FSH levels Questions

babydreams13 · June 2013

Background:

So our diagnosis is unexplained IF. We are on IUI #5. 3 with Clomid and now my 2nd with injects. My levels have always come back in the normal range except slightly high Prolactin. MRI showed no tumors. So today I go in for CD 6 monitoring and at the end RE says your FSH is elevated from CD 3 BW. He said it was a 12. I said was it elevated during the past 5 cycles and he said no. He said FSH can fluctuate. He explained a little about it but I really zoned out with it being 6:30 am and being upset something is wrong.

Can someone please explain FSH to me?

What are normal levels?

Do yours fluctuate?

Can all these meds be effecting my FSH? Obviously I'm making way more eggs on these meds?

Any feedback is appreciated of course now I'm freaking out that I will never have a kid....uhhh IF sucks. Thanks is advance.

Edit: I'm seeing age plays a factor in this. I'll be 32 next month.

katib77 · June 2013

Are you sure he said FSH and not another hormone? Fsh is follicle stimulating hormone so yes it fluctuates. It supposed to if memory serves.

katib77 · June 2013

AMH is the one that should be fairly constant and is most effected by age I believe.

lorirachel · June 2013

i dont know TOO much about it but I do know that it does fluctuate, but you are only as good as your highest number. for my age, mine is way too high (I think my highest was 14 or 16). I think somewhere around 25 is nearing menopause. It can go up really slowly though, so my RE said its a good thing I came when I did (I am 25)

babydreams13 · June 2013

katib77:
Are you sure he said FSH and not another hormone? Fsh is follicle stimulating hormone so yes it fluctuates. It supposed to if memory serves.

Thanks for responding. Yes, I am sure he said FSH. Maybe on Friday i will ask how my AMH is. I just read up on it today and 12 doesn't seem too great but not terrible. My RE said something about over 15 being an issue in some cases for IVF. Hopefully we can get this show on the road and get preg with IUI #5. Now I'm freaked out that our chances are decreased. UHHHH I hate IF. I'll ask my RE more on Friday at monitoring. Thanks

babydreams13 · June 2013

lorirachel:
i dont know TOO much about it but I do know that it does fluctuate, but you are only as good as your highest number. for my age, mine is way too high (I think my highest was 14 or 16). I think somewhere around 25 is nearing menopause. It can go up really slowly though, so my RE said its a good thing I came when I did (I am 25)

Thanks for responding. Because of your level of 14 or 16 did that effect your diagnosis (I didn't see a DX in your siggy)? My RE said unexplained people sometimes have slightly high FSH. I'm glad you said it can go up really slowly. I'm 32 so I'm hoping it stays put for a while and I can actually get preg. Have you seen big fluctuations between cycles? This is cycle number 5 of IUI and this was the first time it was an issue. I'm wondering if my injects cycle messed things up. Thanks for your help and good luck!

jb2rn · June 2013

lurking..##TICKER/PHOTO##

See my labs, in siggy. I was 34 when they were tested. If you have had several failed IUI's and do in fact, have elevated day 3 FSH, as well as low AMH, I would consider moving to more aggressive treatment.

FSH can fluctuate and it would be more telling what your AMH is, as well as what your AFC is.

babydreams13 · June 2013

jb2rn:
lurking..##TICKER/PHOTO##

See my labs, in siggy. I was 34 when they were tested. If you have had several failed IUI's and do in fact, have elevated day 3 FSH, as well as low AMH, I would consider moving to more aggressive treatment.
FSH can fluctuate and it would be more telling what your AMH is, as well as what your AFC is.

Thanks for the info. My RE didn't mention anything about AMH or AFC. I'll ask tomorrow when I go in. I'm on IUI #5 and insurance says 6 IUIs before IVF so if these last 2 don't work we will do IVF. Could it be possible to have elevated FSH and not low AMH? Thanks a lot. I'm hoping it was just a fluctuation and will go back down next cycle.

girlgamer07 · June 2013

Okay this is long and may contain more information than you need or information you already know.

FSH or folical stimulating hormone is released through out your cycle by the pituitary gland. Ranges for FSH very drastically depending on what day in the cycle you do your levels. Typically for Fertility the levels are tested on days 2,3 or 4. Days 2, 3, and 4 is generally when FSH levels start to rise to signal the ovaries to prepare egg(s) for maturation. The higher FSH levels are on these days the harder the body has to work in order to stimulate egg maturation. The closer a women is to menopause the higher the FSH levels are because their ovarian reserve does not have as many eggs left so the harder the body has to work in order to mature an egg.

Because FSH levels increase as ovarian reserve decreases it is often used as one of the main factors in diagnosing diminished ovarian reserve and the FSH levels will often correlate with an low folical count.

Now as far as normal ranges will differ slightly depending on what lab you have them done at, but they shouldn't differ by to much. For women of child bearing age generally your FSH should be <10, <9 from some labs. The younger you are the lower your FSH should be.

Since your level was on Cycle day 6, just know that your FSH will rise from cycle day 2 until cycle day 14-15 and then drop again.

My FSH levels are high, 11.5 and I am also 32 years old. To my knowledge they have not fluctuated but I'm sure they can at least a bit from cycle to cycle especially when drugs are involved. I would not start to freak out quite yet and I would call/email them to explain it again and see what they say. 6:30 is way to early to process any information in my opinion. If you Doctor isn't to concerned I wouldn't be yet either. When I tested myself and found out I had an FSH of 11.5 I almost vomited but my doctor says it's not the end of the world and I still have time. They are glad I didn't wait to much longer but there is still hope. If you have any other questions please let me know.

Good Luck and stay positive Big Smile

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