Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Hormones marker

FSH

Follicle Stimulating Hormone

Category: Hormones
Unit: IU/L

Pituitary hormone important for sperm production.

PED Notes

Suppressed by exogenous AAS. Important for fertility considerations. Recovery of FSH post-cycle indicates HPTA is recovering.

When low

On AAS (FSH suppressed <0.5 IU/L):

  • Expected and unavoidable -- exogenous androgens/estrogens suppress pituitary FSH secretion
  • FSH suppression is the primary mechanism behind AAS-induced infertility (FSH drives spermatogenesis via Sertoli cells)
  • HCG on cycle maintains intratesticular testosterone but does NOT replace FSH signalling for sperm production

For fertility recovery (critical if planning conception):

  • Enclomiphene -- 12.5-25mg/day (stimulates both LH and FSH from the pituitary; first-line for fertility recovery)
  • Clomiphene (Clomid) -- 25-50mg/day (stimulates FSH/LH; effective but more side effects than enclomiphene)
  • Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) -- 20mg/day (stimulates FSH/LH; can be used alongside or instead of clomiphene)
  • HMG (Human Menopausal Gonadotropin) -- 75-150 IU 3x/week IM (contains both FSH and LH activity; used when SERMs alone fail to restore spermatogenesis; prescription-only, expensive)
  • Recombinant FSH (Gonal-F) -- 75-150 IU 3x/week SC (pure FSH; used in severe cases under fertility specialist supervision)
  • HCG -- 1000-1500 IU 3x/week alongside FSH/HMG (provides LH activity to complement exogenous FSH)

Supplements (supporting FSH recovery):

  • Zinc -- 30mg/day (supports gonadotropin signalling)
  • Vitamin D3 -- 5000 IU/day (deficiency impairs reproductive hormones)
  • Folate -- 800mcg/day (supports spermatogenesis and DNA integrity)
  • CoQ10 -- 200-400mg/day (improves sperm quality during recovery)

Timeline for fertility recovery:

  • Spermatogenesis cycle is ~74 days; minimum 3-6 months for meaningful recovery
  • FSH must recover before sperm production can resume
  • Semen analysis at 3, 6, and 12 months post-PCT to track recovery
  • Some men recover within 6 months; others may take 12-24 months after prolonged AAS use
  • If FSH remains suppressed after 6 months of PCT, fertility specialist referral is warranted

Important notes:

  • Never rely on HCG alone for fertility -- it does not provide FSH
  • The longer and heavier the AAS use, the longer FSH/fertility recovery takes
  • 19-nor compounds (Nandrolone, Trenbolone) are associated with the most prolonged suppression

History Chart

Reading History

Frequently Asked Questions

Reference Ranges

Standard Range

1.5 - 12 IU/L

VitalMetrics Range

0 - 12 IU/L

Statistics