How do I lower my FSH level?
Your site is fantastic. I have searched many infertility sites and there is nothing else like it. I have a question that I would respect your opinion on, please.
Recently, i found out that my FSH is high (20.4). My fertility doctor says that this is the reason for my infertility and it means my eggs are getting bad. I also went to see a Chinese medicine specialist. She says I need to get a full evaluation and then she can come up with a formula of herbs that will definitely lower my FSH. I don’t really trust her. She’s not even Asian! What can I do to lower my FSH? Is there no hope for me?
Angel
Larkspur CA
Dear Angel,
I’m sorry to hear about the bad news that your doctor gave you. Since I don’t even know some very basic and crucial pieces of information, such as your age, I don’t have enough clues to directly comment about your specific situation. However, you do bring up a very popular topic, namely that of FSH values, so I will be glad to tell a little story about the significance of FSH.
FSH is the abbreviation for FOLLICLE-STIMULATING HORMONE. It is a substance created from part of the brain called the pituitary gland. In a young, healthy woman, a small wave of FSH released at the beginning of the cycle will get her follicles to start developing for that month. Why only a small amount? Because a young fertile woman’s ovaries are very sensitive. They don’t need much to get them going. After getting just a tiny whiff of FSH, they will start to do their thing. As the follicles do their thing, they start to grow bigger AND they will produce another hormone called estradiol. The news that estradiol is rising goes back up to the pituitary and tells it the good news that "OK, things are moving along just fine. You can ease up on the FSH production. Thank you very much. Talk to you later." The FSH factory supervisor gets this message and tells the production crew to slow down, get some rest and wait until next cycle. In physiological terms, this is known as NEGATIVE FEEDBACK, which is not a bad thing here, unlike the way it is when you’re talking about your EBay rating.
In a woman who is 45, the follicles are few in number and poor in quality, so a different scene plays out. The story begins the same way. At the beginning of the cycle, the pituitary faithfully sends out pulses of FSH and waits for a negative feedback estradiol signal from the follicles that will tell the pituitary to rest again. However, because the follicles are bad, they won’t develop as vigorously, if they even develop at all. So while the follicles struggle to grow and develop in a healthy manner, they will not send out a strong estradiol signal. Meanwhile, the pituitary starts to get a little nervous. "Hmm, it’s been several days and we still haven’t heard back from the follicles. Maybe they need a little more juice." The pituitary then makes the decision to crank up the FSH production and the FSH level goes up a bit. If the follicles eventually respond to this new increase of FSH, then the estradiol signal will arrive and the pituitary crew will breathe a sigh of relief. However, in a worst case scenario (for example if the woman is completely menopausal or if her ovaries have both been surgically removed), then the pituitary is in for a big surprise. The estradiol signal will never come. So what happens is the pituitary will frantically shift into panic mode, going full power and pouring out tons of FSH. The FSH levels will skyrocket!
This second scenario doesn’t just happen in 45 year-olds. It can also happen in some younger women whose ovaries for some reason or other are behaving much older than they really are. This is a condition, known as diminished ovarian reserve or in an extreme situation where the follicles have completely shut down, it is known as PREMATURE OVARIAN FAILURE.
So when your RE checks your FSH level, he is screening to see if your pituitary is overworking itself. If the FSH level is high, it typically means that the follicles are fewer in number and/or lower in quality. The elevated FSH is the INDICATOR of the bad news. It is NOT THE CAUSE of the bad news.
So the concept of trying to lower your FSH, as that herbalist suggests, is downright silly. It won’t solve your problem. It’s actually easy to lower you FSH. Can you guess how? That’s right. If you just give someone a high dose of estrogen through pills, injections or a patch, that will give the pituitary the signal it has been waiting, albeit a fake signal. The pituitary will then ease up on the FSH production. But you haven’t achieved anything helpful. The follicles are still as poor as they always were.
Think of it like this. You are happily driving your car when all of a sudden, a bright red warning light starts flashing telling you that the engine is overheating. Trying to lower the FSH would be like taking a wire cutter and cutting the wire that powers the warning light. The light will go off and you will longer see the bad news. However, that doesn’t change the fact that something is very wrong with the engine.
In general, FSH levels over 10 IU/L are a little bit concerning. If they are over 12 IU/L, it’s definitely a predictor of poor follicle function. And if it’s over 20, it’s almost for sure that something is seriously wrong with the follicles. I will share that I’ve had patients with FSH levels over 20 who eventually got pregnant with their own eggs, but those cases are so rare that they are distinctly memorable. But it’s not entirely without hope.
So now that you understand this, I hope that you don’t let anyone mislead you. As for your Chinese medicine provider not being Asian, you shouldn’t let that alone prejudice you against her. I once took martial arts from a non-Asian master and he’s definitely someone not to mess with. 
May 16th, 2008 at 11:07 am
Hello i am 34 yr old and i was told that my fsh is in the twenties this really alarmed me because i thought my problem was that i had fibroids and with all of the testing the doctor discovered my fsh is really high, if there is a way to lower my fsh PLEASE let me know.
