Other names: Follicle Stimulating Hormone, FOLLICLE STIM HORMONE
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is a crucial hormone in human reproduction, produced by the pituitary gland, a pea-sized organ situated at the base of the brain. FSH belongs to a group of hormones known as gonadotropins, which are essential for sexual development and functioning.
In women, FSH plays a pivotal role in the menstrual cycle. It stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles in the ovary before the release of an egg during ovulation. Each follicle contains an egg, and the rise in FSH levels at the beginning of the menstrual cycle is a key factor in preparing the follicles for ovulation.
In men, FSH is primarily responsible for the regulation of spermatogenesis, the process of sperm production. It acts on the Sertoli cells of the testes, facilitating the maturation of sperm cells.
The levels of FSH in the body are regulated by a feedback system involving gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus and the sex steroids (estrogen and testosterone) produced by the ovaries and testes. This feedback system ensures the proper balance and timing of reproductive processes. Abnormal levels of FSH can be indicative of various reproductive health issues, such as infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, or problems with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. Thus, FSH is not only a key player in reproductive health but also an important marker for diagnosing and understanding various reproductive disorders.
---------------------
The FSH test is used to help diagnose or evaluate:
- Menopause
- Women who have polycystic ovary syndrome, ovarian cysts
- Abnormal vaginal or menstrual bleeding
- Problems becoming pregnant, or infertility
- Men who do not have testicles or whose testicles are underdeveloped
Reference ranges:
Follicular Phase: 3.03 - 8.08 IU/L
Mid-Cycle Peak: 2.55 - 16.69 IU/L
Luteal Phase: 1.38 - 5.47 IU/L
Postmenopausal: 26.72 - 133.4 IU/L
Males: 0.95 - 11.95 IU/L
Your medical lab tests hold vital information about your health. Our tools help you understand what's going on and how to take action.
Cancel or upgrade anytime
Please refer to the gender and age specific reference ranges in the 'Research' section.
----------------
Elevated levels of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) can indicate a range of health conditions, depending on age and sex.
In women, high FSH levels are often associated with menopause or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), where the ovaries lose their normal function before the age of 40. This can lead to decreased estrogen production and problems with fertility.
In men, elevated FSH may signal primary testicular failure, affecting sperm production and testosterone levels.
For both sexes, high FSH can also indicate a pituitary gland disorder, where the gland produces too much hormone due to a tumor or other abnormality.
Possible treatment options:
Treatment options vary based on the underlying cause.
For women experiencing menopause-related symptoms, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be used to alleviate symptoms and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. For those with POI, fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF) might be considered.
In men, if the condition leads to low testosterone, hormone replacement therapy could be an option.
For pituitary gland disorders, treatments might include medications to shrink or control the tumor, or surgery to remove it.
Additional note: It's essential for individuals with elevated FSH levels to consult a healthcare provider for a thorough evaluation and personalized treatment plan based on their specific condition and overall health.
----------------
High FSH levels in women may be present:
- During or after menopause, including premature menopause
- When receiving hormone therapy
- Due to certain types of tumor in the pituitary gland
- Due to Turner syndrome
High FSH levels in men may mean the testicles are not functioning correctly due to:
- Advancing age (male menopause)
- Damage to testicles caused by alcohol abuse, chemotherapy, or radiation
- Problems with genes, such as Klinefelter syndrome
- Treatment with hormones
- Certain tumors in the pituitary gland
Anthony
Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
Please refer to the gender and age specific reference ranges in the 'Research' section.
----------------
Low FSH levels in women in general may be present due to:
- Being very underweight or having had recent rapid weight loss
- Not producing eggs (not ovulating)
- Parts of the brain (the pituitary gland or hypothalamus) not producing normal amounts of some or all of its hormones
- Pregnancy
----------------
Low FSH levels in postmenopausal women may be present due to:
In postmenopausal females, a low level of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) is unusual since FSH levels typically increase after menopause. During the reproductive years, FSH is involved in the regulation of the menstrual cycle and stimulates the growth of eggs in the ovaries. After menopause, the ovaries stop producing eggs, and their response to FSH declines significantly. This lack of response typically leads to an increase in FSH levels as the body attempts to encourage the ovaries to produce estrogen.
A low FSH level in a postmenopausal woman could be due to a few possibilities:
- Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): If a postmenopausal woman is receiving HRT, it can lead to lower levels of FSH due to the external supply of hormones, which reduces the body's need to produce its own.
- Pituitary Gland Issues: The pituitary gland regulates the production of FSH. Hypopituitarism or a problem with the pituitary gland could result in lower levels of FSH.
- Medication Effects: Certain medications may suppress FSH production.
