follicle stimulating hormone
| Dictionary: follicle stimulating hormone |
n. (Abbr. FSH)
A gonadotropic hormone of the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the growth of follicles in the ovary and induces the formation of sperm in the testis.
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| Dental Dictionary: follicle-stimulating hormones |
A pituitary tropic hormone that promotes the growth and maturation of the ovarian follicle and, with other gonadotropins, induces secretion of estrogens and possibly spermatogenesis.
| Drug Info: Follitropin, r-FSH |
Brand names: Follistim AQFollistim™Follistim® AQGonal-f®Gonal-f® RFFGonal-f® RFF Pen
- Drug Forms:
- Follitropin Alfa Solution for injection (below)
- Follitropin Beta Solution for injection
Follitropin Alfa Solution for injection
What is this medicine?
FOLLITROPIN ALFA (fol li TROE pin AL fa) helps stimulate the development of eggs within the ovary. It is used to treat women who have not been able to become pregnant because of problems with ovulation. This drug is also used in certain in vitro fertilization programs. For some men with infertility, this medicine helps to stimulate the production of sperm.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•abnormal or unusual vaginal bleeding
•asthma
•brain tumor or certain other kinds of cancer
•conditions affecting your adrenal gland or thyroid gland
•enlarged ovaries or ovarian cyst
•failure of the ovaries to produce eggs
•obstruction of the fallopian tubes
•testicular failure
•an unusual or allergic reaction to follitropin, other hormones, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant
•breast-feeding
How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is for injection under the skin. It is usually given by a health care professional with experience in managing fertility disorders in a hospital or clinic setting.
If you get this medicine at home, you will be taught how to prepare and give this medicine. Use exactly as directed. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take it more often than directed.
It is important that you put your used needles and syringes in a special sharps container. Do not put them in a trash can. If you do not have a sharps container, call your pharmacist or healthcare provider to get one.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply.What may interact with this medicine?
Do not take this medicine with any of the following medications:
•chasteberry
This medicine may also interact with the following medications:
•black cohosh
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
You may get drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you.
It is important to keep all records required by your health care professional on body temperature and intercourse, and to carefully follow any directions for urine or blood testing or ultrasound exams. If you think you have become pregnant, contact your doctor or health care professional at once.
Certain fertility treatments increase your chances of having multiple babies, like twins or triplets.
If abdominal pain occurs while you are using this medicine, discontinue treatment and call your doctor or health care professional immediately. Do not use the injection of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and avoid sexual intercourse.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
•allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
•any unusual symptoms or pain of penis or testes
•breast enlargement in males
•breathing problems
•chest pain
•fluid retention
•indigestion
•nausea, vomiting
•pain, swelling, warmth in the leg
•passing small amounts of urine
•rapid weight gain
•stomach area or pelvic pain or bloating
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•acne
•breast tenderness
•headache
•mood changes, such as irritability, restless feelings, or anger
•pain, irritation, or inflammation at site where injected
•tiredness
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Where should I keep my medicine?
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store powder in the refrigerator or at room temperature between 2 and 25 degrees C (36 and 77 degrees F). Protect from light. After the powder is dissolved, the multi-dose vial and the pen may be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature between 2 and 25 degrees C (36 and 77 degrees F) for up to 28 days. Single use vials should be used immediately after the powder is dissolved. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
Last updated: 5/11/2004 1:46:00 PM
Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.
| Veterinary Dictionary: follicle-stimulating hormone |
One of the gonadotropic hormones of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that stimulates the growth of graafian follicles in the ovary, and stimulates spermatogenesis in the testis. Abbreviated FSH.
- f.-s. h. and luteinizing-hormone releasing h. (FSH/LH-RH) — gonadotropin releasing hormone.
| Wikipedia: Follicle-stimulating hormone |
For other uses of the term FSH, see FSH (disambiguation).
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This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2007) |
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Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a hormone found in humans and other animals. It is synthesized and secreted by gonadotropes of the anterior pituitary gland. FSH regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes of the body. FSH and Luteinizing hormone (LH) act synergistically in reproduction.
Contents |
Structure
FSH is a glycoprotein. Each monomeric unit is a protein molecule with a sugar attached to it; two of these make the full, functional protein. Its structure is similar to those of LH, TSH, and hCG. The protein dimer contains 2 polypeptide units, labeled alpha and beta subunits. The alpha subunits of LH, FSH, TSH, and hCG are identical, and contain 92 amino acids. The beta subunits vary. FSH has a beta subunit of 118 amino acids (FSHB), which confers its specific biologic action and is responsible for interaction with the FSH-receptor. The sugar part of the hormone is composed of fucose, galactose, mannose, galactosamine, glucosamine, and sialic acid, the latter being critical for its biologic half-life. The half-life of FSH is 3-4 hours. Its molecular wt is 30000.
Genes
The gene for the alpha subunit is located on chromosome 6p21.1-23. It is expressed in different cell types. The gene for the FSH beta subunit is located on chromosome 11p13, and is expressed in gonadotropes of the pituitary cells, controlled by GnRH, inhibited by inhibin, and enhanced by activin.
