Beckman Coulter 33525 Access hFSH Calibrator (S0-S5)

What is a follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH Test) levels test?

FSH test measures the level of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) in a sample of your blood. A hormone is a chemical messenger in your bloodstream that controls the actions of certain cells or organs. FSH plays an important role in sexual development in children and fertility in adults.

• In women who menstruate (have periods), FSH helps control the menstrual cycle. It triggers the growth of eggs in the ovaries and gets the eggs ready for ovulation. Ovulation is when an ovary releases an egg so it can travel down a fallopian tube where it can be fertilized by sperm.
• In men, FSH helps control the amount of sperm that the testicles (testes) make. It also affects how healthy the sperm are.
• In children, FSH levels are normally low until puberty starts. Then FSH levels begin to rise along with the levels of other hormones. The increase in all these hormones triggers the physical changes of puberty:
  • In girls, FSH tells the ovaries to start making the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is involved in the growth of breasts, body hair, and menstruation.
  • In boys, FSH tells the testicles to start making the hormone testosterone. Testosterone is involved in the growth of facial and body hair, changes in a boy’s voice, and sperm production.

FSH levels are controlled by a complex system of hormones made in different parts of your body. Abnormal levels of FSH may be a sign of a problem with any of these parts. They include your:

• Pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of your brain. It makes FSH.
• Hypothalamus, a part of your brain. It makes hormones that tell your pituitary gland how much FSH to make.
• Reproductive glands, your ovaries or testicles. The amount of sex hormones they make let your hypothalamus and pituitary gland know when to start and stop making FSH.

Other names: follitropin, FSH, follicle-stimulating hormone: serum, pituitary gonadotropins

What is it used for?

FSH testing is used to help diagnose conditions that cause too much or too little FSH. The specific way the test is used depends on your sex and age.

In women, an FSH test may be used to:

1. Help find the cause of infertility
2. Check for medical conditions that affect how the ovaries work
3. Find the reason for irregular or stopped menstrual periods in women of childbearing age
4. Explore when a woman is most likely to get pregnant
5. Find out if menopause or perimenopause may have begun:
   • Menopause happens when the ovaries stop making certain hormones, and menstrual periods have stopped for 12 months in a row. This usually happens around age 50.
   • Perimenopause is the time leading up to menopause when hormones and periods begin to change. It usually starts around age 45.

In men, an FSH test may be used to:

• Help find the cause of infertility
• Find the reason for a low sperm count
• Check for medical conditions that affect the testicles

In women and men, FSH testing may be used to help diagnose disorders of the:

• Pituitary gland
• Hypothalamus

In children and teens, FSH testing is most often used to find out if a medical disorder is causing early or delayed (late) puberty.

An FSH test is often used with a blood test for another hormone made in the pituitary gland called luteinizing hormone (LH). These two hormones work together to control sexual development and reproduction. Blood tests to check estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone levels are also commonly used with FSH testing.