FSH is among the most commonly used of acronyms in the niche of sexual and reproductive health disorders and diagnosis. FSH represents Follicle Stimulating Hormone that is one of the several reproductive hormones found among both, men and women. FSH levels tend to start rising as an individual reaches the age of puberty. From the stage of puberty onwards, FSH levels tend to peak progressively until a certain age. The importance of FSH levels is more pronounced among females rather than males.. Among males, the appropriate FSH levels are required for the initiation and sustaining of the sperm maturation process. On the other hand, FSH levels tend to change more dramatically among females. Here, Follicle Stimulating Hormone levels tend to rise every time the ovulatory process, i.e. the first stage of menstruation is initiated.

From here on, FSH levels tend to rise until the ovulation process is completed. After the end of each menstrual cycle, the FSH levels tend to dip a bit. Thus, the upswing and decrease in FSH levels is more pronounced among women to sustain optimal ovulation. It should be noted that the overall FSH levels are regulated in coordination with the presence of another hormone, called LH—Luteinizing Hormone. This is also an ovulation-centric hormone that is found in rather scant quantities among men but is regarded among the most important of female sexual hormones. The regulation of FSH levels is done mainly by the anterior pituitary gland. This gland produces FSH every time the need for stimulating ovarian follicles is communicated to the brain. This is rather critical, since the ovaries encapsulate the follicles that in turn contain the egg cells.

Thus, appropriate levels of FSH are vital for ensuring appropriate pubertal, conception and sexual health of women whereas it plays more of an assistive role in ensuring the completion of the sperm maturation process among males. Most of the sexual health problems among women, particularly those related to conception and disturbed menstrual cycles, arise when FSH levels are disturbed. This can happen due to various reasons among which overproduction or inadequate production of different hormones that tend to have a stimulating or subduing effect on FSH level are the most commonly noted problems. This is why maintaining proper FSH levels is regarded critical when a women is trying to conceive. Maintaining the delicate hormonal balance between FSH and other female hormones needs extreme care and the slightest of FSH level disturbances can lead to infertility.

A common example of this is infertility among women when the FSH levels are higher than usual. During most cases of female infertility, testing for ovarian reserve is now a standard process. Ovarian Reserve is essentially a measure of the extent up to which a woman can produce health eggs for fertilization or mature ovaries. This represents her reproductive capability. This in turn is deciphered by measuring the FSH levels that is done via simple blood tests. Testing for the level of FSH is usually done on the third day of the ovulation cycle. It is generally recommended that lower FSH levels are supportive of female fertility for which FSH levels of about 15 mIU/ml are considered ideal.