FSH & LH Test
An FSH and LH test measures two pituitary hormones together: follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. These are signals the pituitary sends to guide the reproductive system, and clinicians often read them side by side.
About this test
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) are both made by the pituitary gland, a small structure at the base of the brain. Together they act as the pituitary's instructions to the ovaries or testes, helping direct the reproductive cycle and the production of sex hormones.
This test is performed with a single routine blood draw at a patient service center, where a phlebotomist collects a sample from a vein in the arm and sends it to the laboratory. Both FSH and LH rise and fall across the menstrual cycle and change with life stage, so a clinician often notes timing and context when reviewing the results.
Who might consider this test?
- Often exploring questions about menstrual cycles
- The reproductive transition
- Looking into symptoms that can be linked to shifting hormone signals
Test details
| Quest code | 7137 |
|---|---|
| Methodology | Immunoassay (IA) |
| Sample type | 2 mL serum |
| Collection | Quest patient service center |
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Additional details
Why FSH and LH are measured together
FSH and LH are two halves of the pituitary's message to the reproductive system, and they often move in relation to each other. Reading them side by side lets a clinician see not just each signal but the relationship between them, which can carry more meaning than either value on its own. That is why this test pairs them in a single measurement.
As pituitary signals, FSH and LH describe the instructions being sent to the ovaries or testes rather than the sex hormones those organs produce. That distinction is part of why a clinician may follow or accompany them with markers such as estradiol or testosterone, which reflect the organs' own output.
How the results fit a larger picture
Because both hormones shift across the menstrual cycle and with life stage, a single measurement is a snapshot that a clinician reads in context. FSH and LH are frequently considered alongside sex hormones and, at times, other markers, so the pituitary's signal and the reproductive organs' response can be compared. Interpreted together, these markers give a fuller sense of the reproductive hormone picture than any single one can.
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 the FSH and LH test measure?
It measures two pituitary hormones together: follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone. Both are signals the pituitary sends to guide the reproductive system and the production of sex hormones.
Why are FSH and LH measured together?
The two work as a pair, and they often move in relation to each other. Reading them side by side lets a clinician see the relationship between the signals, which can carry more meaning than either alone.
How are these different from sex hormones like estradiol?
FSH and LH are pituitary signals sent to the ovaries or testes, while sex hormones such as estradiol or testosterone reflect those organs' own output. A clinician often considers both sides together.
Does one blood draw cover both hormones?
Yes. A single routine blood draw at a patient service center provides the sample for both FSH and LH, which the laboratory then analyzes.
Does timing affect the results?
It can. Both hormones change across the menstrual cycle and with life stage, so a clinician often takes the timing of the draw into account when reviewing the results.
Can I get the FSH & LH test without a doctor's visit or insurance?
Yes. The $79 cash price includes an independent physician's order, so no referral is needed, and insurance is never involved.