Mandy
May 16th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Now that you have read this post, you’ll see that thinking in terms of LOWERING YOUR FSH is not the right way to think. A high FSH is a signal of something wrong with the ovaries. It’s the fire alarm, not the fire. It’s generally a good idea to repeat important tests. One possible reason for a false positive high FSH is if it’s drawn at the time of the ovulation surge. Ask your doctor to draw it on day #3 of your cycle. Maybe it will turn out to be a false positive. I hope so, because fibroids in of themselves do not cause elevated FSH. Good luck!
June 1st, 2008 at 2:30 am
iam 44 years old i did FSH testing i found it 111 iu i dont have any symptomes of menopause i just have my mense 2 month ago that s why i did this test ,idont have flushes or dryness all i am suffering from very stress condiction i reapeated the test 3 times and the same result occured .can u give me any explanation pls
June 13th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Hi,
I am 33 years old and have very irregular periods. Could this contribute to high FSH levels? If my periods become regular, or more regular, will that help potentially high FSH levels?
Thanks so much for your help!
June 29th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Hi,
My husband’s semen analysis report came the other day. It says he has sever oligo-asthenozoospermia. His sperm count is less than a million, with no motile sperms. Additionally, there were many sperms with multiple curvical abnormalities.
Now the docor said that ICSI is the only hope for us.
We are prepared for that. However, since my husband had Jaundice twice when he was still a child (i read somewhere that liver directly affects male fertility) so do you think we should go for some treatment on this side which may then improve his sperm count etc.
Also what do you have to say about homeopathic treatments in increasing sperm count and motality-is there any truth to this.
By the way i’m 28 and my husband is 32 years old.
Would love your guidance.
thanks,
dia
July 6th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
my wife have fsh 20 and age is 24 any solution for make it down
July 16th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Hi, I also have a 20.4 FSH and I’m 32 years old. I had chemo and radiation at 12 years old and that is probably the reason. I was recently pregnant (had a termination as it wasn’t planned). I would like to try a year from now. What are my chances/probability of getting pregnant?
September 4th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
Hello,, i’m very worried that i wound be able to have children.
I’m 31 years old and my fsh is a level of 36.
My DR says that my ovaries have shut down..
Can u please explain???
Very concerned.
September 19th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
Acupuncure and wheat grass will help to lower FSH
November 6th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Just heard from my fertility clinic that my FSH hormone is 14.9 and the “normal” range should be between a 4-6
I am very surprised, I am 30 yrs old and live a very healthy lifestyle. I was told my only option is Invitro and possibly egg donation due to the number being so high.
December 12th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
I turned 40 in July and had been seeing a highly regarded accupuncturist to maintain my fertility and help with antiphospholipid syndrome which has caused me 4 miscarriages over the last 23 years(I wasn’t tested for it until my last miscarriage,all losses before 10weeks).My accupuncturist said when I had 3 cycles that lasted 28 days I could start trying to get pregnant and at the end of July I had but something terrible happened. I got the flu,was having lots of stress from work and had my heart broken by someone I loved. August I had no period and started getting hot flashes around the clock(every 45 minutes)had my FSH tested and it was 90! A couple weeks later it went up to 95. I just dont get how I was doing so well with regular cycles and then poof I’m considered menopausal. I would love any input.
December 12th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Kara, it would be hard to assess just how fast things really happened without knowing your FSH back in July. I would also question the advice the acupuncturist gave you if I understand you correctly. Do you mean he told you not to try and get pregnant until you three 28-day cycles? That seems like a waste of your precious months. I hope that’s not what you meant. It’s not entirely impossible for you to have another period some time in the future. Also, there are other options like donor eggs, but I’m pretty sure you are aware of that already. Best of luck.
January 6th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
hi .. am 30yrs old and i have the FSH problem from 3 yrs .. and its going up .. now its more than 100 … the Dr. said my right ovary have shutdown but still my left one little bit working .. is there a treatment for my case or what ? i dont have any babies and i wish to have … could you please help?
January 10th, 2009 at 11:00 pm
hi i am 32 year ,male. my FSH level is 16.9 and sperm ocount is poor(cryptozoospermia). how lower the FSH level. and any alternative solution. could you please help.
February 4th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
hi .. its me again … my FSH is 83 in the last blood test and it was before more than 100 ..
so could you give an opinion or advise ?
February 5th, 2009 at 12:40 am
s.a
Levels that high are usually indicative of premature ovarian failure. This is sad. You can try to stimulate your ovaries if it will help give you some closure, but it might not do much else. IVF with donor eggs is one option. What does your doctor have to say? Good luck.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:49 am
Hi
Your explanation of FSH was brilliant, thankyou.
