FSH & LH (Follicle-Stimulating and Luteinizing Hormones): FSH helps gauge ovarian reserve, or the number and health of eggs. Lower FSH levels are better, indicating healthy egg supply: 6 = excellent, 6–9 = good, 10–13 = diminished reserve, 13+ = harder to stimulate. LH works similarly and can indicate PCOS or ovulation timing. LH surges above 20 mIU/ml usually trigger ovulation within 48 hours. Abnormal FSH or LH levels can suggest challenges with egg supply or sperm count, which may make conception more difficult.
We measure the level of FSH from the blood to determine several things. Most importantly is the over-all general ovarian reserve health. A good ovarian reserve would be shown with a normal level of FSH in the blood on cycle day 3. Elevation would not rule out the possibility of pregnancy in an infertility client, but does tell us we need to work quickly and do our best to make those eggs and the entire body as healthy and balanced as we can for an optimal environment of fertility.