Follicle Stimulating Hormone or FSH is among the most primary of hormones found in humans. FSH is synthesized, stored and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. FSH is the primary hormone required for the overall regulation of sexual health among males and females. It is required for the development of various reproductive features and processes that includes pubertal maturation, i.e. development of traits during the stage of puberty. FSH plays a significant role during this phase and supporting sexual maturation processes in conjunction with Luteinizing Hormone (LH). In fact, it is the synergistic relation between LH & FSH that is responsible for sustaining critical reproductive processes like the development of ovaries in women that define their fertility.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone in Females

Since menstruation sets-in with puberty, FSH is regarded as the most critical of female pubertal hormones. FSH is responsible for stimulating and sustaining the ovarian developmental processes. This includes the growth and movement of ovarian follicles within the ovary.. The ovarian development process is such that the small, immature Antral Follicles need to be directed towards the maturation process. This entire route is regulated by the proper concentration of FSH. This decides the survival rate of such follicles, i.e. the number of mature, fertilizable eggs that a female is equipped with. Here, FSH plays the role of rescuing the Antral follicles from being destroyed, i.e. follicles that are naturally decomposed by the body’s self-regulated metabolic process. Please note that FSH is one of the primary hormones involved in the menstrual regulation. During menstruation, the serum levels of other female hormones like estrogen and progesterone tend to dip a bit. This is automatically translated into greater release of FSH. Eventually, FSH levels peak during day three of the menstrual cycle and control the release of the female egg. This is why it is acknowledged that normal FSH serum levels are vital for the overall performance of the ovarian cycle and the menstrual health of the female.

Follicle Stimulating Hormone in Males

FSH is not among the primary male sexual hormone but it does play a significant role in the onset of the male reproductive process, i.e. it is involved in the initiation of the male pubertal traits and maturation of the spermatocytes or young male sperm cells. Under the influence of FSH, the immature sperm cells mature into secondary spermatocytes. FSH further enhances androgen-binding proteins. Further, the Sertoli cells contained within the testes contain dedicated FSH receptors that are required for the initiation of sperm generation & maturation (spermatogenesis).

FSH Supplementation & FSH Level Correction

The importance of FSH is understood among men and women since FSH supplementation or use of other hormones to limit the correct FSH levels is commonly recommended for reproductive, fertile and sexual health problems. Such medications are now available in the over-the-counter and prescription format. It is now commonly acknowledged that maintaining the proper FSH levels is central to maintaining the proper amounts of nutrition, hormonal balance and blood-flow. This is why FSH correction therapy is often a part of artificial reproductive and infertility treatments.