The growth hormone called follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is what causes the ovaries to produce mature eggs. It is also the hormone that can be injected and is used during an IVF cycle to treat infertility. The pituitary gland, which is found in the brain, also produces LH and FSH. When a woman matures, her brain can detect changes in her estrogen levels. In an effort to raise the level of estrogen by encouraging hormone production in the ovaries, this causes the production of FSH to be stimulated. As a result, even after menopause when there are no longer any eggs, the level of FSH in a woman’s body keeps rising with age. On the third day of your menstrual cycle, an FSH test is performed as part of the IVF procedure to see if your baseline level of the hormone is normal (>9). If it increases (9–20), it indicates that your ovarian reserve is inadequate. The response of your body to fertility drugs can also be predicted by the level of FSH. The likelihood that your body will respond to ovarian stimulation with fertility medicines is incredibly low when the level of FSH on day 3 of your menstrual cycle is more than 20. Yet since every patient is treated uniquely, it’s best to speak with your reproductive specialist before making any assumptions.
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