FSH is the follicle-stimulating hormone, produced by the pituitary gland, and has the function of regulating sperm production and egg maturation during fertile age; In this way, FSH is a hormone related to fertility and its concentration in the blood helps determine whether the testes and ovaries function properly.
FSH test baselines vary depending on a person’s age and gender, and for women, with the menstrual cycle phase, it can also be helpful in confirming menopause.
- This test is usually requested to evaluate the partner’s fertility.
- In case it would have been difficult to fall asleep.
- But it could also be requested by the gynecologist or endocrinologist to evaluate:.
In some situations that may affect the FSH test result on the use of contraceptive tablets, radioactive contrast tests such as those performed to evaluate the thyroid glands, as well as the use of medications such as cimetidine, clomiphene and levodopa. women to stop taking contraceptives 4 weeks before performing the procedure.
FSH values vary by age and sex, in infants and children it is not detected, it is detected in very low concentrations, it is normal to start producing at the onset of puberty, FSH values decrease when a woman enters menopause.
Standard values may vary from lab to lab, but they are usually
Children: up to 2. 5 mUI/ml
Adult female:
Normally, FSH is not a mandatory test during submission, as values have changed a lot during this phase due to hormonal changes. Learn how to identify phases of your menstrual cycle.
Depending on the test result, your doctor will indicate what causes the increase in the degradation of this hormone, depending on age, and whether it is the woman, but the most common causes of this type of alteration are:
In Women: Loss of ovarian function before age 40, after menopause, Klinefelter syndrome, use of progesterone or estrogen.
In humans: loss of testicular function, castration, increased testosterone, Klinefelter syndrome, andropause, testosterone use, chemotherapy or alcoholism.
In women: The ovaries do not produce eggs correctly, however, anorexia nervosa, ingestion of corticosteroids or birth control pills.
In humans: little sperm production, disinfection of pituitary or hypothalamus function, under stress being low weight.