FSH, shorthand for follicle-stimulating hormone, is a substance that is released by the pituitary gland. FSH is required for normal fertility; the hormone stimulates a man's sperm production and the release of eggs in a woman. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), FSH may be tested in people who experience delayed puberty, have trouble conceiving or are approaching menopause. FSH levels are tested by an easy blood draw in most cases.
Step 1
Tell your doctor about all medications and dietary supplements you take on a regular basis. The American Association for Clinical Chemistry explains that some drugs, such as birth control pills, heartburn medications containing cimetidine, heart medications including digitalis and the fertility drug clomid, can cause FSH levels to read either too high or too low. If your doctor is aware of your medications, he will be able to read your test more accurately.
Step 2
Mark down the first day of your last menstrual period on a calendar, and call your doctor to schedule your FSH test if the purpose of your test is to determine the viability of your eggs. The Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago calls this the "day-3 FSH test," but it can be done on the second, third or fourth day of your cycle (with the first day of your period being day one). The day-3 test measures your baseline level of the FSH hormone, which will give your doctor clues about the condition of your eggs and your overall fertility. FSH levels during menstruation range between 3.5 and 3.0 IU/L or 5 to 20 m U/L, according to the NIH.
Step 3
Go to the lab for a blood draw, or in some cases, a urine test. You do not need to prepare in any special way for either test. According to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, some doctors want to check your FSH levels over an extended period of time rather than at just one time of the day. In this case, you will be given a container in which to collect your urine over a full 24-hour period.
Tips and Warnings
- Most people go to a lab to get their FSH levels tested, but an FDA home test does exist. Those most likely to use this test, according to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, are women who are approaching perimenopause. FSH levels rise during this time. Values of FSH for menopausal women range between 40 and 250 IU/L or 50 mIU/mL to 100 mIU/mL, depending on age and time of day the test is taken.