I am 28 years old and have been ttc for over 3 years. They found mild endo after having a laporoscopy but said it wouldnt affect my chances of ttc. My left tube is also slightly swollen but they dye passed through. My prog levels also showed i wasnt ovulating properly so they put me on clomid 50mg which worked but i didnt fall pregnant. I am now under assisted conception where they done my fsh blood tests and it came back 9.9 , they were slightly concerned because of my age they think its a bit too high. They are going to do another blood test nxt month ot see what this comes back as. I am on the waiting list for IVF and they have offered me some free IUI’s whilst I wait but is there any point with IUI if my eggs arent good enough?? Any advice would be much appreciated as I am getting very worried and upset at the thought of not having my own baby.
Thank You.
March 26th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
I am 36 years old (never been pregnant). I went to my primary Dr. for 3 missed periods and flushing 10-30 times per day, and night sweats. These were my lab results:
FSH 83
LH 42
Dehydroepiandosterone 10.40
Estradiol 32
Prolactin 6.0
Testosterone 0.26
TSH (3rd gen) 0.47
serum HCG 1.2
I realize my labs are abnormal, and I’d like to know if there is any possibility it could be something other than premature ovarian failure such as ovarian cancer or cysts? I see a gynecologist next week. Are there any tests I should have done next week? Thank you kindly.
April 29th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Hi,
I’m 30 years old, I’ve had 2 miscarriages in the last 1.5 years, with the last one 6 weeks ago. I just got my first period off that cycle last week, and had day 2 blood drawn. My FSH was an 11. Meanwhile, the last 4 months up until I got pregnant this time (Jan/Feb), I was hovering around the 6.0 mark. I have always responded well to Clomid 50mg, and have produced 2-4 mautre follicles. I’ve also had an AMH test done late Oct, and that was normal. Why the sudden increase in levels? We had to do IUI twice to get pregnant this time around (low morphology). I’m very sad and depressed because my RE has basically told me that I don’t have much time. Can this # just be a fluke from my miscarriage? Thank you so much for any help.
May 15th, 2009 at 6:06 pm
I just wanted to say thank you for your wonderful explanation of FSH levels! I was so confused/upset/discouraged after talking to my RE who told me that my FSH of 10.7 and age of 38 means I will have great difficulty getting pregnant…after reading your blog, at least I understand the issue and have some hope! You’re providing such a fabulous resource for so many women! A sincere thanks!
July 28th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Hi.
I am 35 years old and have been ttc for 2.8 years. I had my FSH tested last August 08 and it was 13. Then had it tested again in Nov 08 and it was 4.5. Once again, I was tested in Feb 09 and it was 20.5. I basically moved so started up with a new dr which is why I was tested so much. My question is…how can I bounce from a good FSH at 4.5 and then have it climb to 20.5 3 months later? Was the 4.5 a mistake? I would love to hear back.
Thank you for this website. It has explained FSH to me so much clearer then ever before.
July 29th, 2009 at 6:53 am
I don’t know if this is your situation, but often a low FSH can be inaccurate if the estradiol is high at the time. In general, when we test day #3 FSH, we get an estradiol at the same time to see if this might be the case.
August 2nd, 2009 at 5:21 am
Hi, thank you for your vivid description of FSH. It is really very helpful.
I am 37 years old. I had had great pain during period every month. My doctor diagnosed my illness as adenomyosis and prescribed two injections of Triptorelin Acetate for Injection. The last injection was in May this year. I think the injections have caused malfunction of my ovary. Now two months after the injections, the FSH level is as high as 18.32. But this month the period seemed to be fine.
I have never tried to get pregnant before,but I am ready to have a baby this year. The doctore advised me to do IVF next month. I am worried about my FSH level. I am taking some Ovary Nutriton prescribed by the doctor. Do you think FSH level will automaticlly lower some time after the injections? Will it affect the odds of successful IVF?
I will appreciate your kindness to help me. Thank you!
August 2nd, 2009 at 6:16 am
I forgot to mention one point. Besides capsules of Ovary Nutrition, the doctor also prescribed Marvelon pills, one pill for each day. Will Marvelon help to resume ovary’s function?
August 2nd, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Brilliant piece of information I have fsh of 20.2 and have just been told i have no chance of having another child, of all the websites i have looked at this has been the best of explaining what high fsh means thank you
August 10th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Hi, my husband is 32 and he got his semen analysis the other day and found out that his sperm count is zero, and his FSH is as high as 24. With this test result the urologist concluded that he got azoopermia. We were advice to do the biopsy without any further test or treatment and doing the retest. He even did not recommend any supplement or medicine that will make his testicle stronger. We ask the doctor what is the cause of this and he said that it might be genetic, we were just ask if my husband’s parents are relative, but as far as we know they are not. He even did not do a background check for my husband
Just for some background info, my husband don’t smoke and don’t drink alcohol. We’re staying here in the UAE for 2 years now and my husband is working as Site Engineer, i don’t know if high temperature is one of the factor why he got 0 count. He gave the sample about 2 hours after his work and he’s in the site with 54 degree Celcius temperature during the whole day.
Please advice us what to do. Thank you and GOD bless.
