Follicle stimulating hormone, serum

This hormone (FSH) is produced by the anterior pituitary gland, and it elevates when the gonadal hormones stimulated by FSH fail to sufficiently "feed back" onto the hypothalamus (this brain area produces the GnRH which prompts the pituitary to produce the FSH.

Uses of the Test:

• to ascertain whether all ovarian tissue was removed (elevated if all removed)

• to ascertain ovarian failure (such as menopause)(elevated if ovaries hormonally hypo-active

Synonyms: FSH