O'Herlihy C, Pepperell RJ, Evans JH. The significance of FSH elevation in young women with disorders of ovulation. Br Med J. 1980 Nov 29;281(6253):1447-50. [Accessed 12 Jan. 2024]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1714809/ External Link
  5. Simoni M, Weinbauer GF, Gromoll J, Nieschlag E. Role of FSH in male gonadal function. Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 1999 Jul;60(2):102-6. [Accessed 12 Jan. 2024]. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10456180/#:~:text=In%20the%20male%20FSH%20is,maintenance%20of%20normal%20sperm%20production External Link
  6. Fortin J, Boehm U, Deng CX, Treier M, Bernard DJ. Follicle-stimulating hormone synthesis and fertility depend on SMAD4 and FOXL2. FASEB J. 2014 Aug;28(8):3396-410. [Accessed 12 Jan. 2024]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4101660/ External Link
  7. Arslan AA, Zeleniuch-Jacquotte A, Lukanova A, Rinaldi S, Kaaks R, Toniolo P. Reliability of follicle-stimulating hormone measurements in serum. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2003 Jun 18;1:49. [Accessed 12 Jan. 2024]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC165593/#:~:text=FSH%20levels%20peak%20during%20the,result%20of%20ovarian%20function%20cessation. External Link
  8. Behre HM. Clinical Use of FSH in Male Infertility. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2019 May 24;10:322. [Accessed 12 Jan. 2024]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6543808/#:~:text=In%20male%20infertility%2C%20the%20indication,with%20hypogonadotropic%20hypogonadism%20(1). External Link

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