- Estrogen-Producing Tumors: Rarely, estrogen-secreting tumors can cause a reduction in FSH levels due to negative feedback mechanisms.
It is important to interpret low FSH levels in postmenopausal women with caution and to consider the overall clinical context. It usually requires further investigation by a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and to decide if any treatment or action is necessary.
----------------
Low levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in men may indicate an underlying dysfunction within the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, critical regulators of hormone production. This hormonal imbalance can arise from various causes, including:
- Pituitary tumors or structural damage
- Congenital conditions like Kallmann syndrome
- Certain medications or hormonal treatments
- Obesity and metabolic disorders
- Chronic systemic diseases
- Traumatic brain injuries
FSH plays a critical role in male reproductive function, particularly in testicular development and sperm production. Insufficient FSH can lead to hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, a condition characterized by reduced hormone production from the testes.
- Reduced sperm count (oligospermia)
- Impaired sperm quality
- Decreased fertility
- Potential testosterone production issues
- Symptoms including:
- Reduced libido
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased body and facial hair growth
- Reduced muscle mass
Low FSH typically occurs in conjunction with low luteinizing hormone (LH), as both are regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. While FSH is crucial for sperm development, LH more directly stimulates testosterone production.
Identifying and addressing the root cause is essential for restoring reproductive function and overall hormonal health. This may involve:
- Comprehensive hormonal testing
- Imaging studies of the pituitary gland
- Lifestyle modifications
- Hormonal replacement therapies
- Treatment of underlying medical conditions
Individualized medical evaluation and treatment are crucial for managing low FSH and its associated reproductive health challenges.
Guiding our users for 10 years to promptly understand, track, and act on their laboratory results.
$15/month
Cancel your subscription at any time.
$250/once
full premium version
$45/month
track your clients’ labs
Cancel your subscription at any time.
Guiding our users for 10 years to promptly understand, track, and act on their laboratory results.
Personal plans
track personal results
Professional Plan
track multiple client's results
$15/month
$250/once
own it for life
$45/month
for health professionals
Complete Plan
Unlimited Plan
$15 / month
$250 full version
Are you a health professional?
Level up your lab report analysis with our Pro plan, built for health practitioners like you.
Health Business Account
$45/month
Cancel your subscription at any time.
Unlock additional Pro plans when you sign up.
Anthony
Unlimited Plan Member since 2021
I have been using Healthmatters.io since 2021. I travel all over the world and use different doctors and health facilities. This site has allowed me to consolidate all my various test results over 14 years in one place. And every doctor that I show this to has been impressed. Because with any health professional I talk to, I can pull up historical results in seconds. It is invaluable. Even going back to the same doctor, they usually do not have the historical results from their facility in a graph format. That has been very helpful.
Karin
Advanced Plan Member since 2020
What fantastic service and great, easy-to-follow layouts! I love your website; it makes it so helpful to see patterns in my health data. It's truly a pleasure to use. I only wish the NHS was as organized and quick as Healthmatters.io. You've set a new standard for health tracking!
Paul
Healthmatters Pro Member since 2024
As a PRO member and medical practitioner, Healthmatters.io has been an invaluable tool for tracking my clients' data. The layout is intuitive, making it easy to monitor trends and spot patterns over time. The ability to customize reports and charts helps me present information clearly to my clients, improving communication and outcomes. It's streamlined my workflow, saving me time and providing insights at a glance. Highly recommended for any practitioner looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to track patient labs!
Healthmatters is a highly-personalized health dashboard.
Instead of searching for your lab results in different places or tracking them down from different providers, Healthmatters houses, organizes, and interprets them all in one central location.
With a Healthmatters account, you can dive into the details of each biomarker and gain insights into the meaning behind your medical test data, anytime, anywhere.
For our professional users, Healthmatters provides intuitive tools that not only streamline analysis but also save valuable time when delving into your client's lab report history.
Healthmatters.io personal account provides in-depth research on 4000+ biomarkers, including information and suggestions for test panels such as, but not limited to:
You can combine all test reports inside your Healthmatters account and keep them in one place. It gives you an excellent overview of all your health data. Once you retest, you can add new results and compare them.
If you are still determining whether Healthmatters support your lab results, the rule is that if you can test it, you can upload it to Healthmatters.
While we work with many popular labs, we welcome reports from lots of other places too.
It's as simple as this: if you can get a test done, you can upload it to Healthmatters and we can interpret results from any lab out there. If laboratories can analyze it, we can interpret it.
If you’re on the hunt for a specific biomarker, contact us and we'll add it to our database. Anything from blood, urine, saliva, or stool can be uploaded, understood, and tracked with your Healthmatters account.
