Normal Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) levels in women are extremely important for pregnancy. This hormone is responsible for the timely ovulation in a female’s menstruating years. But although it is necessary, its excessive quantity has adverse effects and can even cause infertility and menopause.
So what is the normal FSH level in females and what is a normal FSH level to get pregnant? Here is everything you need to know about FSH.
In This Article
- What is Follicle Stimulating Hormone(FSH)?
- Is there any Normal FSH Level to get Pregnant?
- What are the Causes of High FSH Levels?
- What is the Follicle Stimulating Hormone(FSH) Test?
- What is Ovarian Reserve?
- How are FSH and Menopause Connected?
- Can a Woman with High FSH Get Pregnant?
- What are the Ways & Means to Lower FSH Levels?
What is Follicle Stimulating Hormone(FSH)?
At first, you need to know what is FSH and what FSH does. FSH or the Follicle Stimulating Hormone is the hormone that stimulates the follicles to release an egg each month in the middle of each menstruation cycle. So to be simple, it is the hormone that causes ovulation, which is the important part to get pregnant.
Thus, during or just before the ovulation all women get high FSH levels compared to their FSH levels throughout the other days of the month. This is normal and important to get the egg released.
But with age ovaries get mature. A mature ovary needs more stimulation to release an egg. Thus. it is normal to have a high FSH with the advancement of age. Also one of the prevailing low FSH levels symptoms nowadays is the PCOS or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. In women suffering from PCOS, there are low FSH levels that cause untimely or delayed ovulation and even missing ovulation too.
Thus to conceive it is very much important that you have normal FSH levels by age.
Is there any Normal FSH Level to get Pregnant?
The normal FSH level in women can range between 4.7 and 8 IU/L throughout the different stages of menstruating years. Hormonal birth controls and similar medications can impact the FSH levels in women so you can’t take any such things for at least 4 weeks before an FSH test. You can take a look at the follicle-stimulating hormone levels chart here or ask your gynecologist for an FSH levels chart. An FSH levels menopause chart will keep you aware of the normal FSH and IH levels by age.
| Stages | Normal FSH levels |
| Before Puberty | 0 to 4.0 IU/L |
| During Puberty | 0.3 to 10.0 IU/L |
| Menstruating Years | 4.5 to 21.5 IU/L |
| After Menopause | 25.8 to 134.8 IU/L |
What are the Causes of High FSH Levels?
There can be several reasons for a high FSH level:
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The Age of the Lady:
Getting married in the 30s and conceiving after 35 is getting normal in the urban lifestyle. But as a woman ages, her FSH levels also elevate as it becomes harder to stimulate the follicles to release an egg. And as time passes the number of stored eggs in a female body also decreases with each menstrual cycle.
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Premature Ovarian Failure:
If anything causes ovarian damage and they fail to produce eggs then our brain automatically instructs the pituitary gland to produce more FSH to stimulate egg production. This leads to a similar condition of menopause or here the body’s untimely FSH levels causes perimenopause.
What is the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test?
If you are trying hard for pregnancy, then your doctor may prescribe you an FSH test. Now, what is the FSH test, and what are the types of FSH tests?
In a normally ovulating woman, the FSH levels will be tested on the Day 3 of the menstrual cycle. The doctor may also suggest you test normal estradiol levels on day 3. You can test the FSH through urine or blood test.
What is Ovarian Reserve?
Ovarian reserve refers to the number of eggs stocked up in ovaries. Chances of conceiving increase with the number of eggs stored in ovaries. Thus ovarian reserve testing for women with high FSH or low FSH is common. The ovarian reserve is tested either by Antral Follicle Count Testing (AFC) or by the recent Anti-Mullerian Hormone testing (AMH).
How are FSH and Menopause Connected?
A high FSH level is directly linked with menopause. If your body is constantly producing 30 IU/L or higher, then it is very likely that you are on the verge of approaching menopause or already entered it. Menopause is the name of the stage in women when they stop having periods for at least a year. Normal FSH levels for 45-year-old women start increasing rapidly, which suggests peri-menopause, which indicates that there are very few eggs left in the body. Perimenopause can last for 4 years and then eventually menopause occurs.
Can a Woman with High FSH Get Pregnant?
One can have high FSH levels but still menstruating. However, the chances of getting pregnant, become very low for them. FSH level above 15 is what is considered a high FSH level for a menstruating woman. And if it is below 9.5, then there is a chance of a normal pregnancy. Though there are instances of women having a successful pregnancy with a high FSH, it is very rare.
What are the Ways & Means to Lower FSH Levels?
To lower the high FSH levels naturally you can try eating sea vegetables like nori, kelp, or wakame. You can consume protein and mineral and bee pollen supplements. Having fertility massages and acupuncture is also very effective. Keeping the body weight and blood sugar level in check will also help you to lower your FSH levels.
Everything has its time. This suits in pregnancy too. The first pregnancy after the 40s can be a little complicated. But you can try by leading a stress-free and healthy lifestyle.
