Very often a woman examines her body for hormones, for example, if she is preparing to become a mother. In addition, such an examination is necessary in the case of infertility treatment, as well as other unpleasant diseases. Some people are forced to do such tests if they have cosmetic problems: flabbiness of the skin, early wrinkles, baldness. During such procedures, specialists often examine the FSH hormone. What he is responsible for will be described below in our article. However, you should pay attention to the fact that this hormone is very important for he alth. Before you pass the analysis for this element, you should prepare for the procedure. You can study these questions in more detail in the article, as well as find the answer to what the FSH hormone is responsible for.
General definition
FSH stands for Follicle Stimulating Hormone. Often it is also called follitropin. Before you figure out what the FSH hormone is responsible for, you need tonote that he is responsible for the sexual maturation of each person, as well as his ability to reproduce. If we consider specifically the representatives of the weaker sex, then they are responsible for the development of the follicle, which in turn is responsible for the maturation of the egg and the formation of estrogens, which are also female hormones.
And what is the hormone FSH responsible for in men? In this case, it helps the body create sperm.
Norma
We continue to consider what the FSH hormone is responsible for in women and men, what are its normal indicators. Determining the amount of this hormone is an important point in identifying problems with the reproductive system. Deciphering the analyzes is a certain difficulty, since the indicator of the concentration of hormones in the blood is constantly jumping. Please note that the amount of FSH is affected by the time of day, as well as the emotional state of the patient. In addition, in the fairer sex, the day of the menstrual cycle can cause FSH hormones to deviate from the norm.
What this hormone is responsible for, we figured it out. Now it is worth studying in more detail the norm of this substance. As for children, here the hormone indicators will be relative. The amount of follitropin in the blood after birth in children immediately increases. After that, the rate drops sharply. For example, boys at the age of six months will have very different numbers than after their birth. As for girls, here the indicators change dramatically at the age of 2 years.years.
Follitropin then increases again before puberty in adolescents. In addition, the hormone is not released constantly, but only by individual esters, that is, once every few hours. At this time, its maximum concentration is observed, which can be seen during the decoding of the analyzes.
Considering the norm of FSH hormones by age, what it is, you should also pay attention to the fact that the value of the analysis may vary in different laboratories. The specific value will depend on technologies, methods and reagents. You should pay attention to the norms that are indicated in the form with the results of the analysis.
Below you can see the table of FSH norms by age in women and men. However, if your data is slightly different, then do not panic. In any case, only a qualified doctor makes conclusions about the state of he alth.
Table
What the FSH hormone is responsible for in women and men, we discussed in the previous sections. And now it is worth considering the table of the norm of this indicator in the blood.
| Gender | Reference values (norm), mU/ml | Cycle phase (for women) |
| Mature men | 0, 96-13, 58 | |
| Women | 2, 45-9, 47 | Follicular (proliferative) day 1-14 |
| 3, 0-21, 5 | Ovulatory phase day 14-15 | |
| 1, 0-7, 0 | Luteal/secretory phase from day 15 to start of period | |
| 25, 8-134, 8 | Perimenopause | |
| 9, 3-100, 6 | Postmenopause | |
| Girls aged 6 to 12 | 4, 5 | |
| Girls 1-5 years old | 0, 6-6, 2 | |
| Girls under one year old | 1, 8-20, 3 | |
| Boys 7-10 years old | 0, 37-3, 83 | |
| Boys 3-5 years old | less than 1.5 | |
| Boys under 3 | < 3.5 mU/ml |
Women
The volume of the so-called bubbling hormone inside the female body will depend on age, the onset of menopause, as well as the day of the menstrual cycle. During the follicular phase, the norm is from 2.45 to 9.47 mU / ml. During ovulation, this indicator is from 3 to 20 1.5. In the interval between menstruation and ovulation, which is called the luteal phase of the cycle, the indicators are from 1 to 7. Premenopause, which is a transitional period, is characterized by indicators from 25.8 to 134, 8. During menopause or postmenopause, the norm of the hormone in women is from 9.3 to 100.6.
For men
As for the male body, we have already figured out what the FSH hormone affects, that is, it promotes the development of the seminiferous tubules. It is in them that the maturation of spermatozoa occurs. This hormone enhances spermatogenesis, and also helps to expel testosterone to the epididymis, due to which the proper maturation of gametes occurs. The amount of this hormone after the birth of a baby rises for a short time, and after six months the number drops sharply. After that, before puberty, the level of hormones increases again. For adult he althy men, the FSH rate ranges from 0.96 to 13.58.
FSH to LH ratio
Many do not only know what FSH is, but also what LH is. The second abbreviation means luteinizing hormone. These substances always work in combination, providing the human body with the ability to continue the race. That is why it is pointless to consider data on the amount of only one hormone, without evaluating the indicator of luteotropin. In the period from the 3rd to the 7th day of the menstrual cycle, the concentration of FSH in the body is less than LH by about 2 times. During the first 2 days, the ratio of luteotropin to FSH will be less than one, which ensures the maturation of the follicle for a woman. In tandem, both hormones function like other sex hormones, such as prolactin and progesterone.
