What are the normal FSH levels in women? When are they tested? What do high or low FSH levels convey? Get answers to all these questions in the given story.
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) plays an important role in fertility and reproduction. It is released by the anterior pituitary gland. The doctor may order a blood test to check the levels of FSH and other hormones (LH, testosterone, progesterone, etc.) since they help detect the exact cause of infertility.
In case of men, the test helps detect the cause of low sperm count; while in case of women, it helps detect the cause of menstrual irregularities or diseases in ovaries. The follicle stimulating hormone level test also helps diagnose pituitary gland disorders.
FSH in Women
In women, this hormone regulates menstruation and the production of egg in the ovaries, and is also required for the formation of placenta during pregnancy. Therefore, abnormal FSH levels may lead to irregular or absent menstrual periods.
The FSH levels in women are said to be normal when they are between 3 mIU/ml to 10 mIU/ml; however, the levels change significantly during ovulation, pregnancy, and menopause. Considering these changes, the FSH level between 3 to 30 mIU/mL can be considered normal for women.
Normal FSH levels in women promote timely development of reproductive organs, healthy overall growth, pubertal maturation, and the production of normal number of reproductive cells required for the reproductive processes of the body. Thus FSH plays an important role in conception; however, fluctuations in its levels can cause delayed or early puberty.
Home kits are available to test the level of this hormone in urine or saliva. Urine test results are more accurate than saliva test results because various environmental factors like smoking, intake of oral contraceptives, etc., may affect the saliva test results. A simple blood test helps measure FSH in blood.
High Levels
At the time of ovulation, an increase in follicle stimulating hormones is noticed. It is considered as the right time to measure this hormone in blood. Generally, the levels are measured on the third day of the menstrual cycle. High level is noticed in women who are in post-menopausal phase.
The normal FSH level after menopause is 50-100 mIU/ml. A level more than 12 mIU/ml makes the ovaries weak, whereas a level above 25 mIU/ml leads to ovarian failure. This is what happens after menopause. High FSH is therefore considered as normal in women post menopause.
The levels higher than 25 mIU/ml suggest the beginning of premenopause phase, whereas the levels more than 50 mlU/ml indicate that the woman is in menopause.
Hot flushes, night sweats, insomnia, headache, and restlessness are the commonly observed symptoms of high FSH in women. Infertility, ovarian cyst, and polycystic ovarian syndrome are some of the common causes of high FSH in women.
Low Levels
During pregnancy, the FSH levels lower than 2 mIU/ml are noticed. Women taking contraceptive pills and hypogonadotropic women also have low levels of this hormone. In normal cases, no or low FSH indicates hypothalamus gland dysfunction. This can result in lack of ovulation, which in turn can rule out the possibility of conception.
Normal levels of follicle stimulating hormones are essential for the smooth functioning of the reproductive organs of a woman. The FSH test helps detect and evaluate several problems affecting the fertility and menstrual cycle.
Hormone replacement therapy helps maintain normal FSH levels in women. It has been observed that men generally have stable FSH levels compared to women. In women, multiple testing is usually required because the levels of follicle stimulating hormone keep on changing.
Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.