It’s time to talk about a hormone called FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and its big role in fertility.
And remember: our comprehensive women’s fertility at-home collection kit measures your FSH as one of 7 key hormones included in our panel.
First things first though, what exactly is FSH? FSH is produced by a small gland in your brain called the pituitary gland, and its main job is to kickstart the process of ovulation in women and stimulate sperm production in men. In simpler terms, FSH plays a massive role in the development of eggs in women and the maturation of sperm in men.
Now, let's dive into how FSH affects fertility, especially in women. When your body decides it's time to ovulate, FSH stimulates the growth of follicles (small sacs in your ovaries) that contain your precious eggs. As the follicles mature, one lucky egg is released during ovulation.
But here's the thing: FSH levels need to be just right for the whole process to work smoothly. Too much or too little FSH can throw things off balance, potentially impacting fertility.
High levels of FSH could indicate that your ovaries are working overtime to produce eggs, which could be a sign of conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or diminished ovarian reserve. On the flip side, low levels of FSH might suggest issues with ovarian function or problems with the pituitary gland. So yes, your FSH level can help to evaluate menopause, PCOS, abnormal bleeding, and infertility.
Per the Cleveland Clinic, a study on day 3 FSH levels and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes showed that people with day 3 FSH levels lower than 15 (mIU/mL) had a better chance of becoming pregnant with an IVF attempt when compared to people with FSH levels between 15 (mIU/mL) and 24.9 mIU/ml.
Normal follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels vary based on your age and sex organs. It’s also important to remember that normal ranges for FSH levels can vary from lab to lab. Here are some general “normal” FSH levels provided by the Cleveland Clinic.
Of Menstruating age: 4.7 to 21.5 mIU/mL
After menopause: 25.8 to 134.8 mIU/mL
FSH also plays a crucial role in male fertility by stimulating the production of sperm in the testes. Just like in women, imbalances in FSH levels can affect sperm production and fertility in men. So, it's important for both partners to keep an eye on their FSH levels when trying to conceive.
FSH may be a small hormone, but it plays a big role in the miracle of life. Keep those FSH levels in check, stay positive, and remember that the road to parenthood is different for everyone. The most important thing is to advocate for yourself and understand your body and your hormones.
This specialized at-home kit measures 7 key hormone levels that can affect your menstrual cycle and overall fertility.
Method:
Simple finger prick blood collection card
When to collect: Collect your sample on day 2 to 5 of your cycle (day 3 is ideal; day 1 is your first day of full flow). FSH, LH and estradiol are read against early-cycle ranges, so timing matters. If you use hormonal birth control, your FSH, LH, estradiol and progesterone will reflect the medication, and your AMH and TSH results will be the most meaningful.
What does it measure?
AMH, FSH, TSH, Estradiol, LH, Serum Progesterone, DHEA-S
AMH: Your Anti-Müllerian Hormone level is an indicator of your ovarian reserve, or how many eggs you have left. AMH does not predict your chances of getting pregnant naturally, but it can help you and your doctor plan, for example around egg freezing or IVF. Your AMH level declines over time and drops significantly as menopause approaches.
FSH: The Follicle Stimulating Hormone is released by the pituitary gland. It helps manage a woman’s menstrual cycle and stimulates the ovaries to produce eggs. Your FSH level can help evaluate menopause, PMOS (previously named PCOS), abnormal bleeding, and infertility.
TSH: The Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone signals the thyroid gland to make hormones that control the metabolism. Checking your TSH level can show if your thyroid gland is functioning normally. Abnormalities in thyroid function and hyperprolactinemia are well-known causes of infertility.
Estradiol: Estradiol is the most important form of the hormone estrogen. High levels of estradiol can indicate a possible problem with your ovarian reserve. It can also mean the estradiol is suppressing FSH. Either of these things could mean that you will have more trouble getting pregnant or have trouble ovulating.
LH: In women, the Luteinizing Hormone helps control your menstrual cycle and triggers the release of an egg from the ovary, known as ovulation. LH levels surge just before ovulation. You should check your LH level at the beginning of your cycle to help evaluate ovarian function.
Serum Progesterone: Progesterone rises after ovulation. Because this kit is collected early in your cycle, your progesterone result is expected to be low and can’t confirm whether you ovulated. Confirming ovulation requires a progesterone test about 7 days before your next period, so talk with your doctor if that’s a question for you.
DHEA-S: Your Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate level helps show whether or not your adrenal glands are functioning properly. DHEA-S levels are often measured to help evaluate PMOS (previously named PCOS) and rule out other causes of infertility.
A portion of our revenue from each kit will be donated to fertility research and support.