| FSH or follicle stimulating hormone is one of the | | | | beyond 25 are sometimes a cause for concern as |
| hormones linked to your capability to become | | | | this is usually an indicator for low ovarian reserves. |
| pregnant. If you are having difficulty starting a family | | | | Women who have this high a level of FSH have been |
| and are worried that you may be infertile, FSH | | | | shown to have a lower chance of becoming |
| testing is one of the many tests that you may | | | | pregnant. However, high FSH levels do not |
| encounter to determine your condition. Here are | | | | automatically mean infertility. People have become |
| some facts to help you understand a little bit more | | | | pregnant despite the low ovarian reserves indicated |
| about this hormone and how it affects you. | | | | by their high FSH levels. |
| Follicle stimulating hormones are used by the body to | | | | There are some important things you should keep in |
| promote the growth of follicles important to the | | | | mind in interpreting you FSH numbers. Firstly, the |
| reproductive process. In order to get pregnant, you | | | | numbers are very dependent on the laboratory that |
| need eggs. Your ovaries will naturally produce healthy | | | | conducted the tests. Some have to be interpreted |
| eggs but to keep your eggs healthy, your body | | | | differently and you should always consider this |
| needs to create somewhere to house them in. It | | | | before comparing your numbers with anybody else's. |
| does this through follicles. The follicles will form a | | | | Secondly, no single piece of data will be indicative of |
| structure that will store your eggs until they are | | | | your total condition. Taking FSH levels on its own, |
| needed. These stored eggs are called your ovarian | | | | outside of context, can be misleading. Always ask |
| reserves. A fertile woman will have high ovarian | | | | your doctor or a health professional about the results |
| reserves meaning she has many healthy eggs that | | | | before attempting to interpret them on your own. |
| her body can use to make a baby. Without the | | | | Sometimes having a low FSH count isn't good news. |
| follicles, the eggs won't be stored properly and could | | | | When your body has the ability to produce the |
| seriously inhibit pregnancy. This is where FSH comes | | | | follicles but your pituitary gland is unable to produce |
| in. If the body determines that you need more | | | | the proper hormones to start the process (hence |
| follicles to keep your eggs happy, it will release more | | | | resulting in a low FSH count), you'll still end up with |
| FSH through the pituitary gland. Normally, the body | | | | low chance of getting pregnant. In these cases, FSH |
| reacts by making the follicles, and the pituitary gland | | | | can be introduced into your body to help the process |
| will stop releasing the hormone. However, if the body | | | | get going. A synthetic version of FSH, called |
| cannot respond and the follicles are not created, the | | | | recombinant FSH, is created through DNA and is |
| pituitary gland will keep releasing FSH. This is where it | | | | injected into your body to replace the missing |
| becomes an important indicator for possible fertility | | | | hormones that your body needs. This is commonly |
| problems. | | | | used in cases of anovulation, irregular menstrual |
| Doctors will usually test your FSH levels in between | | | | cycles, and polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS. |
| the second and fifth days of your monthly period. A | | | | Remember that FSH is not the only hormone that is |
| blood sample will be taken from you and you will get | | | | essential to pregnancy. But it is one of the popular |
| a number as a result. The levels of FSH are | | | | indicators doctors use to help you get a clearer |
| measured in milli-international units per milliliter or mIU | | | | picture of what is going on in your body. Try to find |
| ml. This measurement can sometimes be daunting but | | | | out more about these hormones so the next time |
| you can simplify it by using a baseline number to | | | | you take a test or get a result you'll have a better |
| compare it with. Doctors usually consider 15 mIU/ml | | | | idea on what it all means. |
| and below as good levels for FSH. Numbers that go | | | | |