Activity
FSH regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive processes of the human body.
- In both males and females, FSH stimulates the maturation of germ cells.
- In males, FSH induces sertoli cells to secrete inhibin and stimulates the formation of sertoli-sertoli tight junctions (zonula occludens).
- In females, FSH initiates follicular growth, specifically affecting granulosa cells. With the concomitant rise in inhibin B, FSH levels then decline in the late follicular phase. This seems to be critical in selecting only the most advanced follicle to proceed to ovulation. At the end of the luteal phase, there is a slight rise in FSH that seems to be of importance to start the next ovulatory cycle.
Like its partner LH, FSH release at the pituitary gland is controlled by pulses of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). Those pulses, in turn, are subject to the oestrogen feed-back from the gonads.
Effects in females
FSH stimulates the growth and recruitment of immature Ovarian follicles in the ovary. In early (small) antral follicles, FSH is the major survival factor that rescues the follicles from atresia (programmed death of the somatic cells of the follicle and oocyte). In the luteal-follicle phase transition period the serum levels of progesterone and estrogen (primarily estradiol) decrease and no longer suppress the release of FSH, consequently FSH peaks at about day three (day one is the first day of menstrual flow). The cohort of small antral follicles is normally sufficiently in number to produce enough Inhibin B to lower FSH serum levels. As a woman nears perimenopause the number of small antral follicles recruited in each cycle diminishes and consequently insufficient Inhibin B is produced to fully lower FSH and the serum level of FSH begins to rise. When the follicle matures and reaches about 10 mm in diameter it starts to secrete significant amounts of estradiol. Normally in humans only one follicle becomes dominant and survives to ovulate, the remaining follicles in the cohort undergo atresia. The increase in serum estradiol levels cause a decrease in FSH production by inhibiting GnRH production in the hypothalamus.[1] The decrease in serum FSH level causes the smaller follicles in the current cohort to undergo atresia as they lack sufficient sensitivity to FSH to survive. Occasionally two follicles reach the 10 mm stage at the same time by chance and as both are equally sensitive to FSH both survive and grow in the low FSH environment and thus two ovulations can occur in one cycle possibly leading to non identical twins.
Effects in males
FSH stimulates maturation of seminiferous tubules and spermatogenesis.
FSH enhances the production of androgen-binding protein by the Sertoli cells of the testes by binding to FSH receptors on their basolateral membranes,[2] and is critical for spermatogenesis.
Measurement
Follicle stimulating hormone is typically measured on day three of a woman's cycle when the levels of estradiol (E2) and progesterone are at the lowest point of the menstrual cycle.
Disease states
FSH levels are normally low during childhood and, in females, high after menopause.
High FSH levels
The most common reason for high serum FSH concentration is in a female who is undergoing or has recently undergone menopause. High levels of Follicle-Stimulating Hormone indicate that the normal restricting feedback from the gonad is absent, leading to an unrestricted pituitary FSH production.
If high FSH levels occur during the reproductive years, it is abnormal. It may be a sign of:
- Premature menopause also known as Premature Ovarian Failure
- Poor ovarian reserve also known as Premature Ovarian Aging
- Gonadal dysgenesis, Turner syndrome
- Castration
- Swyer syndrome
- Certain forms of CAH
- Testicular failure.
Most of these conditions are associated with subfertility and/or infertility. Therefore high FSH levels are an indication of subfertility and/or infertility.
Low FSH levels
Diminished secretion of FSH can result in failure of gonadal function (hypogonadism). This condition is typically manifested in males as failure in production of normal numbers of sperm. In females, cessation of reproductive cycles is commonly observed. Conditions with very low FSH secretions are:
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome + Obesity + Hirsutism + Infertility
- Kallmann syndrome
- Hypothalamic suppression
- Hypopituitarism
- Hyperprolactinemia
- Gonadotropin deficiency
- Gonadal suppression therapy
Availability
FSH is available mixed with LH activity in various menotropins including more purified forms of urinary gonadotropins such as Menopur, as well as without LH activity as recombinant FSH (Gonal F, Follistim). It is used commonly in infertility therapy to stimulate follicular development, notably in IVF therapy, as well as with interuterine insemination (IUI).
References
- ^ DiPiro, et al. Pharmacotherapy: A Pathophysiologic Approach, 2007. Chapter 82, page 1313.
- ^ Page 1125 in: Walter F., PhD. Boron (2003). Medical Physiology: A Cellular And Molecular Approaoch. Elsevier/Saunders. pp. 1300. ISBN 1-4160-2328-3.
External links
- Day 3 FSH levels From the Infertility Blog by Dr. Fred Licciardi
- High FSH: an excuse to send patients away From the Infertility Blog by Dr. Fred Licciardi
- FSH and Estradiol
- Causes & Symptoms of High FSH
- Information on high FSH compiled by a woman with high FSH
- Debating the imbalance as a cause of one couple's infertility
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This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
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 | FSH-RH |
| FSH (abbreviation) |
| FRF |
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 | Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved. Read more |
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