FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) in Dehradun

What is a FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)?

FSH is released by the pituitary gland and instructs the ovaries to develop follicles in women and the testes to produce sperm in men. Like TSH for the thyroid, it works through negative feedback, which makes it inform on the gland it controls: when the ovaries or testes are underperforming, the pituitary raises FSH to push harder, so a high FSH indicates gonadal failure rather than excess. That inversion is the source of most confusion when people read their own results. In women, FSH measured on days two to three of the cycle is a long-standing marker of ovarian reserve, with a rising level suggesting the ovaries are becoming harder to stimulate, and a persistently high level alongside absent periods indicating menopause. It has largely been supplemented by AMH, which is more stable and can be tested on any day, but FSH remains standard and is what many fertility protocols still use. In men, a high FSH with low sperm counts points to a problem in the testes themselves, while a low FSH points to the pituitary.

Why take this test?

FSH is advised in the assessment of difficulty conceiving, of irregular or absent periods, and of suspected menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency, where it is measured with LH and estradiol on days two to three of the cycle. It is used in fertility clinics to plan stimulation protocols and to set expectations about ovarian response. In men it is part of the infertility work-up alongside a semen analysis, LH and testosterone, where the pattern across all four localises the problem to the testes or the pituitary. It is also used in the investigation of delayed or precocious puberty in children. Book the sample for the cycle day your doctor specifies and tell the laboratory the date your period started, because a value that is normal on day three would mean something quite different mid-cycle, and hormonal contraception suppresses the result entirely.

• Difficulty conceiving, with LH and estradiol on days two to three
• Irregular, infrequent or absent periods
• Suspected menopause or premature ovarian insufficiency
• Male infertility, alongside semen analysis, LH and testosterone
• Planning stimulation protocols in fertility treatment
• Delayed or precocious puberty in children

Normal reference ranges

Ranges are indicative for adults. Your report carries the lab-specific reference range and is reviewed by a LabONE pathologist; always interpret results with your doctor.

FAQs: FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) in Dehradun