Follicle stimulating hormone function, also known as FSH, is a key hormone of human reproductive medicine. FSH is produced by the pituitary gland and regulates development, growth, pubertal development, and reproductive function of the body. FSH levels in women regulates the ovarian follicle growth and ripening of the egg, and FSH in men it regulates spermatogenesis. Follicle-stimulating hormone testing with an FSH blood test.

It helps doctors to check for fertility, diagnose endocrine disorder, and treat such a disease as menopause. The information below is complete information regarding FSH, FSH test, use, preparation, process, interpretation of results, conditions checked by it, and price in Pakistan.

What is an FSH Test?

FSH stands for Follicle-Stimulating Hormone. The FSH test is a test of how much hormone in your blood and is an opinion about the functioning of a woman's ovaries or man's testes. The hormone is necessary for reproduction: in a female, it results in follicles on the ovaries with eggs inside, and in a male, it results in sperm being made in the testes.

It is traditionally ordered to evaluate for ovarian reserve, irregular menstruation, and infertility conditions or testicular function. It is utilized in the diagnosis of menopause or pubic disease.

Why Is the FSH Test Done?

The FSH test is a good diagnostic test to screen for a number of reproductive and endocrine disorders:

In Women

  • Fertility Testing: FSH test for fertility can be measured to check for ovulation and ovarian failure to reserve. low FSH levels also equates to low ovarian reserve, where the ovaries contain fewer healthy eggs.
  • Irregular Menstruation: If a woman is amenorrheic or experiences irregular periods, the FSH test is helpful to determine if the amenorrhea or irregular periods are due to ovarian failure or failure of the pituitary gland.
  • Menopause Diagnosis: FSH and menopause are linked. The characteristic of menopause is an increase in FSH since the ovaries reduce hormone production and the pituitary responds with the release of more amounts of FSH.
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): Is not a diagnosis of PCOS per se, but instead is utilized to rule out PCOS and other causes of irregular periods.
  • Premature Ovarian Failure: More specifically referred to as primary ovarian insufficiency, it is diagnosed partly with high FSH levels prior to the age in which menopause would otherwise begin.

In Men

  • Infertility Evaluation: High FSH may be related to reduced sperm or testicular failure. High FSH equals testicular failure.
  • Delayed Puberty: Decreased FSH may suggest hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, i.e., failure of pituitary or hypothalamus to initiate sexual maturation.
  • Hypogonadism: The condition of reduced secretion of testicular hormone is usually accompanied by abnormal FSH level.

In Children

Puberty Disorders: FSH testing is helpful in the diagnosis of delayed or precocious puberty by measuring pituitary hormone levels.

How to Prepare for the FSH Test?


Timing

Knowing how to prepare for FSH test is important. In women, knowing when to get FSH test  is most important. FSH of the menstrual cycle is not normal and therefore blood testing on day 2 or day 3 of the cycle must be advocated to provide optimal estimation of ovarian reserve and fertility potential. Testosterone in women and women after menopause may be performed at anytime.

Medications

Certain drugs change FSH level, e.g., hormone contraceptives, hormone replacement therapy, steroids, and some anti-seizure drugs. Notify your physician if you have had medication or supplements. Some drugs must be stopped prior to the test.

Clothing and Fasting

Dieting and fasting before the FSH blood test are not required. Wear loose short-sleeve shirts that can be rolled up behind the elbow for venipuncture of the arm.


FSH Test Procedure

  • The FSH test is a routine blood test taken in a clinic or laboratory.
  • You sit in a reclining chair.
  • A medical technician wipes a gauze over some of your arm, usually the inside of the elbow.
  • A tourniquet might be applied to cause the veins to become prominent.
  • A needle is inserted into a vein to draw blood into a vial.
  • The needle is removed and a dressing is put on.
The test is completed in all, only in a few minutes, and is also not painful. You can resume activity normally immediately after the test.

What to Expect After the FSH Test?


Side Effects

FSH test is harmless. Pain, redness, or bruising at the puncture site occurs. These are temporary and for two days only.

Post-Test Care

No special post-test treatment. Short rest and water drinking after blood test if dizziness or light headedness are experienced.

Result Turnaround

Results are ready typically 24 to 72 hours from when the test was administered depending on the laboratory. Your physician will provide results and additional testing or treatment, as needed.

Interpretation of FSH Test Results


FSH test results interpretation is as follows:

Normal FSH Levels

FSH is different by sex, age, and in women, cycle day menstruation. normal FSH levels typically are:

  • Women (Cycle Day 2-3): 1.5 to 12.4 mIU/mL
  • Women (Peak mid-cycle): 4.7 to 21.5 mIU/mL
  • Women (Later cycle phase after ovulation): 1.7 to 7.7 mIU/mL
  • Postmenopausal women: 25.8 to 134.8 mIU/mL
  • Men: 1.5 to 12.4 mIU/mL

Elevated FSH Levels

Elevated FSH is secondary to:
  • Menopause or Perimenopause: Ovaries begin to fail, pituitary secretes high level of FSH.
  • Primary Ovarian Insufficiency: premature ovarian failure prior to the age of 40.
  • Testicular Failure in Men: deficient testes with reduced secretion of testosterone.
  • Genetic disease or gonadal dysgenesis.

Low FSH Levels

A subnormal FSH level suggests:
  • Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism: Male or female patients since hypothalamus or pituitary is not able to stimulate gonads.
  • Pituitary Disorders: Tumors or trauma decreasing hormone secretion.
  • Side effects of some drugs or chronic disease.
Because FSH is just one part of a constellation of feedback hormones, some of the other tests such as luteinizing hormone (LH), estradiol, testosterone, and ultrasound testing are also prescribed by doctors to have a total impression regarding fertility.

Conditions Diagnosed by FSH Test

FSH test is utilized in the diagnosis and treatment of below-mentioned disorders:

  • Infertility: To establish whether infertility is secondary to ovarian reserve deficiency or to testicular failure.
  • Menstrual Disorders: Useful in etiologic diagnosis of amenorrhea or irregular menses.
  • Menopause: Helps to determine menopausal transition and guides treatment of hormone therapy.
  • Puberty Disorders: Gives the hormonal etiology of precocious or delayed puberty.
  • Hypogonadism: Diagnoses gonadal deficiency in male and female.
  • Pituitary or Hypothalamic Dysfunction: Helps to diagnose dysfunction of endocrine control.

FSH Test vs TSH Test

While FSH test screens against the reproductive system for the follicle-stimulating hormone, TSH test screens for the thyroid-stimulating hormone that regulates the function of the thyroid gland. Both hormones are released by the pituitary gland but against a different bodily system.
Physicians also order the two tests simultaneously when a combination of symptoms like irregular periods along with change in hormones, gain or loss in weight, or mood changes is noticed, in order to learn more about the endocrine system.

FSH Test Price in Pakistan

There is no FSH test with a fixed rate and it is city-wise, clinic-wise, and whether home sample collection is possible or not.

  • Approximate cost range: FSH test price in Pakistan is PKR 1,200 to PKR 2,500.
  • Most prominent labs where the FSH test is conducted are Chughtai Lab, Aga Khan University Hospital Lab, and Excel Labs.
  • Home collection facility is available in major cities for extra charges.
  • Strongly acclaimed lab accreditation guarantees the result to be authentic.

Book lab tests from the best-certified labs in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, and get a discount of up to 35%. For assistance, call our helpline at 03171777509 to find the right lab test for your health needs.