Without normal FSH levels, it may be difficult or impossible to create normal sperm, leading to infertility. FSH levels can be detected using a simple blood test.
Elevated FSH Levels and male infertility
Elevated FSH is not bad for fertility in and of itself; rather, it is a sign that the brain is responding properly to the low sperm production.
As in women, gonadotropin releasing hormone, or GnRH, is released in a pulsatile fashion, stimulating the release of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and leutinizing hormone (LH). In men, LH primarily stimulates testosterone production, while FSH stimulates the production of sperm.
In men, LH stimulates testosterone production from the interstitial cells of the testes (Leydig cells). FSH stimulates testicular growth and enhances the production of an androgen-binding protein by the Sertoli cells, which are a component of the testicular tubule necessary for sustaining the maturing sperm cell.
When FSH levels are too high or too low, achieving pregnancy can become much more difficult because it affects your menstrual cycle and whether or not you ovulate. As your egg quality and quantity dwindle – your body will try to compensate by producing more FSH in order to stimulate ovarian function.
High FSH levels in men may mean the testicles are not functioning correctly due to: Advancing age (male menopause) Damage to testicles caused by alcohol abuse, chemotherapy, or radiation. Problems with genes, such as Klinefelter syndrome.
Both LH and FSH are vital to the proper production of sperm. Low levels of these hormones can be at least partly responsible for low sperm counts, which is the biggest cause of infertility in men.
High FSH is a symptom, not a disease or root cause of infertility. However, it often indicates a common but serious problem.
Hormone therapy
A medical approach to increasing FSH levels in men could be to prescribe hormonal replacement therapy. However, as for lifestyle changes, it is important for you to talk to your doctor or fertility specialist. He will be able to advise on what would be most effective in your case.
FSH and androgen act to stimulate and maintain spermatogenesis. FSH acts directly on the Sertoli cells to stimulate germ cell number and acts indirectly to increase androgen production by the Leydig cells.
Without the critical intra-testicular production of testosterone for stimulation of sperm production, patients typically cannot produce sperm. Without FSH the testicle is not optimally stimulated to produce sperm even if there were to be adequate intra-testicular testosterone.
The FSH level is actually fairly easy to lower medically (with estrogen, the birth control pill, Lupron, etc.), but the underlying problem (diminished ovarian reserve) that causes the elevated FSH cannot necessarily be “fixed.”
FSH is responsible for testicular growth and the production and maturation of sperm cells. Similar to LH, a low FSH level means low libido or inability to conceive while a high FSH means damaged testicles. Testicles could be damaged for reasons like infection, chemotherapy, or excessive use of alcohol.
While each fertility clinic uses a different assay to measure FSH, most centers say that anything above 15 is considered “abnormal.” On average, patients in the 10-to-15 range have a 50% lower success rate of bringing home a baby than others in their age group with FSH levels of 9.5 or below.
Clomiphene citrate is prescribed to men who have infertility due to hormonal imbalances. Clomiphene citrate causes an increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This increases the signal to the testes to increase testosterone production and sperm production.
It is also known as hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism due to low levels of LH and FSH resulting in decreased testosterone production. Secondary hypogonadism often occurs as part of a wider syndrome of hypopituitarism. Examples of causes can include: pituitary tumours and their treatment.
Sometimes, elevated follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels are measured to confirm menopause. When a woman's FSH blood level is consistently elevated to 30 mIU/mL or higher, and she has not had a menstrual period for a year, it is generally accepted that she has reached menopause.
Clomid tends to elevate FSH levels; however, women with a normal response are able to return the FSH levels to baseline by day 10, while the day 10 FSH is often elevated in women with diminished ovarian reserve.
Continuous evaluation by cycle phase indicated that recent daily stress was associated with lower total and free E2 and LH during the follicular phase and with lower progesterone and higher FSH during the luteal phase.
FSH level indicates poor egg quality and less egg reserve. How To Lower FSH Naturally? 1. Increase food high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, trout, mackerel, sardines, herring, and anchovies), walnuts, flax seeds, seaweed, and kidney beans, among others.
Though less common than anatomic causes of infertility, hormone imbalances are often the cause of fertility issues in men with abnormal semen analyses. If you've had an abnormal semen analysis, particularly if the sperm concentration was less than 10 million/mL, you should have an endocrine evaluation.
In multiple linear regression analysis, FSH and LH were inversely associated with sperm concentration, motility, and morphology. Inhibin B and free T4 were positively associated with sperm concentration, while there was a suggestive positive association between testosterone and sperm motility.
If you are a man, high FSH levels may mean: Your testicles have been damaged due to chemotherapy, radiation, infection, or alcohol abuse. You have Klinefelter syndrome, a genetic disorder affects sexual development in males. It often causes infertility.