August 14th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Hi,
I am 32 years old and 2 1/2 years ago my FSH levels were at 16. I was told I had a 1% chance of getting pregnant naturally and a 4% chance with encemination. I was enceminated and it only took one try (needless to say my doctor was shocked)!!! I have a beautiful, healthy baby boy. THERE IS HOPE!!!
August 14th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Congratulations, Beth! Yes, things that are predicted to have a 4% chance DO happen sometimes. In fact, they tend to happen about 4% of the time.
August 19th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
My husband and I are trying IVF again but I have had an FSH from 11 all the way to 22. Needless to say, I’ve been doing Accupuncture since Nov 08 and had 1 attempt of doing IVF (FSH 13.9) which didn’t work, they didn’t implant. I also have stage 4 endo, which is the cause of the high FSH from the surgeries. We now have a gestational carrier and are in the midst of trying to get our cycles matched up, last months attempt was a bust, I just didn’t respond to the stims. So back to the drawing board with our Dr for the next cycle, so complicated. What is your feel on accupuncture for high FSH? I have also heard about taking wheat grass? The one IVF cycle we did complete my FSH was 13.9, I ended up with 2 eggs and the quality was excellent and this last attempt my FSH was 11 and I didn’t produce anything, I don’t get it. My Dr. has not mentioned the word Egg Donor yet, he still has faith that I will produce top quality eggs again. What is your take on this? Are we wasting our time? Our finacial means is running out and I’m getting more nervous about the situation. I have a ton of respect for our Dr. but I keep on second guessing everything, we have invested so much already and I continue to pray for a miracle to happen. Do I go get a second opinion or are we doing everything possible? Thank-you for your time.
August 19th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
Erin, I don’t know your whole history, but based on what you have written, opting for a gestational carrier makes no sense. I think you should get a second opinion and see what you learn from that. As for acupuncture, it might not make the difference between getting pregnant or not getting pregnant, but if it’s inexpensive and it helps you feel relaxed, then you don’t have much to lose. Overall, though you should always focus on what is the best use of your resources. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask your doctor for clarification on his/her logic. Good luck!
August 20th, 2009 at 7:38 am
Thank you for the clear explanation of FSH levels. I encourage everyone reading this who has been told they have high FSH levels to ask their RE about DHEA - many studies are showing that taking this male hormone can temporarily (over the course of 3-4 months) improve egg quality and FSH levels and increase a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. I have been on DHEA for over a month, and am also using Traditional Chinese Medicine, acupuncture, and naturopathy to improve my overall health and fertility. If you are interested in following my journey, or want to ask me questions about my experiences, please visit my blog: http://lateforaveryimportantpregnancy.blogspot.com/
The infertility blog community is a wonderful source of support and info - I have found it extremely helpful. Good luck everyone.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
Thanks so much for responding
I think the suggestion of having a gestational carrier (my sister) was for the purpose of optimizing our success. If I were to grow enough eggs (that’s if) he will be transferring eggs into my sister and if we got enough, he said I could try again as well. It’s taking forever with my high FSH problem so I guess with getting the two perfect embryos from the last IVF and them not implanting raised the question of if they would have been transferred into a healthier uterine environment would they have implanted, we will never know. That is why we have opted to go this route. We have been blessed with my sisters love and genorosity in helping us through our battle.
I’m doing accupuncture because the Dr. is a big believer in it, I actually hate it and it’s expensive. My FSH has been going down and if it’s attributed to the accupuncture then it’s hard for me to quit but I don’t know what is helping it go down????
I have great respect for my Dr. and I’m a loyal patient and it’s hard for me to even consider getting a second opinion but maybe I should. I just don’t think there is anything else anyone can do better, having an elevated FSH is what it is and the stage 4 endo, well, the damage has been done. Thanks for your suggestions and for providing such a fabulous resource for so many women who suffer with infertility issues.
September 13th, 2009 at 9:54 am
I wanted to report back with an update about how my FSH level is doing…I just posted on my blog about how it went from 52 in July to 36 in June to 21.5 this week (I am ovulating, so in fact my FSH is normal for this point in my cycle as it is lower than my LH). I am not sure what exactly has helped this to happen, but I am taking DHEA and there are many things I have changed in my diet and lifestyle. If you have high FSH due to Premature Ovarian Failure, don’t give up hope - I believe there are things you can do, with western and eastern medicine, to improve your health and your ovaries.
October 8th, 2009 at 10:34 am
My husband and I just found out that he has high FSH levels (waiting to hear how high), but basically our fertility doctor told us that our options are adoption or a sperm donor. How could this be? All of his other tests and blood results came back normal. He is a healthy male (34 years old). We had two sperm samples analyzed and both had zero sperm found.
Has anyone had a similar experience? We’re devastated.
October 13th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Whitman 2002…Have your husband try Wheatgrass and Goji juice.
December 15th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
Hello, I would be very grateful if you could help me. I ahve GP in the Uk, that unfortunately only gives you 10 mins for a meeting. He told me that my test results were noraml but does not go into anymore detail.
