FSH Levels & Their Importance For Male Menopause
Your doctor may do a blood test to check your FSH levels to check for a man’s low sperm count, to determine menstrual irregularities or to help in diagnosing pituitary disorders or diseases involving the ovaries or tests. FSH levels are sometimes checked to diagnose delayed or early puberty conditions in children.
FSH stands for follicle-stimulating hormone. FSH is one of the many reproductive hormones in the body that must stay within certain ranges during certain times in the ovulation cycle in women in order for their menstrual cycles to stay level and so the ovaries can produce eggs. When something happens to make FSH levels become too high or too low, the menstrual cycle may become irregular and a woman’s fertility will be diminished, but just for that cycle.
FSH Levels In Women
High FSH levels in women signify primary or secondary ovarian failure. Primary ovarian failure is the failure of the ovaries themselves. Secondary ovarian failure if the failure of the ovaries due to disorders of the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus. Primary causes of ovarian failure can be:
Developmental defects
-Failure to develop ovaries
-Chromosomal abnormality
-Defect in the steroid production by the ovaries
Premature ovarian failure can be due to:
-Radiation
-Chemotherapy
-Autoimmune disease
Chronic failure to ova lute can be attributed to:
-Polycystic ovary syndrome
-Adrenal disease
-Thyroid disease
-Ovarian tumor
FSH Levels In Men
FSH in men controls the production of sperm. The amount of FSH in men generally remains constant. If a man’s FSH levels are high, it signifies testicular failure due to a developmental problem or injury.
Developmental defects are:
-Failure to develop gonads
-Chromosomal abnormality
Testicular failure includes:
-Viral infection
-Trauma
-Radiation
-Chemotherapy
-Autoimmune disease
-Germ cell tumor
Men can also experience low FSH levels as well. Low levels are caused by pituitary or hypothalamic disorders. This condition has underlying causes that can be treated.
Some conditions that can cause FSH levels in men are:
Central nervous system lesions
Hormone secreting tumors
Testicular tumors
There are many reasons that a doctor may order an FSH levels test:
Check a woman’s egg supply
Man’s low sperm count
Evaluate menstrual problems. This can help determine if the woman has went through menopause
Find out if a child is going through early puberty
Found out why sexual feature are not developing as they should
Diagnose pituitary gland disorders
Before having the test, the individual should make the doctor aware of all medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, they are taking as some of those medications may need to be stopped prior to having their FSH levels tested. Results are normally available within 24 hours. You will have a follow up appointment with your doctor to discuss these results.
The difference between high and low FSH levels may seem contradictory. A person would think that because FSH stimulates follicle growth, that having high levels of FSH would actually mean they would have a lot of eggs, and low levels of FSH would mean there were very few eggs. However, the reverse is actually true. High FSH levels indicate that the pituitary gland is having to work harder to produce eggs, thus making the levels rise. Low FSH levels indicates that the body is producing a sufficient amount of eggs on its own, thus making the pituitary gland not have to work as hard resulting in lower FSH levels.
For any woman who is having irregular cycles are is having problems becoming pregnant, may want to have their FSH levels checked. If FSH levels are not within the proper range, the menstrual cycle and quality of the eggs produced will be affected thus creating primary or secondary ovarian failure.
