A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

FSH

Your level of follicle-stimulating hormone, from one blood draw.

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  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
1 to 3 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is made by the pituitary gland and helps eggs mature in the ovaries and sperm develop in the testes. Levels change across the menstrual cycle and rise around menopause. A healthcare provider can advise which cycle day to test.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is often used by adults with questions about cycle changes, perimenopause, or fertility, usually read with estradiol and LH. Commonly related symptoms include:

Reproductive

  • Irregular periods
  • Missed periods
  • Trouble conceiving

Body

  • Hot flashes
  • Night sweats

Mood

  • Trouble sleeping
  • Mood changes

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your result shows how strongly the pituitary is signaling the ovaries or testes, which a healthcare provider can read with estradiol, LH, and your cycle history.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
FSH is made by the pituitary gland. In women it helps eggs mature in the ovaries; in men it supports sperm production. FSH changes across the menstrual cycle and tends to rise as the ovaries make less estrogen, such as around menopause, so timing and age matter when it is read.
Why it’s measured: A pituitary hormone that changes across the cycle and around menopause.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 3 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

FSH is reported as a number and compared with the lab’s reference range. Cycle phase and menopause status affect how it is read.

  • Your number next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

A healthcare provider reads FSH with your cycle timing, symptoms, and other hormones, and decides whether a repeat or added test makes sense.

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

FSH changes across the menstrual cycle, so the day you test affects the result. The right day depends on whether your question is about fertility, cycle changes, or perimenopause.

A healthcare provider can advise which cycle day to test. If your periods are irregular or absent, ask them how to time the draw.

Yes. Hormonal birth control and hormone therapy can lower or change FSH, so your result may not reflect your own pattern. Tell your healthcare provider about any hormone medicine you use. Don’t stop or change any medicine or supplement without talking with your healthcare provider.

Not on its own. FSH tends to rise as the ovaries make less estrogen, but in perimenopause it can go up and down from month to month. One result cannot say whether you are in menopause or how fertile you are.

A healthcare provider reads FSH with your age, cycle history, symptoms, and other hormones such as estradiol.

FSH also supports sperm production in the testes. It is sometimes checked alongside testosterone and LH when a healthcare provider is looking at how the testes are working. The lab’s reference range differs by sex, and a clinician reads the result in that context.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.