There are two ways to add your test reports to your Healthmatters account. One option is to input the data using the data entry forms. The other method is to utilize our "Data entry service."
Our data entry forms offer an easy, fast, and free way for you to input the reports yourself. Self-entry allows you to add an unlimited number of reports at no cost. We make the self-entry process user-friendly, providing dozens of templates that pre-populate the most popular laboratory panels and offering instant feedback on entered values.
For those who prefer assistance, we offer a "Data entry service" to help you input your data. Simply attach an image or file of your lab test results, and a qualified team member from our data entry team will add the results for you.
We support various file types, including PDFs, JPGs, or Excel. This service is particularly useful if you have many reports to upload or if you're too busy to handle the data entry yourself.
Our special data entry service makes it easy to add your results to your private dashboard. Just attach an image or a file of your lab test results, and our skilled data entry team will do the work for you. It's all done by humans, ensuring that your data is entered accurately and with personal care for each client.
Depending on your account, the data entry service can be included for free or come at an additional cost of $15 per report.
For users on the Complete monthly plan, the first report is entered free of charge, and each additional report incurs a fee of $15.
Unlimited account holders enjoy the entry of ten reports without charge. Subsequent reports are subject to a $15 fee per report.
Additionally, users on the Complete plan can upgrade to a yearly subscription from the account settings. The annual subscription includes a data entry service for five reports.
The Unlimited plan is a one-time purchase for $250, and it covers your account for a lifetime with no additional payments.
For the Complete plan, the cost is $15 per month. You have the flexibility to cancel it anytime through your account settings, ensuring no further payments. To avoid charges, remember to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Once canceled, the subscription remains active until the end of the current billing cycle.
Additionally, you can upgrade to the yearly Advanced plan from within your account. The annual cost is $79, and it comes with a data entry service for five reports.
You can always upgrade to a lifetime version with a prorated price from a monthly or yearly subscription.
Simply log in and navigate to your account settings to cancel your subscription. Scroll down to locate the 'Cancel' button at the bottom of the page. Ensure you cancel at least one day before the renewal date to prevent any charges. Once cancellation is requested, the subscription remains active until the conclusion of the current billing cycle.
Our goal has been to make your Healthmatters account as intuitive as possible.
We’ve crafted multiple ways for you to navigate your data, whether you're glancing at a single report or delving into your historical test reports.
1. Graph View:Dive into a visual journey with our biomarker graphs, showcasing over 40 data points. Combining years of results unveils trends, empowering you to make informed decisions. Our visualization tools make it a breeze to compare and understand changes over time, even if your results are from different labs. A search function and filters simplify the exploration of extensive data, allowing you to focus on what needs attention.
2. All Tests ViewExplore neatly organized reports on a timeline, highlighting crucial details like dates, critical results, and lab/panel names. Each report opens up to reveal in-depth descriptions and additional recommendations for each biomarker. The history of previous results is just a click away, and you can download a comprehensive report for deeper insights. Color-coded and user-friendly, it's designed for easy reading, understanding, and navigation.
3. Table View:For a holistic view of all biomarkers side by side, our table view is your go-to. Results are neatly displayed in a categorized and dated table, ideal for those with an extensive test history. Utilize sorting, filters, and color-coding to enhance your analysis and gain extra insights.
Yes, you can download information from your account. We can compile your labs into a CSV file. To download all your labs, you can go to Account Settings, and at the bottom of the page, you will find a link to download your information.
Yes, you can print your report. To do so, navigate to "All tests" and open the report you wish to print. You'll find a print button in the right corner of the report. Click on it, and your browser's print window will open. If you prefer to print in a bigger typeface, adjust the scale using the print window settings.
Yes, you can! We highly recommend activating Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for your account. To do so, please navigate to the "Profile and Security" section of your account, where you will find instructions for activating 2FA.
Yes, you can. When entering values for the biomarker, you will see an "Edit Range" button. Click this button, and you'll have the option to enter a custom range.
A personal account is all about keeping your own lab test results in check. It's just for you and your personal use.
The professional account is designed for health professionals who wish to track and organize their clients' laboratory results.
To learn more about Healthmatters Pro, please refer to the professional page.
At HealthMatters, we're committed to maintaining the security and confidentiality of your personal information. We've put industry-leading security standards in place to help protect against the loss, misuse, or alteration of the information under our control. We use procedural, physical, and electronic security methods designed to prevent unauthorized people from getting access to this information. Our internal code of conduct adds additional privacy protection. All data is backed up multiple times a day and encrypted using SSL certificates. See our Privacy Policy for more details.
