FSH test: what it measures, why it's ordered and how to prepare

An FSH test measures follicle-stimulating hormone in a blood sample. Doctors use it to look at how the ovaries and pituitary gland are working. If you have been told to get one, or you are wondering whether you need one, this page covers the basics.

FSH only

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Price checked October 2026. Not available in ND, RI, NY, NJ, MD and HI. We earn a commission on sales.

What the test measures

FSH is made by the pituitary gland, at the base of the brain. In women who have periods, MedlinePlus says FSH helps control the menstrual cycle. It triggers the growth of eggs in the ovaries and gets them ready for ovulation. See what is FSH for more.

The test is a blood draw from a vein in the arm. MedlinePlus says it usually takes less than five minutes.

Why doctors order it

For women, MedlinePlus says an FSH test may be used to:

• help find the cause of infertility
• check for conditions that affect how the ovaries work
• find the reason for irregular or stopped periods in women of childbearing age
• find out if menopause or perimenopause may have begun

It is also used to look at pituitary and hypothalamus disorders. It is often used with an LH test, and blood tests for estrogen, testosterone and progesterone are commonly used alongside. The LH and FSH test page covers the pair.

At 45 or older, MedlinePlus says testing usually isn’t needed for menopause questions, because high FSH is a normal sign of perimenopause and menopause. See the perimenopause test page for what guidance says about blood tests there.

How to prepare

MedlinePlus says women who have periods may need to be tested at a specific time in their cycle, because FSH levels change throughout the month. Use your clinician’s instructions or the lab order. The cycle timing tool and the cycle timing guide explain how timing is usually approached.

The seller’s page says fasting isn’t required for the FSH-only test and gives no cycle-day instruction. Where a clinician has told you otherwise, follow the clinician.

Tell the person reading your result about any medicines or supplements you take. MedlinePlus says to do this before an LH test, which is often ordered with FSH.

What the results can mean

Your provider considers your sex, age, symptoms, medical history and other hormone results, especially LH. In broad terms, per MedlinePlus:

• Higher FSH is often a sign of a condition in the ovaries that stops them making normal levels of sex hormones. In women it is linked to primary ovarian insufficiency, PCOS, an ovarian tumor, thyroid or adrenal disorders, Turner syndrome, and perimenopause and menopause.
• Lower FSH is often a sign of a problem with the pituitary gland or hypothalamus. In women it may also be linked to rapid weight loss, being very underweight, or extreme exercise.

The numbers themselves are on the FSH levels page. For menopause questions specifically, see FSH levels and menopause.

Ordering an FSH test

The seller’s page says the FSH-only test measures FSH only, and does not include LH, estradiol or testosterone. It says results appear in an online account within one to three business days. If you want LH too, FSH and LH on one order is available.

• FSH and LHFSH and LH on one order $59 See this test at HealthLabs
• LHLH only $49 See this test at HealthLabs

Sold by HealthLabs. Prices checked October 2026. Not available in ND, RI, NY, NJ, MD and HI. We earn a commission on sales.

Home urine kits that measure FSH exist. MedlinePlus says they can only find higher than normal FSH, and the FDA says they find raised FSH, not menopause or perimenopause itself. They shouldn’t be used to check fertility. See at-home menopause tests.

What an FSH test can’t tell you

It can’t diagnose menopause or perimenopause on its own, and it can’t say why your periods changed. MedlinePlus says your provider reads the result alongside your age, symptoms, medical history and other hormone tests. See a clinician for any result outside the lab’s range, for missed or irregular periods, or if you might be pregnant.