FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) Test
An FSH test measures follicle-stimulating hormone, a signal the pituitary gland sends to the reproductive system. Clinicians associate it with fertility and reproductive function and often read it alongside other hormones.
About this test
Follicle-stimulating hormone, usually shortened to FSH, is made by the pituitary gland, a small structure at the base of the brain. It is one of the signals the pituitary sends to the reproductive system.
The pituitary adjusts FSH in response to messages from the reproductive organs, so the marker reflects part of a larger hormonal conversation. Clinicians associate FSH with fertility and reproductive function, and they often look at it together with other hormones to understand the fuller picture.
Who might consider this test?
- It is also used to follow reproductive hormones over time or as part of a broader hormone evaluation.
- Because FSH reflects a pituitary signal to the reproductive system, it is frequently chosen alongside other hormone markers rather than on its own.
Test details
| Quest code | 470 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Immunoassay |
| Sample type | 1 mL serum |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Additional details
What FSH is
FSH is one of the messenger hormones the pituitary gland uses to communicate with the reproductive organs. In people who menstruate, it is involved in the growth of ovarian follicles across the cycle; in people with testes, it supports sperm production. Because the pituitary raises or lowers FSH in response to the reproductive system, the marker reflects part of an ongoing feedback loop.
It helps to remember what FSH describes: a signal from the pituitary, not the output of the reproductive organs themselves. That distinction is part of why a clinician often pairs FSH with other hormones when interpreting it.
Why it's often measured with other hormones
FSH rarely tells a complete story alone. Clinicians frequently read it alongside related hormones — for example, luteinizing hormone or estradiol in people who menstruate — to compare the pituitary's signals against the reproductive system's response. Read together, these markers give a fuller sense of the hormonal conversation than any single one.
For people who menstruate, where a sample falls within the cycle can shape how a clinician reads FSH, which is why timing instructions matter. As always, the result is interpreted in the context of symptoms and history.
Order online and a physician order is included — no doctor's visit and no insurance needed. Your sample is collected at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center.
Laboratory results should always be interpreted by a licensed clinician who knows your health history. This page is information about a test, not medical advice.
Frequently asked questions
What does an FSH test measure?
It measures follicle-stimulating hormone, a signal the pituitary gland sends to the reproductive system. FSH reflects that signal rather than the output of the reproductive organs themselves.
Why is FSH often measured with other hormones?
FSH is one signal within a connected system, so clinicians frequently read it alongside related hormones to compare the pituitary's signals against the reproductive system's response and get a fuller picture.
Does the timing of the test matter?
For people who menstruate, where the sample falls within the cycle can matter to a clinician. People follow whatever timing and preparation instructions their ordering clinician provides.
How is the sample collected?
Through a routine blood draw at a Quest patient service center. A phlebotomist takes a small sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory.
Who interprets the results?
A clinician reads FSH in the context of symptoms, history, and often other hormone markers. The result is a starting point for that conversation rather than an answer on its own.
How much does the FSH test cost?
The cash price at Celio Health is $45. That covers the physician's order and sample collection at a Quest patient service center — no insurance is needed and there's no separate doctor's visit to pay for.