Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)

The hormone that signals your ovaries to mature an egg each cycle.

FSH is the hormone your body uses to start each cycle. When the ovaries begin responding less, the body releases more of it to compensate — which is why rising FSH is one of the most reliable markers of the menopause transition, and why it’s the marker our menopause test reads.

What FSH does

Follicle-stimulating hormone is made by the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain. Each cycle, it signals the ovaries to mature a follicle — the small sac that holds an egg. It is one of the main hormones that keeps the menstrual cycle running.

Why levels rise

As the ovaries respond less over time, the pituitary compensates by releasing more FSH. That is why levels climb through perimenopause and stay high after menopause. A consistently elevated FSH level, alongside changes you may already be noticing — irregular cycles, hot flashes, disrupted sleep — is one of the clearest measurable signals of the menopause transition.

What a result can tell you

An at-home FSH test reads the level of the hormone in urine. An elevated result suggests your body may be in or approaching the menopause transition, and gives you something concrete to bring to a conversation with your doctor.

What it can’t tell you

FSH naturally fluctuates, especially during perimenopause, so a single reading is a data point, not a diagnosis. It also can’t predict exactly when your final period will happen. If results don’t match how you feel, a healthcare provider can look at the fuller picture with you.