I reaaly need an insight into what the hormone levels mean in terms of fertility.
my plasma FSH is 9.8 iul/L,
LH 4.51
serum testosterone 1.9 nmol/L
serum presterone 1nmol/ L
serum oestradiol 83pmol/L
apart from the FSH, I do not understand what thes figures mean, could you please give me some indication and direct me some websites whereby I can learn More . Thank you Daniella
December 26th, 2009 at 8:11 am
I am 29 and tested my FSH level on day 3 of my cycle. I have a 9.somethinh reading (very close to 10) My mother had early menopause. My sister had a normal pregnancy. I have a regular 28 day cycle. What is my problem? What are my options? If you said that it is not about trying to lower the FSH level, what shold I be doing or taking right now? Please help.
December 30th, 2009 at 9:18 am
Kerleen, it all depends on what your plans are regarding having children. For both you and Daniella, the answers to your questions are dependent on a lot of other factors in your medical history. It’s difficult to give a detailed answer with the given information.
I’ll give the general advice that high FSH can be a warning flag to go visit a good RE and discuss your overall plan.
January 3rd, 2010 at 5:11 pm
Dear Doctor,
thank you for your repsonse. I understand that my fertility probably dpends on alot of other factors aswell as the doctors lab results that i have sent you above but just to remind you incase it is difficult for you to scroll back her they are…
my plasma FSH is 9.8 iul/L,
LH 4.51
serum testosterone 1.9 nmol/L
serum presterone 1nmol/ L
serum oestradiol 83pmol/L
BUT surely they are some indication of what is happening in the body. I would be so grateful if you could give me an indication. what other formation do you need ? do you consider my fsh level as high. thanking you for your time. Daniella
January 4th, 2010 at 6:25 pm
I just went to the Re office for my 3 day fsh level to start ivf last month it was 10.5 and e2 was 69 this month i wanted to start and now my fsh is 15.5 and e2 is 89 my follicle count was 9 no other problems is it possible i need egg donor they told me I have to wait till it goes down what would my options be at 37
January 9th, 2010 at 1:02 am
hello
in 2007 I had a fsh of 6.9 in 2008 I had a successful ivf resulting in my little girl.
from that ivf I got 9 eggs out of 13 follicles.with low drugs
we have been considering ivf no2 in the hope for a sibling
my fsh is now 10.2 ( which is the higher end of normal ) and my AMH is 8 not sure is that is normal ???
I am 27 and ivf is the only way for me as have no tubes ( 3 ectopics )
so my question is with my fsh on the rise should I be having ivf sooner rather than later ? are my levels abnormal for my age ?
any advice would be much appreciated
natalie
February 3rd, 2010 at 10:25 pm
Hello,
I’m 39 years old and my husband and I went to visit a fertility doctor today as we’ve been trying for a year to get pregnant (and used Clomid for 3 cycles and my husbands sperm has tested very healthy).
We were shocked to hear the news about FSH. My FSH level (tested on day 3) is 17.8 and it seems that the news is pretty poor. He said we will test it again to be sure and that the next step would be to consider IUI with injectables but the chances are very slim of that working. He also said we would not be suitable candidates for IVF.
Can you please offer any advise. I was thinking that lowering the FSH level would be the answer but reading your post explains why not.
So how do I stimulate more healthy follicles? Is there any hope at doing that?
Thanks
February 9th, 2010 at 6:20 am
My wife is 44yrs old and i am 59. her fsh level is 18.75 with regular periods.what she has to do to low her fsh level. please advice . do you have doctors in delhi in india. we want to have baby.
February 9th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
Hello,
I wonder if you could advise. In my last cycle I did the day 21 test to see if I was ovulating. This cycle I took the day 3 test to check FSH levels. Apparently I showed that I ovulated, but my FSH is 14.5.
I’m going to do another round of tests this month, but my doctor (a general practitioner in the UK) was bemused; with those FSH levels she wouldn’t have thought I’d have ovulated. But it was different cycles, so… anyway, I don’t know what to take from the news, although I recognise high FSH levels are not good. Given the ambivalent news, is it unlikely I will get pregnant naturally? I have just turned 40.
Thank you for your input; really appreciated.
Jo
February 9th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Bay Brit, the high FSH suggests there might not be that many healthy follicles left. Stimulation might help, but the medications might cost more than they are worth, given the low likelihood of their making any difference.
Prem Pal, age 44 with an FSH of 18.75 is not a good thing. The predicted monthly odds of getting pregnant are less than 1%.
Jo, my answer is the similar to that for Bay Brit above. The prognosis is not good, but you do have the option of a last chance stimulation with injectable gonadotropins.
Best of luck to all of you. I hope some day we can come up with better medical options to address the issues of higher age and higher FSH.
February 11th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
Hello
Thanks very much for answering my question.
Can you answer another, please, because the whole issue really confuses, despite the mountains of stuff I’ve read.
I realise I have high FSH (14.5) but I did ovulate in the previous cycle (not sure yet about this one). Does that mean I’m producing an egg, so therefore have a chance? I can’t work out why I’m ovulating with high FSH. Can you please explain the relationship?
