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Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Hormones & Fertility · also called Follitropin

What it measures

FSH is a pituitary hormone that stimulates ovarian follicle growth and sperm production. It is used to assess infertility, menstrual disorders, menopause and puberty problems.

Specimen and preparation

Specimen: Serum or lithium-heparin plasma
Tube: Gold top
Preparation: In menstruating women, collect on day 2–5 of the cycle unless told otherwise.

Reference range

Group	Range
Female, follicular phase	3.5–12.5 IU/L
Female, mid-cycle peak	4.7–21.5 IU/L
Postmenopausal	25–135 IU/L
Adult male	1.5–12.4 IU/L

Reference ranges differ between laboratories, methods and populations. Always use the range printed on your own lab report.

Causes of high values

Menopause and primary ovarian insufficiency
Primary testicular failure
Turner or Klinefelter syndrome
Chemotherapy or radiation damage to gonads

Causes of low values

Pituitary or hypothalamic failure
Hyperprolactinaemia
Pregnancy and hormonal contraception
Anorexia or excessive exercise

Method

Chemiluminescent immunoassay

Good to know

Day-3 FSH above about 10 IU/L suggests reduced ovarian reserve; interpret with AMH and estradiol.

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