Order an FSH test and check your FSH level

An FSH test can help you understand what is happening hormonally in your body. As your ovarian reserve declines, FSH may rise, something often seen around the (peri)menopause.

The test gives you a snapshot of a single hormone. It is not a diagnosis, but a data point you can discuss with a doctor alongside your symptoms and other values.

For many women, a measurement like this feels like a first step towards understanding questions about their cycle, their energy or the menopause.

This test may suit women who:

• want to know whether symptoms might fit the menopause
• have an irregular cycle
• want insight into their fertility or ovarian reserve
• want to record a baseline of their hormones

As a perimenopause check, FSH is often looked at together with oestradiol so a doctor can place the values in context.

This test measures one biomarker in your blood:

• FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone): a hormone from your pituitary gland that stimulates the growth of follicles in your ovaries.

Your FSH value is often reviewed together with oestradiol and, for fertility questions, with AMH. You can read more on the page about FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone).

Your FSH value can say something about how your pituitary gland and your ovaries work together. A higher value may point to a declining ovarian reserve, which is common around the menopause.

Because FSH fluctuates during your cycle, a single measurement is always a snapshot. A doctor therefore considers the wider context: your value, your symptoms and often your oestradiol as well.

For this test, blood is drawn at a certified sample point. There are more than 750 locations across the Netherlands, which you choose yourself after ordering.

You do not need to see your GP first; you pick a location and a time that suit you. The draw is done by trained staff and usually takes only a few minutes.

For questions about your cycle or fertility, FSH is usually measured early in the cycle, often around day 2 to 5 (day 1 is the first day of your period).

Around the menopause, FSH can be measured at any time, and the result is interpreted together with your symptoms and your oestradiol. This can help when assessing whether you may be entering the menopause.

Your result shows your FSH alongside a reference range and a short explanation. What counts as a healthy value varies by lab, age and cycle day, so numbers alone say little.

Many women want to know whether their hormones fit the (peri)menopause. A raised FSH can be part of that pattern, but only a doctor can properly interpret your result.

For this test you usually do not need to fast. If you want FSH assessed in the context of your cycle or fertility, a blood draw around day 2 to 5 of your cycle is often advised.

If you are (possibly) in the menopause and your periods are irregular or have stopped, the sample can be taken at any time. If you use hormones or contraception, ask your doctor whether that could affect your result.

Your results are available online within a few working days. You see your FSH value, its reference range and a clear explanation.

Every blood test result includes a professional assessment from a BIG-registered doctor. For treatment decisions, discuss your results with your GP.