Reproductive Pituitary gland

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

Written by the VitaWhat editorial team · Medically reviewed by Steve Davis · Last reviewed 19 July 2026 · Editorial policy

Drives egg and sperm production.

What it does

  • Stimulates egg development in women and sperm production in men

Too much

  • High FSH in women often signals menopause or reduced ovarian reserve

Too little

  • Low FSH can cause infertility and absent periods
Keeping it balanced: FSH is measured in fertility and menopause testing.

Sources & references

  1. You and Your Hormones (Society for Endocrinology)
  2. NHS — Hormonal conditions

Think a hormone may be out of balance?

The symptoms of hormonal excess and deficiency are non-specific — tiredness, weight change, low mood and poor sleep have many everyday causes. No hormone problem can be self-diagnosed from a symptom list.

Diagnosis needs blood tests interpreted alongside your history, sometimes repeated at set times of day because many hormones vary hour to hour. Speak to a GP if symptoms are persistent; seek urgent care for severe symptoms such as confusion, fainting, chest pain or extreme thirst with frequent urination.

Related entries

Luteinising Hormone (LH)OestrogenOxytocinProgesteroneProlactinTestosterone
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