FSH Tests
It can be a blood or urine test, the urine test being similar in function to a pregnancy test.
When a woman begins to enter menopause, her ovaries fail to produce as much estrogen as needed to stimulate the release of an egg.
FSH is created by the pituitary gland and causes the ovaries to release an egg, by stimulating the follicles in the ovary.
Once a follicle reaches maturity, estradiol and inhibin are released. FSH works in conjunction with LH or Luteinizing Hormone.
FSH could be seen as the body’s last attempt at pregnancy before a woman completes her menopause transition.
When there are high FSH levels in the body, it is indicative that something is causing the ovaries to seek to function as they should during normal healthy reproduction.
Some examples of causes of elevated levels of Follicle Simulating Hormone include menopause, premature ovarian failure, and certain syndromes and conditions.
LH or Luteinizing Hormone works with FSH to increase fertility. When there is an increase or rush of LH in the body, ovulation is triggered.
If LH levels are extremely high, then this is indicative of menopause as well as certain syndromes and conditions.
Both FSH and LH are measured at normal levels during the reproductive years; however, an LSH or FSH menopause test can alert you to the onset of menopause by detecting elevated hormone levels.
When determining a woman’s stage of fertility, it is important to realize that there are three basic phases.
The first is the reproductive years, the second is referred to as menopause transition, and the third is menopause.
Throughout all of these stages, FSH plays an important role. It is FSH that causes the female body to enter puberty and begin menstruation.
This is the beginning of the reproductive years. Menopausal transition can take anywhere from one year to nearly ten years to complete.
During this time a woman might begin to experience the many symptoms of menopause, however, she could still become pregnant.
