Hormone Levels & Fertility Bloodwork

April 23, 2008

Disclaimer: Please note that all labs have their own normal values, and those presented in these charts are just an average. These charts are provided as tool to help patients have a better dialog with their doctors, not for self-diagnosis or as a substitute for good medical care.

Female Hormone Levels
Hormone to Test	Time to Test	Normal Values	What Value Means
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)	Day 3	3-20 mIU/ml	FSH is often used as a gauge of ovarian reserve. In general, under 6 is excellent, 6-9 is good, 9-10 fair, 10-13 diminished reserve, 13+ very hard to stimulate. In PCOS testing, the LH:FSH ratio may be used in the diagnosis. The ratio is usually close to 1:1, but if the LH is higher, it is one possible indication of PCOS.
Luteinizing Hormone (LH)	Surge Day	> 20 mIU/ml	The LH surge leads to ovulation within 48 hours.

Blood Glucose Levels

Glucose Tolerance
Test with Insulin (GTT / IGTT)

Cholesterol,
Triglycerides and C-Peptide

Male Hormone Levels

Progesterone in Pregnancy
Excellent graph at http://repro-med.net/papers/progest.html.

hCG Levels in Early Pregnancy

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test for Gestational Diabetes
Time	Normal Values	Gestational diabetes is diagnosed if 2 or more levels are above the normal range. It is treated through diet, insulin injections, and sometimes with metformin. You may want to check All About Gestational Diabetes.
Fasting	< 105 mg/dl
1 hour	< 190 mg/dl
2 hours	< 165 mg/dl
3 hours	< 145 mg/dl