Planning to have a baby soon? Then make sure you fill up on foods that increase FSH hormone levels. FSH, or follicle stimulating hormone, supports reproductive health 461213. Doctors test FSH levels when evaluating pituitary function, fertility issues or menopause symptoms, among other things.
The Role of FSH Hormone
Reproductive health is strongly connected to your hormone levels 24. In addition to estrogen and testosterone, several other hormones influence sexual development and reproductive processes.
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), for example, play a key role in fertility 4. They are produced by gonadotropic cells in the anterior pituitary gland and regulate gonadal function in both men and women.
Gonads, or reproductive glands, are specialized organs that produce gametes, or ovules in women and sperm in men.
In the female body, these glands — known as ovaries — are found on each side of the uterus. Men have the gonads, or testes, located behind the penis.
Sexual hormones, such as FSH and LH, stimulate the gonads in both men and women. For this reason, they are also called gonadotropins. FSH hormone helps both the ovarian follicles and sperm cells reach maturity, while LH stimulates the production of sex steroids.
Low FSH levels can affect fertility and make it difficult to conceive. If left unaddressed, low FSH and LH levels may put you at risk for ovarian cancer, warns the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) 4.
Having too much FSH or LH in the body is just as dangerous. In general, FSH levels increase during menopause, which is perfectly normal.
However, if you're in your 20s or 30s and have elevated FSH, you may suffer from an underlying condition, such as primary ovarian failure. In men, primary testicular failure is often the culprit behind high FSH levels. Certain factors, such as hormonal treatments and the use of birth control pills, may affect FSH test results.
- Reproductive health is strongly connected to your hormone levels 24.
- FSH hormone helps both the ovarian follicles and sperm cells reach maturity, while LH stimulates the production of sex steroids.
Increase LH and FSH Naturally
Oregano & Hormones
According to Yale Medicine, FSH levels fluctuate daily and reach their peak before ovulation. If they are higher or lower than normal, though, it may be a sign of an underlying issue that could affect fertility. Women with irregular menstrual cycles, for example, tend to have very low FSH levels and may find it difficult to get pregnant.
Your doctor can recommend FSH and LH tests to assess your reproductive function and check for disorders that may affect the pituitary gland. These tests can help detect ovarian or testicular failure, fertility problems and other reproductive issues.
- 1.4 to 15.5 international units per milliliter (IU/mL) for men
- 1.4 to 9.9 IU/mL during the follicular phase of a woman's menstrual cycle
- 6.2 to 17.2 IU/mL during ovulation
- 1.1 to 9.2 IU/mL during the luteal phase
FSH levels should be 19 to 100 IU/mL in post-menopausal women.
It plays a vital role in energy metabolism, bone health, cardiovascular function and cancer risk. Elevated FSH levels have been linked to obesity, ovarian cancer, osteoporosis and other disorders.
What if you have too little FSH? Depending on the underlying cause, you may need hormonal therapy, medications or even surgery (in case of ovarian cancer, for example).
- According to Yale Medicine, FSH levels fluctuate daily and reach their peak before ovulation.
Eat Selenium-Rich Foods
According to a February 2018 study published in the journal Eating and Weight Disorders, higher GPx concentrations are linked to elevated FSH levels. Also, there seems to be a relationship between higher waist circumference and low FSH.
Another study, which was featured in the journal Obesity in April 2015, pinpoints a direct relationship between FSH hormone and body weight. As the scientists note, weight loss may slightly increase FSH levels in overweight, postmenopausal women 13.
One way to boost your GPx is to eat a diet