Day 3 FSH Test for Fertility

Follicle stimulating hormone is a glycoprotein hormone that is secreted by the pituitary gland. While hormones such as estrogen and progesterone must be secreted by the ovaries in sufficient amounts, for a woman to be able to support a pregnancy, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) plays an important role in facilitating the process of ovulation. Follicle stimulating hormone stimulates the growth of follicles. The term 'follicles' refers to small structures that lie within the ovaries. Each of these contain an egg. When a woman ovulates, the follicle ruptures in order to release the matured egg. It is the fertilization of the egg with the sperm that is essential for a woman to get pregnant. If the levels of FSH don't lie within the normal range, one's chances of getting pregnant certainly becomes low. This is the reason why FSH levels are tested in women who are unable to conceive. Day 3 FSH test is one such diagnostic test that is used for testing the FSH levels. This test helps to check a woman's ovarian reserve and gives useful information on her chances of getting pregnant.

What is Day 3 FSH Test?

This is a blood test that is conducted on the third day of a woman's menstrual cycle. As mentioned earlier, the levels of follicle stimulating hormone on the third day can help in determining a woman's ovarian reserve which in turn refers to the ability of the ovary to provide healthy eggs. The secretion of FSH in the initial stage of the menstrual cycle is vital for proper functioning of the reproductive system. The secretion of FSH stimulates the growth of follicles, which in turn, serve as an egg sac. Though several follicles are produced in the initial follicular phase, only one of these egg-bearing follicles matures, and breaks through the egg sac during ovulation. If the quality of the egg is good, and the egg fertilizes with a sperm, then one may be able to conceive. The levels of FSH during the initial phase of the menstrual cycle must be within the normal range, for a woman to develop follicles. This is the reason why checking the levels of FSH during this time can help in assessing the ovarian reserve.

Day 3 FSH Test and Fertility

The secretion of right amounts of FSH facilitates the development of ovarian follicles which is why abnormal FSH levels are believed to have a link with a woman's inability to conceive. FSH levels are tested on the third day of the menstrual cycle in women who are suffering from menstrual irregularities and fertility issues. There is a reason why this test is conducted on the third day of the menstrual cycle. If the test is conducted anytime after the fifth day, the estradiol or estrogen levels would begin to rise, and the high levels of estrogen may suppress the FSH levels. Thus, even when the FSH levels may actually be higher, one may get a lower FSH value. It's therefore, essential to make sure that FSH levels are in no way affected by the high estrogen levels. Thus, the best time to check FSH levels is during the second or third day, when the estradiol levels would be low. Besides getting an accurate reading of FSH levels, it's also important that any kind of hormonal imbalance be diagnosed at an early stage. Therefore, tests may be conducted to check the levels of estrogen and progesterone as well.

FSH Levels on Day 3

FSH levels can help in assessing the ovarian reserve, and this explains the link between abnormal FSH levels and infertility. The FSH levels vary at different stages of a woman's menstrual cycle. In the initial phases of the menstrual cycle, the secretion of gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulates the production of FSH, which in turn, stimulates the development of an ovarian follicle. If the levels of FSH are not within the normal range during the follicular phase, the ovarian reserve or the egg supply may get affected. When the quantity as well as the quality of the ovarian follicles suffers, problems with conception are most likely to arise. The levels of follicle stimulating hormones usually lie within 4.7 to 21.5 mIU/ml during the menstrual cycle. It is only during ovulation, the time when the egg is released from the egg sac, that the FSH levels should be high. A woman is said to have good ovarian reserve if the follicle stimulating hormone levels are less than 9 mIU/ml on the third day of the menstrual cycle. Normal FSH levels in women, especially in the initial phase of the menstrual cycle, signify good quality of eggs. If the FSH levels are higher than 15 mIU/ml, a woman's ovarian reserve is diminishing, and values higher than 25 mIU/ml may signify an ovarian failure. Though it is normal for a woman to have elevated FSH levels after menopause, high FSH levels in women of childbearing age, is certainly a cause of serious concern.

While the day 3 FSH test for fertility is believed to provide valuable insights on why a woman may not be able to conceive, other diagnostic tests must also be performed in order to check the levels of hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and luteinizing hormone. Abnormal FSH levels could be caused due to disorders associated with the pituitary gland or the hypothalamus, or various other medical conditions, which is why, a proper medical checkup must be conducted to ascertain the underlying cause of abnormal FSH levels. These days, certain cost-effective home kits for testing FSH are available in the pharmacies. However, it's better to let experts take a blood sample and have the FSH levels tested by a pathologist. Consult a doctor immediately when required as only an expert may be able to ascertain the real issues that may be hampering your chance of getting pregnant.