Hi there, I have had alot of testing done for hormones etc, as I had a Tubal Reversal in 2010 this is what information I saved, not sure whether you are being considered for assisted conception i.e clomid etc, but your numbers are exactly where they should be for your age......Good luck and try not to worry too much..
Day 3 FSH level - Ovarian Reserve levels
Less than 9 Normal FSH level. Expect a good response to ovarian stimulation.
9 - 11 Fair. Response is between normal and somewhat reduced (response varies widely). Overall, a slightly reduced live birth rate.
11- 15 Reduced ovarian reserve. Expect a reduced response to stimulation and some reduction in embryo quality with IVF. Reduced live birth rates on the average.
15 - 20 Expect a more marked reduction in response to stimulation and usually a further reduction in embryo quality. Low live birth rates. Antral follicle count is an important variable.
Over 20 This is pretty much a "no go" level in our center. Very poor (or no) response to stimulation. "No go" levels should be individualized for the particular lab assay and IVF center.
FSH stands for Follicle Stimulating Hormone. Hormones are chemicals in your body that are made in one place and are used in another. FSH is made in the pituitary gland, which is a small gland found near the base of the brain. The pituitary makes other hormones. One controls the thyroid gland(TSH), another the adrenal gland(ACTH), and there are a few others.
As the name implies FSH gets the ovaries to work. Inside the ovary there are many many tiny follicles. A follicle is a fluid filled cyst that has one egg inside. The follicle starts as a microscopic structure, but FSH causes the fluid around the egg to increase so that the follicle becomes a cyst, and that’s what we see on ultrasound. In a normal cycle the follicle eventually bursts releasing the egg at ovulation. By the way, FSH is the same hormone that stimulates sperm production in men.
If the ovary has many eggs, the FSH in a woman’s blood is low because the body doesn’t need to work hard to get a normal ovulation. If the egg number is low, the body needs to work harder to get ovulation, so it increases the amount of FSH in an effort to push the ovaries. A high FSH means the egg number is reduced, sometimes to levels so low that pregnancy is not possible. What is a good level? Well that depends on each individual lab and IVF program. For most centers, anything over 12 is considered not so good. In fact, some centers will not give fertility treatment to those over 12 because the odds of pregnancy become very low.