High FSH
If FSH is elevated, what does it mean? An increase in the norm is always a serious signal for the medical staff about the patient's he alth problems. It must be remembered that the concentration of FSH in the body can also increase naturally. Normally, this will be observed during menopause. Along with a progressive increase in the level of the hormone, other symptoms are also observed, for example, the ovarian follicular apparatus is sharply depleted, and estradiol decreases. This can reduce a woman's chances of conceiving by several times, as well as the success of having a he althy baby.
Reason
What is the reason for the deviation of FSH in women? As a rule, this indicator increases in the case of a pituitary tumor, pathological exposure to X-rays, alcoholism, poor ovarian and cyst function.
As for men, the FSH rate increases to the greatest extent in the case of an inflammatory process that develops in the testicles. Also, this symptom indicates an increased level of androgens, which are male sex hormones. Pituitary tumors, alcohol abuse, kidney failure, and taking certain chemicals can trigger an increase in FSH.
How to reduce
It is necessary to reduce the level of pathologically high FSH only after the specialist identifies the main reason for such changes. For example, during X-rays, the amount of the hormone can independently return to normal after 6-12 months. As for other cases, the work of specialists is directed to an adequate treatment of the primary disease, as a result of which the amount of hormones begins to decrease automatically.
Low FSH
Very often people who are inattentive to their own he alth do not even suspect the problems that they have on the hormonal background. As a result, deviations are most often detected in a laboratory study, which is prescribed for some other reason.about. FSH levels may be below normal in the following situations:
- When body hair growth decreases.
- In case of decreased sex drive.
- In case of early appearance of wrinkles.
- With atrophy of the reproductive organs.
- With impotence and infertility.
- When puberty is slowed down in children.
Possible causes
FSH levels may be low for the following reasons:
- Obesity.
- Hypogonadism, which is the result of a complex of different syndromes that reduce the activity of the gonads in humans.
- Tumours of the pituitary gland, testes or ovaries.
- Increased activity or deficiency of 5-Alpha reductase, which is an enzyme that converts testosterone in the human body to its active form, which is called the androgen dihydrotestosterone.
- Hypopituitarism, which is associated with the process of reducing the activity of the pituitary gland, which is the main link in the production of FSH. It can be caused by trauma, surgery, tumor.
- Kalman syndrome, which is a rather rare hereditary disease, during which a person completely lacks puberty, and also loses his sense of smell.
- Ovarian lesions with cysts and neoplasms in women, mental disorders, disruption of the hypothalamus, prolonged fasting, anorexia.
- Sheehan's syndrome, which is the death of some cells of the pituitary gland, which occurs after severe blood loss during abortion or childbirth.
- Pituitary insufficiency in men and alsoage-related androgen deficiency.
How to increase
To increase the level of follitropin in the body, experts prescribe a diet that includes sea and dark green vegetables, ginseng, as well as foods containing a large amount of natural fatty acids. In addition, it is imperative to normalize body weight by changing your lifestyle through sports. Often, patients are prescribed a massage of the lower abdomen, as well as the thumb.
Oddly enough, in order to increase FSH levels, you need to reduce stress. When overexerted (both mentally and physically), the human body secretes hormones that suppress the production of follitropin.
Thus, you need to eat right, sleep well, take hot baths, do yoga, exercise, visit a good psychotherapist. All these recommendations are extremely important, but, as a rule, this is far from the only therapy. The main treatment should be prescribed by a specialist. It will depend on the results of all the studies carried out, as well as on the diagnosis. With an existing tumor or cyst, the patient needs surgery, and if there are problems with female hormones, progesterone and estrogen, then hormone replacement therapy will be required.
How and when to get tested
We studied in detail what FSH is, the rate of hormones in the blood in women and men. But how and when should you donate blood for analysis? How to prepare for this procedure? What day do you need to goto a specialist? Is it necessary to abstain from sexual intercourse? Patients in this case have a lot of questions.
First of all, you need to prepare a list of medicines that you are taking for your doctor. At the same time, not only hormonal, but also other drugs should be included there.
You need to wait for 4-7 days of the menstrual cycle, while men do not need to wait for anything other than the hours of operation of a specific laboratory.
Donate blood for analysis to be hungry. For three days, you should also abandon the active sports section. One and a half hours before donating blood, you should not smoke if you have this addiction.
A quarter of an hour before going to a specialist, you need to calm down, try to relax.
Small conclusion
Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the rate of FSH hormone in women and men will depend on various factors. However, if you have any deviations, do not panic about this. In this case, the specialist must identify the main reason for this behavior of the body. Only after that, appropriate treatment is prescribed, if necessary, in addition to which a diet is indicated. For prevention, you need to periodically donate your blood for analysis to detect FSH.