Thanks so much
Jo
February 11th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Jo, another way to look at it is that your body (specifically your pituitary gland) is naturally compensating for the poor egg reserve by hyper-producing its own fertility hormone (FSH). Some months, this high FSH is good enough to get the egg to ovulate and if so, YES, it is possible to get pregnant. Eventually, the ovary gets so resistant that even with extreme hyper-production of FSH (or maybe even in conjunction with external FSH in the form of fertility drugs) is still not enough to achieve ovulation. This is know as menopause. Best of luck!
February 16th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
is there anything I can buy at the health food store that will help me to lower the FSH levels, other than the wheat grass and acupuncture that you mentioned? (herbs, tonic, remedies, etc…)
February 18th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
Unfortunately, things that can lower your FSH, whether natural or pharmacological (such as birth control pills) can actually further HARM your fertility. There is no natural health food that is proven to lower your FSH.
February 21st, 2010 at 12:26 pm
Hello again,
Thank you so much for your informative replies.
Can I ask - given my FSH level of around 15 this cycle - I did an ovulation predictor kit and it indicated I had a LH surge. It is possible to have a LH surge but not ovulate? My doctor didn’t think I would ovulate with those FSH levels.
Thank you again for your time.
Jo
February 21st, 2010 at 1:22 pm
The simple answer is that YES it’s possible to have an LH surge and not ovulate. In fact there is a name given to the condition which really doesn’t add much other than to restate the description - Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome.
February 21st, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Thank you again.
Is Luteinized Unruptured Follicle Syndrome common?
Jo
February 21st, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Doctor-
I did a medicated IUI (’08) and natural IUI (’09) to no avail.
I am set to start an IVF cycle in March, and here are my stats:
35 ys old, gravida 0, primary infertility for 4-5 ys secondary to stage 3 endometriosis. FSH 9.65, E2 34.4, HCG <1.00, PRL 17.6, TSH 1.49. We are planning no b/c pills (due to my dairy allergy-all b/c pills have dairy), mid luteal Lupron, Bravelle 150, Menopur 75. Base line US: endo thickness 3, Lt ovary: 32×17x27 #of follicles <10mm 4; Rt ovary: 39×16x27 # of follicles <10mm 5.
How does this plan sound?
Should I try to drink some wheatgrass, and schedule my accupuncture for once a week (instead of a week and a half between each)?
What else can I do to improve my chances?
Thank you.
February 23rd, 2010 at 11:41 pm
I would offer some suggestions, but obviously your own RE knows you better than I do and he/she has chosen your particular protocol for a reason, so I would just suggest you either go along with his/her plan or ask if there is another protocol that is better. Sorry for the seemingly vague answer, but it’s the appropriate one given the circumstances. Good luck!
February 24th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Kerleen,
I just turned 39 yrs old and have an FSH of 13. I skipped three periods suddenly last October. Since September was the first month we ardently tried to get pregnant, I was bitterly disapointed to find out that my grandmother went through menopause beginning age 38 and ended at 40. I wish I had known. At your age I thought I would have children in my early thirties and that would be the best decade of my life, but that last 8 years were filled with extreme stress taking care of ill and dying parents, grandparents, etc. My advice is do not leave it for the ‘right’ timing. Ardently look after yourself and your spouse.
February 24th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Actually, I would like to ask if stress can damage the follicals and turn into ovarian failure? Or is family history more important? I’ve had my share of caretaking, death of loved ones, foreclosure, layoff, construction work literally stopping-lost business, financial effects of this, taking care of others children which takes time away from having your own…I thought I was handling it as okay as you can but maybe not?
February 27th, 2010 at 10:45 am
What a wonderful site - finally answers to questions that don’t beat around the bush - thank you.
I am 41 and have tried five unsuccessful IUI’s over 18 months. Last month I was supposed to try IVF but that was converted to IUI as I only had one follicle, even after being on BCP, Superfact and Menopur. My FSH has been around 12-14 during the almost two years of fertility treatment. During the IVF cycle, I was on Menopur 450 but the first two injections I miscalculated and only took injections of 375. Could this have affected the outcome of the number of follicles produced? My Dr. is now telling me my only option is egg donor but I would like to know if it might be worth it to try another round of drugs with the correct dose and/or try a different type of drug for another attempt at a hopefull IVF. I still feel there should be hope with these FSH levels?
Thank you.
March 4th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
Jennifer
So sorry to hear about your past decade of extraordinary stress. It’s not possible to separate how much of the ovarian aging was due to life factors vs genetic factors. What’s most important to focus on at this point is what to do to maximize your chances. Best of luck.
March 4th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Rhonda, making one follicle with 375 IU must have been pretty disappointing. Still, I doubt that had you taken the 450 IU correctly that you would have made more than 3 or 4 even. Nobody can say for sure whether a different protocol may result in enough eggs to do IVF. You have to weigh the cost of meds for another cancelled cycle vs saving up that money towards a donor egg cycle. Good luck.
