This test measures the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in your blood. You may feel a little sting when the needle goes in or out.

Elevated FSH receptor levels have been detected in the endothelia of tumor vasculature in a very wide range of solid tumors. 565. Rochester (NY): University of Rochester Medical Center; c2019. Learn more. Hypothalamic control of pituitary FSH-regulatory proteins and their relationship to changes in FSH synthesis and secretion", "Reference ranges for estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone during the menstrual cycle", "Ovarian gonadotrophin surge-attenuating factor (GnSAF): where are we after 20 years of research?". Some prescribed medicines, such as birth control pills, can skew your results. Turner Syndrome [updated 2017 Jul 10; cited 2019 Aug 6]; [about 3 screens]. Reproductive health is strongly connected to your hormone levels 24. Because FSH levels go up and down so much, you may need to collect all of your pee over the course of 24 hours. In women, normal levels are crucial for egg production as well as for proper levels of another hormone called estradiol. Washington D.C. :U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Menopause Basics; [updated 2019 Mar 18; cited 2019 Aug 14]; [about 2 screens]. FSH levels in this time is often called basal FSH levels, to distinguish from the increased levels when approaching ovulation. In addition to estrogen and testosterone, several other hormones influence sexual development and reproductive processes. Too much or too little FSH can cause a variety of problems, including infertility (the inability to get pregnant), menstrual difficulties in women, low sex drive in men, and early or delayed puberty in children. ©1996-2020 MedicineNet, Inc. All rights reserved. FSH is synthesized and secreted by the gonadotropic cells of the anterior pituitary gland, and regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes of the body. FSH is available mixed with LH activity in various menotropins including more purified forms of urinary gonadotropins such as Menopur, as well as without LH activity as recombinant FSH (Gonapure, Gonal F, Follistim, Follitropin alpha). FSH is produced in the pituitary gland in your brain. Many things like your age, gender, and health history can affect your FSH test result.

Madison (WI): University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority; c2019. Your doctor may order an FSH test to learn if your body is making too much or too little of the hormone. Tell your doctor if you’re pregnant since that also will change your test outcome. Precocious Puberty [cited 2019 Aug 6]; [about 2 screens]. Endocrine Society; c2019.

In some cases, it is used in ovulation induction for reversal of anovulation as well. FSH is one of the hormones that’s involved in … Delayed puberty may be caused by: If you have questions about your results or your child's results, talk to your health care provider. FSH is a 35.5 kDa glycoprotein heterodimer, consisting of two polypeptide units, alpha and beta. After taking the test, you should talk with your health care provider about the results. The cohort of small antral follicles is normally sufficient in number to produce enough Inhibin B to lower FSH serum levels. The meaning of your results will depend on whether you are a woman, man, or child. If you are a woman who has not gone through menopause, your provider may want to schedule your test at a specific time during your menstrual cycle. Puberty is considered early if it starts before age 9 in girls and before age 10 in boys. Available from: Lab Tests Online [Internet].

