Women’s health testing: a guide for you
Luteinizing hormone (LH) and
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) —
insight into your ovaries
by Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP
FSH and LH are two hormones secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain during
the menstrual cycle. Blood levels of these hormones are often tested to determine
how your ovaries are functioning. FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) is
released when estrogen levels are low. During a regular menstrual cycle, FSH levels
begin to rise sharply midcycle, a day or two before ovulation. FSH stimulates the
ovary to ripen a follicle, and, with the help of a spike in LH (luteinizing hormone),
to release an egg. After that, FSH and LH levels fall off and progesterone levels
rise as your uterus prepares for pregnancy or another period.
Testing for FSH and LH levels might be recommended for women and men experiencing
fertility issues because it can provide some insight into how your sex organs are
functioning. If FSH and LH levels are abnormally high, it may indicate problems
with the ovaries or testicles. If they are low, there may be an issue with the pituitary
or hypothalamus.
FSH levels are also often tested to see how close a woman is to menopause. Follicle-stimulating
hormone is typically high when a woman is in perimenopause or menopause. But keep
in mind these levels are not set in stone. In my opinion, this is the problem with
FSH lab work and over-the-counter test kits — depending on your hormonal balance,
your nutrition, your mood and stress levels, you may influence FSH levels up or
down in any given month. Many women have this kind of hormonal fluctuation for up
to ten years before menopause. In my opinion, the best way to gain insight into
your body is by listening to it and tracking changes yourself.
For more information, see our article on FSH and
menopause test kits.
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Related to this article:
References on interpreting your medical
test results
Last Modified Date: 04/15/2011
Principal Author: Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP