| Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) stimulates the | | | | thickened wall around the egg called the zona. |
| female ovaries to produce a mature egg for | | | | Can FSH Levels be lowered? |
| fertilization. By measuring a woman's FSH levels, | | | | FSH can be artificially suppressed by taking birth |
| doctors get an indication of the quantity of the | | | | control pills or synthetic estrogen. However there are |
| woman’s eggs remaining as well as her chances | | | | mixed reports whether these options are really |
| of having a successful pregnancy. Eggs are not | | | | beneficial. Research is currently underway to find a |
| replaceable as a woman is born with all of the eggs | | | | way of using stem cells to either create egg cells or |
| she will ever have. As she ages, the quality and | | | | to fabricate eggs using donated egg material and the |
| quantity of the eggs decreases. | | | | woman’s DNA. |
| Declining ovarian function is indicated by an elevation | | | | High FSH Levels – What they could mean |
| of FSH levels. Increased levels are seen in primary or | | | | High FSH levels correlate with poor pregnancy rates. |
| premature ovarian failure, sometimes referred to as | | | | A normal FSH level is usually under 10, whereas an |
| early menopause. FSH levels are usually checked | | | | abnormal level is anything above 25. Measurements |
| around cycle day three. The tests may show a rise | | | | between 10 and 25 are generally considered to be |
| or fall in FSH levels over a couple of months. A rise is | | | | borderline cases. FSH levels vary a bit across |
| an indication of a problem with a woman’s | | | | laboratories depending on which assay system is |
| ovarian egg supply, leading to difficulties in treating | | | | used. It’s best to retest the FSH in the |
| infertility. This however does not mean that a | | | | new RE’s lab so that there is no confusion. |
| woman with high FSH levels cannot get pregnant. | | | | High FSH levels warrant an immediate treatment |
| Checking FSH levels assists in deciding upon | | | | regimen since even a short delay in treatment could |
| treatment options. Along with FSH level, Estradiol | | | | mean the difference between conceiving and not |
| levels are also tested since they are indicators of | | | | conceiving. This condition is also a case for |
| ovarian reserve. | | | | considering using an egg donor. |
| By measuring the amount of FSH, doctors can | | | | For women, in their 20s or early 30s, high FSH may |
| suggest specific treatments (such as in-vitro | | | | be due to immune abnormalities or an undetected |
| fertilization or intrauterine insemination) that could | | | | infection. Sometimes the level returns to normalcy on |
| maximize the chances of becoming pregnant. | | | | its own. However the high FSH levels that occur in |
| Assisted hatching in IVF is also an option for women | | | | women age 38 and older are unlikely to be reversible. |
| with elevated basal FSH levels who may also have a | | | | |