Hormone Test

Test : Follicle stimulating hormone test


Indications : The test is usually carried out during certain time of the menstrual cycle

The test is done to help diagnose or evaluate:

• Menopause
• PCO syndrome, ovarian cysts
• Infertility
• Menstrual bleeding / Vaginal bleeding
• Men who have underdeveloped testicles

In children, the test helps to evaluate:

• Those who develop sexual features precociously
• Delayed puberty

You may be asked to stop medications that contain estrogen and progesterone for up to 4 weeks prior to the test. Also inform the doctor about the first day of your last menstrual cycle.

A sample of the blood is taken through venipuncture and is transferred to the laboratory.

Normal

Normal FSH level will vary in accordance to age and gender. The values are as follows:

• Male

• Before puberty: 0 - 5.0 mIU/ml


• During puberty: 0.3 - 10.0 mIU/ml


• Adult: 1.5 - 12.4 mIU/ml

• Female:

• Before puberty: 0 - 4.0 mIU/ml


• During puberty: 0.3 - 10.0 mIU/ml


• Menstruating: 4.7 - 21.5 mIU/ml


• After menopause: 25.8 - 134.8 mIU/ml

Menstruating Women
Follicular phase:	1.37–9.9 international units per liter (IU/L)
Midcycle peak:	6.17–17.2 IU/L
Luteal phase:	1.09–9.2 IU/L
Women past Menopause:	19.3–100.6 IU/L
Men:	1.42–15.4 IU/L

In children high FSH indicates the start of puberty.

Abnormal

High FSH levels in women may indicate:

• Menopause / premature menopause
• Receiving hormone replacement therapy
• Tumor in the pituitary gland
• Turner’s syndrome

Low FSH levels in women indicate:

• Being underweight
• Recent rapid weight loss
• Non ovulatory phase
• Dysfunctional hypothalamus /pituitary gland
• Pregnancy

High FSH levels in men may indicate:

• Male menopause
• Damage to testicles due to alcohol abuse, chemotherapy, or radiation
• Genetic conditions like Klinefelter syndrome
• Tumors in the pituitary gland
• Treatment with hormones

Low FSH levels in men may indicate dysfunctional pituitary or hypothalamus

Physiology : The follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) blood test is done to measure the level of FSH.

FSH is a hormone released by the pituitary gland in the brain. It is responsible for stimulating the follicles of the ovaries to produce eggs in menstruating women. The levels of FSH vary throughout the menstruating cycle of a woman and is known to peak just before the release of egg. In men it helps to stimulate the production of sperms.

Normal Range : Male 4-25U/L, Female 4-30U/L

Interpretation : Higher values indicate hypopitutarism,genetic disorders like Turner and Knilfielters syndrome.Low levels indicate disorders of pituatiry and hypothalamus

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