FSH Side Effects

A prescribed injectable form of follicle-stimulating hormone may be used to stimulate a woman's egg production during infertility treatment. FSH side effects are often mild, but severe side effects may occur if a woman has a reaction to the medication or if she uses the medication without continual physician care and monitoring.

Identification

• FSH, also known as follicle-stimulating hormone, is a hormone that is naturally produced and released from the pituitary gland in women and men. This hormone plays an important role in sperm production in men, and it is necessary for the production and release of eggs from a woman's ovaries.

Significance

• An injectable form of FSH may be prescribed to women to use during infertility treatments when couples are having difficulties conceiving. Once a woman begins a prescribed regimen of follicle-stimulating hormone, her ovaries begin producing and releasing many more eggs than normal.

  Infertility treatments used with FSH include in vitro fertilization (when the eggs are collected and mixed with sperm to create embryos in a laboratory) and intrauterine insemination (when sperm are collected and inserted directly into the uterus).

Considerations

• Women must receive a physical examination before FSH treatment may be prescribed. Her medical history, age and any current medical conditions are all taken into consideration before FSH may be prescribed.

  FSH infertility treatment is not recommended for women older than 44 years of age. At this age, the quality of eggs declines and a woman's body does not respond as well to FSH treatments.

Effects

• Common FSH side effects include tender breasts, bloating, fatigue, irritability, headaches, mood swings and a rash on the skin where the injection is given.

  FSH will increase a woman's chances of multiple births, which have a higher risk for miscarriage and premature delivery. As FSH causes the ovaries to produce and release an increased number of eggs, these risks are especially high for women who use FSH and then conceive either through conventional sex or through intrauterine insemination.

  Rarely, follicle-stimulating hormone use will cause a condition known as hyperstimulation syndrome which causes the ovaries to become enlarged. Symptoms associated with this condition include abdominal bloating, nausea, diarrhea and a constant feeling of fullness.

Warning

• Women should never attempt to use follicle-stimulating hormone treatments without the care of a physician. Using this fertility drug without the care of a physician can increase the risks of side effects, particularly multiple births, miscarriage and premature delivery.

  Women who experience symptoms such as enlarged abdomen, vomiting or diarrhea while they are taking follicle-stimulating hormone should contact their physician immediately for an evaluation and blood tests.