An FSH Blood Test provides insights into the health of the pituitary gland, a key regulator of reproductive hormones. This test is designed to help assess whether you may be entering menopause. A comprehensive evaluation should consider both your symptoms and your FSH results for a more accurate understanding.
The FSH Blood Test is commonly used to help diagnose conditions such as:
A Follicle Stimulating Hormone Blood Test can help you better understand your fertility hormones and give insight into menopause. The Follicle Stimulating Hormone Blood Test is commonly used to help evaluate Menopause.
High or low FSH levels, similar to any hormonal imbalance, can affect the body in a number of ways.
Symptoms of imbalanced FSH levels in women include:
For women who have not had a menstrual cycle for two to three months there is no preparation for the test. Women who may still have a menstrual cycle will need to be tested at a specific time in their menstrual cycle as FSH levels change throughout the month.
For the most accurate results, it is recommended that the FSH Blood Test be taken on day 3 of the menstrual cycle (day 1 is the start of your period).
A blood sample will be taken, using a small needle, from a vein in your arm. The small sample of blood is then collected into a test tube. The test is relatively painless, though you may feel a slight sting when the needle is inserted and taken out.
The whole process typically takes less than five minutes. After the blood is drawn into a vial, the blood sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing.
Follicle-stimulating hormones produced in the pituitary gland play a significant role in the proper functioning of the ovaries and testes. An FSH Blood Test, alongside a review of symptoms is a way to gauge menopause.
FSH is responsible for:
There is no need to fast prior to the FSH Blood Test. However, for women, it is recommended that the FSH Blood Test be taken on day 3 of the menstrual cycle (day 1 is the start of your period) if you are still having periods. In addition, if taking the supplement biotin, you should refrain from taking this for 72 hours before the FSH Blood Test.
Your test results and other readings will each be given a ‘flag’ of a different colour: green, amber or red. Green results are within the recommended range for your age and sex; amber results are slightly outside what we'd normally expect; and red results are further outside the norm.
Where a result is amber or red, we'll give follow-up advice on what to do next - whether that's making lifestyle changes, simply monitoring the result, or visiting your doctor for further investigation.
If there are any critical results discovered by our laboratory, we will contact you immediately, so you won’t need to wait for your full results report to arrive to take appropriate action.
As the test is used to assess menopause, the FSH Blood Test is recommended if you have stopped your menstrual cycle or have an irregular menstrual cycle alongside associated symptoms of menopause or perimenopause.
There is a correlation between alcohol intake and increased oestrogen, which in turn affects FSH levels. Alcohol is well known for disrupting hormones and should be avoided prior to testing in order to obtain the most accurate results.
Full preparation instructions will be provided in writing when you book your appointment.
