How to Test Basal FSH

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone that plays an important role in the female reproductive cycle. FSH is produced by the pituitary gland and acts on ovarian cells to stimulate follicle development as well as estrogen production during the early phase of the menstrual cycle. Testing for FSH levels during this critical period is an important step in fertility analysis. A high FSH level indicates an inadequate estrogen supply, whereas a low FSH level signifies adequate estrogen levels and prompts further testing.

Things You'll Need

• First Response Fertility Test for Women or alternate at-home FSH test kit

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Instructions

• 1

  Recognize the role of FSH testing. Testing for FSH helps narrow down the possible differential diagnoses for infertility problems, and it can suggest whether or not the male or female partner requires further testing. FSH testing can also be useful when evaluating early pubertal development of a child, menstrual irregularities or glandular disorders of the hypothalamus, pituitary or ovaries.

• 2

  Purchase an at-home FSH test. First Response Fertility Test for Women is one option available at CVS, Walgreens or Wal-Mart stores, and FSH Fertility Test Strips available at Early-Pregnancy-Tests (see Resources) are another option. To use the midstream-urine kit, remove the kit from its packaging and take off the cap from the absorbent tip.

• 3

  Place the absorbent tip, facing downward, in your urine stream for at least 5 seconds. Be sure to use first-void morning urine for best results.

• 4

  Carefully recover the absorbent tip with the cap. Results begin to appear within 40 seconds and should be read within 30 minutes. A positive result will show two colored bands, one for control and one for test, with the test band being the same or a darker color when compared to the control. A negative result only shows one colored band next to control or a lighter test band compared with the control. An invalid results shows no colored band. If you perform an at-home FSH urine test, understand that any positive result must be confirmed with a blood test performed at a physician's office.

• 5

  Test on days 3, 4, and 5 of your menstrual cycle if you are using FSH test strips. Fill a small container with urine, and dip the tip of the strip into the liquid for 15 seconds. Read the results in 15 minutes and analyzed them exactly as you would midstream urine kits.

• 6

  Choose to have blood drawn on days 3, 4 and 5 of your menstrual cycle at your physician's office to test for FSH if you don't want to use an at-home test or if you need to confirm a positive result from a home urine test.