March 13th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I think it’s very important to acknowledge on this site that FSH is just one factor and is becoming less and less reliable as an indicator of low ovarian reserve. This is because FSH is impacted by many other things. A woman’s AMH is a much better indicator of their true ovarian reserve. If you want more info about this, check out the website for the Centre for Human Reproduction or visit my blog and click on AMH in the topics lists for my posts about it and the info I have found.
http://www.lateforaveryimportantpregnancy.blogspot.com
I strongly recommend anyone with a high FSH not only find a good RE, but an RE who specializes in working with women with low ovarian reserve - most others will direct you to donor eggs without giving you a chance to try with your own. It’s difficult to discover that you have high FSH, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you can’t conceive with your own eggs. There are no guarantees, but there are some things you can try. I wish you all the best.
March 22nd, 2010 at 8:49 pm
I am 45 years old. I have no kids. I had a pregnancy at the age of 34 years with down Syndrome. I froze my eggs at the age of 38-39 years old. April 2009 I had an FSH level 19. In Jan and Feb 2010, I was spotting from day 15 onwards. I was given Provera in Feb and the bleeding stopped. I was given provera again from day 16 onwards for 10 days. I was told that these were annovulary cycles and that I will get my period 3-7 days after taking my last pill. While on Provera I had unprotected sex and also had noticed clear sticky vaginal discharge. I took my last pill on March 1st. Thus far it’s been 21 days after stopping Provera, no period??? Blood and home pregnancy tests are negative! My doctor asked me to wait for another week and re take the pregnancy test. Could the pregnancy test still come out positive? I personally think I have hit menopause. I have been having all the symptoms common to pregnancy and menopause (night sweats, hot flashes, sensitive gums, nausea and headaches). Now at this point, even if I have not hit menopause and my ovaries have follicles and perhaps I can become pregnant using fertility medications. Which will be a better choice? Use the frozen eggs or the fresh eggs ? I am very confused and will appreciate some help and answers. I was impressed the way you have explained FSH mechanism.
March 25th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Thank you for a clear explanation. Now I can stop thinking about how to lower my FSH! I am 35 and my husband and I have been tiring to conceive for 8 months. After all sort of tests and such (clear HGC, sperm good, health very good, genetic very good) I was diagnosed as ‘premature ovarian failure’ since my FSH was 39 on day three. (On a previous test it was been 12 on day 8 which is why they were suspicious.) I was told egg donation or adoption were my only options.
Realistically, is there any point in a second opinion or would another course of action only help someone with lower levels? I don’t want false hope, I really want to know the truth. (People’s stories about ‘hearing about a friend who got pregnant with high FSH’ are beginning to sounds like urban legends!) I would love there to be hope for my eggs, really, but I don’t want to waste time or money on false dreams.
Thank you very much.
March 26th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
I am 41 years old. I miscarriage at age 28. I recently visited an RE and don’t feel he is doing his job. My HSG test is fine. I happen to go on day 10 of my cycle, unplanned as the appointment was scheduled months in advance. He tested on LH = 5.4, and estradiol = 231. The ultrasound good number of follicles, but he never told me how many. He said uterine lining and uterus looks good, no cysts on the ovaries, etc. I went back on Day 17 and my progesterone level was 30. He wanted to wait until my next cycle started to make a recommendation but kept pushing at Clomid. One day one of my next cycle he called for Clomid, 50mg for days 3-7. When I questioned him about why he hasn’t recommended the 3-day FSH test he said something about if the results came back grim the only option would be donor eggs! He said I could get the test but only if I want it. When I asked him if he felt that was the issue he said absolutely not everything appears fine otherwise. He said it is my second phase, the luteal phase, that is too short. It was 13 days. I ovulated on day 13 so my cycle was 26 days. That has been typical my entire life. He looked at 6 months of charts, for which I’ve ovulated on days 12-15 all with no less than 12 days of luteal phase.
Is it necessary to have the 3-day FSH test prior to taking Clomid? Will it even help? I’ve been having weekly acupuncture treatments for 5 months now for fertility and making the womb more inviting for implantation. My husband’s sperm is fine.
Thank you.
April 15th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Hi, I have been told today by my doctor that I have had an early menopause (i’m 32) and that my FSH level was over 100 2 weeks ago and 80 this week. Is egg donation my only chance?
thank you
April 18th, 2010 at 1:23 pm
Hi
I’m 26 years old and recently had blood tests because I have never had a regular period. My FSH came back at 21 which I know isn’t a good sign. The doctor did say my estrogen levels were good. I also have PCOS and take metformin. She says this may be a sign if premature ovarian failure. The thing is.. I have an almost 2 year old who was conceived naturally, 1st month off the pill. We had planned on using IVF PGD for our next pregnancy as our son was born with a severe genetic condition and we know our mutation. Do you think there is any chance we will be able to use my eggs? Are our chances reasonably good? Thanks.
