What is FSH?
FSH is the abbreviation for follicle stimulating hormone. Together with luteinizing hormone (LH), it plays an important role in regulating the female cycle. In the male body, the hormone is important for the formation and maturation of sperm.
FSH is produced in special cells of the pituitary gland in the brain (hypophysis) and released into the blood. How much FSH the pituitary gland releases is controlled by another region of the brain, the hypothalamus.
In which cases is the FSH value determined?
The FSH concentration in women can be determined by the doctor in the following cases:
- if a woman does not become pregnant
- if the ovaries are underactive
The FSH value can also provide an important indication of certain diseases in men. The doctor has FSH determined, for example, in the case of disorders of sperm maturation or pubertal development in boys.
What is FSH determined from?
FSH is usually determined from blood serum. The following reference values apply for women:
|
phase |
FSH standard values |
|
follicular phase |
2 – 10 IU/ml |
|
Ovulation phase |
8 – 20 IU/ml |
|
Luteal phase |
2 – 8 IU/ml |
|
Menopause (menopause) |
20 – 100 IU/ml |
Sometimes the FSH value in women is also measured in a 24-hour urine collection. In this case, the normal values in the follicular phase are 11 to 20 international units per milliliter (IU/ml) and in the menopause 10 to 87 IU/ml.
In men, the normal FSH values in the blood serum are 2 to 10 IU/ml.
In children, the normal values in the blood serum depend on age:
|
age |
FSH standard values |
|
5. day |
> 0.2 – 4.6 IU/ml |
|
2nd month to 3rd year of life |
1.4 – 9.2 IU/ml |
|
4th to 6th year of life |
0.4 – 6.6 IU/ml |
|
7 to 9 years of age |
0.4 – 5.0 IU/ml |
|
10 to 11 years of age |
0.4 – 6.6 IU/ml |
|
12 to 18 years of age |
1.4 – 9.2 IU/ml |
In which cases is the FSH value lower than normal?
For women:
- Hypofunction of the pituitary gland (hypophysis)
- Tumors in the area of the pituitary gland
- Anorexia
- Functional disorders in the hypothalamus (section of the diencephalon)
- stress
In men:
- Hypofunction of the gonads (secondary hypogonadotropic hypogonadism)
- Disorders in the area of the hypothalamus (section of the diencephalon) or the pituitary gland (pituitary gland)
In which cases is the FSH value too high?
The FSH concentration in women can be elevated due to an underactive ovary (ovarian insufficiency). This can have the following causes:
- menopause
- Ovarian tumor
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCO syndrome; ovaries with numerous cysts)
- Turner syndrome
In men, elevated FSH values are seen in the following cases:
- Hypofunction of the gonads (primary hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, e.g. Klinefelter syndrome)
- Testicular shrinkage (testicular atrophy)
- Inguinal testicles (testicles are located in the inguinal canal instead of the scrotum)
- Damage to the tubule cells in the testicles
- Disturbance of sperm production
