Blood Sugar Regulation
FSH receptors on pancreatic cells suggest involvement in insulin regulation; low FSH associates with diabetes risk markers in postmenopausal women.[Cheng, 2023][Wang, 2016]
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
What is Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)?
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a critical reproductive hormone produced by the pituitary gland that plays essential roles in fertility and sexual development. In women, FSH stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles, which contain eggs, and promotes estrogen production. In men, FSH works to support sperm production by stimulating Sertoli cells in the testes. FSH levels naturally fluctuate during the menstrual cycle in women and remain relatively stable in men.
Low FSH levels can indicate issues with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus, leading to irregular periods, infertility, or delayed puberty in women and reduced sperm counts in men. Chronically low FSH—especially alongside other hormonal imbalances—may signal the need for further evaluation.[Rothman, 2008]
High FSH levels often indicate reproductive aging: normal in menopause/perimenopause, but outside those phases may suggest primary gonadal failure. Elevated FSH has also been linked directly to bone loss.[Sun, 2006]
- Support overall endocrine health through balanced nutrition and activity
- Manage stress
- Maintain healthy body composition
- Ensure adequate vitamin D
- Moderate lifestyle factors like smoking and alcohol
Measurement Units
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) can be measured in: U/L, µIU/mL, mIU/mL, IU/L
Reference Ranges by Age and Gender
Reference ranges represent typical values for healthy individuals. Your healthcare provider must interpret your specific results.
| Age Range | Gender | Unit | Optimal | Normal | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All ages | Woman | IU/L | - | 0.2 - 100.6 | Rifai, 2018 |
| All ages | Man | IU/L | - | 1.4 - 15.4 | Rifai, 2018 |
Health Impact
Inflammation
Studies have found associations between FSH levels and inflammatory markers in certain populations.[Cannon, 2010]
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Related Biomarkers
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Free TestosteroneIn men, FSH acts on Sertoli cells to support sperm development, while LH-driven testosterone completes maturation. Proper sperm production requires both hormones working in concert.[Iliadou, 2015]
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Total TestosteroneIn men, FSH acts on Sertoli cells to support sperm development, while LH-driven testosterone completes maturation. Proper sperm production requires both hormones working in concert.[Iliadou, 2015]
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Estradiol (Coming Soon)In women, estrogen and FSH form a crucial feedback loop - as FSH stimulates estrogen production, rising estrogen levels then suppress FSH release from the pituitary.[Coss, 2018] In men, estrogen (converted from testosterone) also provides negative feedback on FSH release, with imbalances potentially affecting reproductive function.
Academic References
- Rifai N.. Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics (6th ed.) (2018). Elsevier. View Source
- Cannon JG. FSH, interleukin-1, and bone density in adult women. (2010). Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. View Source
- Bi X. FSHR ablation induces depression-like behaviors. (2020). Acta Pharmacologica Sinica. View Source
- Coss D. Regulation of reproduction via gonadotropin hormone control. (2018). Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology. View Source
- Cheng Y. FSH orchestrates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of pancreatic islets. (2023). Nature Communications. View Source
- Iliadou PK. The Sertoli cell: novel clinical potentiality. (2015). Hormones. View Source
- Sun L. FSH directly regulates bone mass. (2006). Cell. View Source
- Colaianni G. FSH and TSH in the pituitary/immune/bone axis. (2010). Journal of Immunology Research. View Source
- Rothman MS. Female hypogonadism: evaluation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis. (2008). Pituitary. View Source
- Cannon JG. FSH, interleukin-1, and bone density in adult women. (2010). Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. View Source
- Spicer J. Follicle-stimulating hormone: More than a marker for menopause; a frontier for women's mental health. (2025). Psychiatry Research. View Source
- Sun L. FSH directly regulates bone mass. (2006). Cell. View Source
- Wang N. FSH associates with prediabetes and diabetes in postmenopausal women. (2016). Acta Diabetologica. View Source
- Crawford ED. Potential role of FSH in cardiovascular, metabolic, skeletal & cognitive effects. (2017). Urologic Oncology. View Source
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