April 20th, 2010 at 5:13 am
Hello,
I have just come across your website in search of some help. I was diagnosed with cancer of the uterus 2 years ago. I had 3 days to decide if I would agree to a radical hysterectomy and with that being my best chance for cure agreed and went through with the surgery. My Specialist retained my ovaries and moved them up higher into my abdomen to avoid the radiation field. I have had one blood test around 2 months after the treatments which showed FSH at around 100, I understand this is high and not a good sign however I would like to know if this means that I no longer have eggs? My husband and I would like to have frozen some eggs and had a surrogate, in your experience what are the chances of me having any live egss? Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Is it worth having some tests done to confirm, and if I am not ovulating can I still have eggs that can be removed and frozen? I am 31 years of age. I know that the chemotherapy I had can induce a temporary menopause but understand that it may be too late for me now. Thankyou so much.
April 29th, 2010 at 2:15 am
I would like to know the significance of my kid having slighly increased FSH levels . She is only 2 and a half years’ old. the rest of the hormones are normal.
Regards
Balu Jacob
April 29th, 2010 at 10:41 am
Hi dr, at 38 years old, been found fsh 14.6, estradiol 39,2. My husband has shown an cero movility in his sperm. I ve been advised ICSI treatment, planning to do it in 4 months. A second opinion advise to put me on birthcontrol pill to “put the ovaries to rest” for the next 4 months and to try an IVF treatment. Will the pill put my ovaries to rest as the dr. said or might they cause a further damage?
Many thanks, your answer is very much appreciated.
May 7th, 2010 at 8:58 am
Hi,
I am 34 years old and have had a history of endometreosis - was on bcp for years, then 6 months of Lupron when I was 23, then Depo Provera and then back to BCP. At 31, my husband and I decided to try for a family - unsure of the outcome. I came off the pill in May 2006 and got pregnant right away but it only last 3 weeks. After that time I did not get my period for 6 months and went to see an OB. I charted my temp., had blood work (my FSH was 13) and was sent for a dye test to check my tubes. Within a week of the dye test I was pregnant in February 2007. I had a very successful pregnancy and now have a beautiful daughter. After that I went back on BCP until August 2009. I have not yet had a period. I recently went back to my OB who did blood work again and put me on 5 days of progeseterone to induce a period. I have been cramping but no period only scant spotting. I was supposed to go for a follow-up visit but received a call that I was being referred to a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Program because my OB “did not like” my blood work. I got a copy of the report that said my FSH is 111 LH 66 and prolactin 4. I am scared and do not know what options will be. Is it possible that my high FSH is because of the pill and I need to give it more time?
Thanks
May 12th, 2010 at 5:55 am
hello i m 29 year old my fsh is 47 if there is a any way to lower my fsh please let me know as early
May 16th, 2010 at 11:23 am
i am 29 years old and my testosterone level is 20.4.
i would like to know what my chances are to fall pregnant? i have been trying for 7 months to concieve.
May 24th, 2010 at 6:59 am
i am 32 years and my fsh is high 27.dr.say that your ovary is failor. eggs are not made. i am so varied. is it possible to become a mother?
June 6th, 2010 at 5:04 am
This is the best way I have ever heard someone explain what high FSH means. Thanks.
June 25th, 2010 at 7:18 am
I would like to encourage women with high FSH levels not to loose hope. I had an FSH of 23 when I was trying to concieve our second child. I was told by a Doctor in NY that I would never conceive my own child and that he would not consider doing IVF on me and I should go straight to egg donation. Fortunately, I met Drs in different parts of the world whose objective it is to take the hardest cases and get women pregnant, rather keeping their clinics stats high. So I went through 5 rounds of IVF. I did not get one egg retrieved, but the last Dr used a combination of DHEA and Testosterone, which I feel really worked. I got pregnant naturally one month after the last IVF cycle and now we have our perfect little boy, a fabulous pal for our daughter. It was a dream come true. So don’t believe all you hear, don’t obsess, but do the research and challenge your doctors. Also, I think a fertility diet helped.
July 23rd, 2010 at 1:19 am
Thank you so much for your willingness to share information. You are so very generous.
I have been reading your website and I couldn’t find a way to send you an email, so I am leaving both a comment on a post, and a message through facebook.
Please forgive me if you have already answered this question.
I am 41 and while I have no problem getting pregnant, I have
miscarried 3 times (twice at 12 weeks). Two of the times I had a heartbeat and the last time the embryo apparently stopped developing at 10.5 weeks (my cervix was tightly closed, but I was bleeding a little and a sonogram revealed the problem).
I just received my progesterone/FSH/estradiol results.
I was tested in my luteal phase:
Progesterone: 5.84
FSH: 8.7
Estradiol: 109
Considering my age, and from my limited knowledge,
it seems like my FSH and Estradiol levels are not out of whack.
However, could you please let me know what you think about
my progesterone level. It seems low to me.
Also, of course if you have any input as to my FSH and Estradiol levels, I would love to hear it.
Thank you so very much for your time, as you can
imagine, at my age I very eagerly await your response.
Lucy