What do the results mean?The meaning of your results will depend on whether you are a woman, man, or child.If you are a woman, high FSH levels may mean you have:Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), also known as premature ovarian failure. POI is the loss of ovarian function before the age of 40.Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common hormonal disorder affecting childbearing women. It is one of the leading causes of female infertility.Started menopause or are in perimenopauseAn ovarian tumorTurner syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects sexual development in females. It often causes infertility.If you are a woman, low FSH levels may mean:Your ovaries are not making enough eggs.Your pituitary gland is not working correctly.You have a problem with your hypothalamus, a part of the brain that controls the pituitary gland and other important body functions.You are very underweight.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.If you are a man, low FSH levels may mean you have a disorder of the pituitary gland or hypothalamus.In children, high FSH levels, along with high levels of luteinizing hormone, may mean puberty is about to start or has already started. If this is happening before age 9 in a girl or before age 10 in a boy (precocious puberty), it may be a sign of:A disorder of the central nervous systemA brain injuryLow FSH and luteinizing hormone levels in children may be a sign of delayed puberty. Delayed puberty may be caused by:A disorder of the ovaries or testiclesTurner syndrome in girlsKlinefelter syndrome in boysAn infectionA hormone deficiencyAn eating disorderIf you have questions about your results or your child's results, talk to your health care provider.Learn more about laboratory tests, reference ranges, and understanding results.