Available from: UW Health [Internet]. Our hormone test is not available in New York, New Jersey, or Rhode Island. In the case of FSH, the standard reference range varies by lab. Jacksonville (FL): The Nemours Foundation; c1995–2019. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida Health; c2019. Control of FSH release from the pituitary gland is unknown. 2009 May 28. Available from: Lab Tests Online [Internet]. FSH has a beta subunit of 111 amino acids (FSH β), which confers its specific biologic action, and is responsible for interaction with the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor. こそだてハック, 「卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）」は、男性と女性両方の体内で分泌されているホルモンです。生殖機能に深く関わっているため、卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）の分泌量が正常ではないと、不妊につながる可能性もあります。今回は、女性の体における卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）の役割や基準値、数値が高い・低い原因などについてご説明します。, 女性ホルモンには、「黄体ホルモン（エストロゲン）」と「卵胞ホルモン（プロゲステロン）」の2種類があります。, これらは卵巣内で産生され、分泌されますが、この産生と分泌をコントロールしているのが、脳の下垂体から分泌される「ゴナドトロピン」というホルモンです。, ゴナドトロピンには、「卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）」と「黄体形成ホルモン（LH）」の2種類があり、それぞれ重要な役割を担っています。, 一方、黄体形成ホルモン（LH）は、発育した卵胞からの排卵を促し、プロゲステロンの産生を助けます。, これら2つのゴナドトロピンが正常に分泌されることによって、女性の体内で卵胞の発育と排卵が起こり、妊娠するための基礎が作られるというわけです。, 卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）の数値は、採血をして、血中ホルモン検査を行うことで測定します（※1）。, 卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）の数値は生理周期の中で変動し、日本産科婦人科学会によると時期ごとの正常値は下表のとおりです（※2）。, これを基準として、数値が極端に高い・低い場合、それぞれで考えられる不妊の原因が異なります。, 卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）の数値が低い場合、主な原因として次のようなものが考えられます。, 卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）の数値が低く、かつ黄体形成ホルモン（LH）も低い場合、これらのホルモンを分泌する脳下垂体や、分泌の指令を出している脳の視床下部に何らかの障害がある可能性があります（※1）。, 脳の視床下部や下垂体がうまく機能しなくなる原因は様々あり、過度のストレスやダイエットによる急激な体重減少などもそのひとつです（※3）。, 卵胞の発育や排卵が妨げられてしまうと、生理が起こらない「無月経」やうまく排卵できない「排卵障害」などにつながる恐れもあります（※2）。, 脳下垂体に、母乳の分泌を促す「プロラクチン」を出す小さな腫瘍ができるなどして、プロラクチンが過剰に分泌される状態が、高プロラクチン血症です。, 高プロラクチン血症が起きると、卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）と黄体形成ホルモン（LH）の分泌が低下し、排卵が起きにくくなります（※3）。, 卵胞刺激ホルモンの値が低い原因が高プロラクチン血症であれば、プロラクチンの分泌を抑える薬を服用することで、排卵が回復することが多くあります。, ストレスや体重減少による脳の視床下部や下垂体の機能障害が原因と考えられる場合は、適度な運動や仕事量の調整でストレス発散を心がけたり、無理なダイエットをやめて栄養バランスの取れた食事を摂ったりすることで、体の調子を取り戻すよう心がけましょう。, なお、無月経や排卵障害が起きているときは、排卵誘発剤を飲んだり注射で投与したりすることによって、人工的に排卵を促すこともあります（※1）。, 卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH） の値が高い場合、主に次のような原因があると考えられます。, 卵巣機能が下がっていると、卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH） を多く分泌して卵胞を成熟させようとする信号が体内で出されるため、FSH値が高くなります（※2）。, 卵巣が正常に働いていないと、卵胞が十分に発育しなかったり、排卵が起こらなかったりと、排卵障害につながることがあります（※3）。, 一生のうちに排卵される卵子の数はあらかじめ決まっているため、年齢が上がるにつれて卵子は減っていきます。, そうすると、卵胞の発育や排卵によって分泌される女性ホルモンの分泌量が急減し、反対に脳下垂体からの卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH） と黄体形成ホルモン（LH）は増えていきます（※3）。, これは、主に45歳以降の更年期に起こる現象ですが、40歳未満でも「早発閉経」が起こることがあります。まだ更年期ではないのにこのような症状があるときは、完全に閉経を迎えてしまう前に治療することが大切です。, 卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）の値が高い場合、正常なホルモンバランスに近づけるため、女性ホルモンの「卵胞ホルモン」と「黄体ホルモン」をホルモン剤で順番に補う「カウフマン療法」を行うことがあります（※3）。, また、妊娠を希望する場合は、カウフマン療法に加えて、hMG注射やhCG注射などの排卵誘発剤を投与する「ゴナドトロピン療法」も実施することもあります（※3）。, これらのホルモン療法は、薬で卵巣が刺激されることによる「卵巣過剰刺激症候群（OHSS）」などの副作用が起きることもあるため、慎重に経過観察をしながら治療に取り組むことが大切です。, 卵胞刺激ホルモン（FSH）の数値を血液検査で調べることで、妊娠しにくい原因がある程度わかることもあります。, 数値が正常値よりも高い・低い理由は様々ですが、いずれにしても対処法や治療法についてかかりつけの産婦人科医と相談しましょう。, 適切な治療によってホルモンバランスを整え、妊娠しやすい体の状態を作れるといいですね。, ※1

GnRH administration leads to a return of FSH secretion. You have a low sperm count, low muscle mass, or low desire for sex, Have a bruise, lump, or soreness where the needle went into your skin, Before release of an egg: 1.4 to 9.9 IU/mL.

Silver Spring (MD): U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Menopause [cited 2019 Aug 6]; [about 4 screens]. FSH or follicle stimulating hormone is a crucial hormone for regulating the reproductive processes of the body. FSH is a hormone made by your pituitary gland, a grape-sized organ that sits at the base of your brain. こそだてハック, 2018年5月22日 There is an at-home test that measures FSH levels in urine. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) blood test: Overview [updated 2019 Aug 6; cited 2019 Aug 6]; [about 2 screens]. Gainesville (FL): University of Florida Health; c2019.

The efficacy of recombinant human follicle-stimulating hormone in the treatment of various types of male factor infertility at a single university hospital. こそだてハック, 2018年5月7日 Available from: Hinkle J, Cheever K. Brunner & Suddarth's Handbook of Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. Occasionally two follicles reach the 10 mm stage at the same time by chance and as both are equally sensitive to FSH both survive and grow in the low FSH environment and thus two ovulations can occur in one cycle possibly leading to non-identical (dizygotic) twins. For women, results vary based on where you are in your monthly cycle. Available from: Hormone Health Network [Internet]. Other names: follitropin, FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone: serum. Available from: OWH: Office on Women's Health [Internet]. This is the key test to determine whether or not you are in menopause. [12], As a woman nears perimenopause, the number of small antral follicles recruited in each cycle diminishes and consequently insufficient Inhibin B is produced to fully lower FSH and the serum level of FSH begins to rise. Available from: University of Rochester Medical Center [Internet]. While FSH is released by the brain and works in tandem with estrogen, AMH is released by the follicles themselves. This condition is typically manifested in males as failure in production of normal numbers of sperm. But the at-home test can’t give you information about your fertility.

In addition, there is evidence that gonadotropin surge-attenuating factor produced by small follicles during the first half of the follicle phase also exerts a negative feedback on pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion amplitude, thus allowing a more favorable environment for follicle growth and preventing premature luteinization. FDA: U.S. Food and Drug Administration [Internet].

[4][5] Both subunits are required for biological activity.

Please contact your health care provider with questions you may have regarding medical conditions or the interpretation of test results. FSH plays an important role in sexual development and function. Available from: UF Health: University of Florida Health [Internet]. Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results. The most common reason for high serum FSH concentration is in a female who is undergoing or has recently undergone menopause. Jacksonville (FL): The Nemours Foundation; c1995–2019. In saying that, it’s important to remember that a single FSH test result isn’t a reliable indicator of your FSH levels as your hormones tend to fluctuate a good deal daily - it’s recommended you test your hormone levels up to five times over the course of a year. A hormone is a chemical that your body makes that controls an organ or certain things that your body does.