FSH and LH blood tests in male infertility: what they show
Part of our guide to male infertility treatment in Goa.
FSH and LH are not only women's tests. In men, these two hormones from the pituitary gland signal the testes to make sperm. The team may advise the blood tests when a semen report shows a very low count or no sperm. Read with the semen analysis and the examination, they help show, in general terms, whether the problem lies in making sperm or in the sperm's passage.
This page explains what an FSH and LH test shows in male infertility. Both tests are done in our fertility laboratory, and the full set of tests a man may be offered is described on our page on the male fertility test.
Are FSH and LH only tested in women?
No. Men and women make the same two hormones, but in each body they carry a different message. In a woman, FSH and LH tell the ovaries to grow and release an egg; what those results mean for her is on our page on FSH, LH and oestradiol test meaning. In a man, the same hormones tell the testes to keep making sperm throughout adult life.
What do FSH and LH do in a man?
The pituitary, a small gland at the base of the brain, sends FSH and LH into the blood. FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) acts inside the fine tubes of the testes where sperm are made, and supports the cells that nurse the sperm as they grow. LH (luteinising hormone) acts on the hormone-making cells that sit between those tubes, and the hormone they make is needed inside the tubes for sperm to form. The testes send signals back to the brain, and the brain adjusts how hard it pushes. A blood test catches one moment of that conversation.
When are FSH and LH tests advised for men?
They are not part of every male work-up. The team may advise them when:
- a semen report shows a very low count, or no sperm at all, usually after the test has been repeated;
- the examination finds testes that are smaller or softer than expected;
- the history suggests the brain's signal may be weak, or the testes may have been affected by an earlier illness or treatment.
How to read the semen report itself is explained on our page on the semen analysis report.
What can FSH and LH results show?
In general terms, the results point towards one of three patterns. They are guides, not verdicts, and the team always reads them with the semen analysis, the examination and, when needed, a scan.
- A raised FSH: the brain is pushing hard, but the testes are not answering with enough sperm. This usually points to a problem in making sperm, inside the testes.
- FSH and LH in the expected range: the signalling looks normal. When there are no sperm in the semen and the testes are a normal size, this can point to sperm being made but not getting through, a problem in the sperm's passage. The examination and a scan help the team check this.
- Both FSH and LH low: the signal from the brain is weak, so the testes are not being told to make sperm. This is less common, and it is one of the few causes that may respond to medicine.
No single value decides the plan. Please do not compare your result with figures found online; bring the report to your appointment and the team will explain it in person.
What happens after the results?
The next step depends on the pattern, and the team explains each option before anything is decided:
- A weak signal from the brain: hormone injections, given under specialist care, can help sperm production start again in some men over several months; how this family of medicines works is on our page on the HMG injection.
- A very low count: ICSI, where one sperm is placed into each egg in the laboratory, is explained on our page on ICSI for a very low sperm count.
- No sperm in the semen: sperm can be looked for directly in the testis, by procedures that include micro-TESE, as set out on our page on azoospermia treatment.
Please do not start hormone tablets, injections or muscle-building products on your own; some of them can switch off the brain's signal to the testes. The wider picture of care for men is on our page on male infertility treatment.
Is a hormone result anything to feel embarrassed about?
No. An FSH or LH result describes how a gland is signalling, nothing more. It says nothing about a man's strength, character or relationship, and it is no one's fault. Male factors are common, which is why both partners are tested together from the first visit. The results can be discussed in private, with the couple together or with the man alone, as he prefers.
Where are FSH and LH tests done in Goa?
FSH and LH run on automated analysers in the fertility laboratory in Goa, which is open 24 hours, every day. Quality-control samples with known values are run every day before patient reports are released. Most hormone tests need no fasting; ask the lab when booking whether any test on your form does. Some tests run at set times; ask the lab when your report will be ready. To arrange a sample, use the Call Lab button on this page. APPOINTMENTS ARE COMPULSORY FOR DOCTOR CONSULTATION.
Questions about FSH and LH tests in men
Why would a man need an FSH or LH test?
These blood tests are usually advised when a semen report shows a very low count or no sperm, or when the examination or history suggests a hormone problem. Read with the semen analysis, they help the team tell whether the problem lies in making sperm or in the sperm's passage.
What does a high FSH mean in a man?
In general, a raised FSH means the brain is pushing the testes hard but they are not answering with enough sperm, which points to a problem in making sperm. It is read with the examination, the scan and the semen report, and on its own it does not decide the treatment.
What does a low FSH and LH mean in a man?
Both being low suggests the signal from the brain to the testes is weak. This is less common, and it is one of the few causes that may respond to medicine, in some men, with hormone injections given under specialist care.
Can normal FSH and LH with no sperm point to a blockage?
It can. When the hormone signals look normal, the testes are a normal size and the semen has no sperm, sperm may be made but not getting through. The examination and a scan help the team check this; it is not always the answer.
Do I need to fast for FSH and LH tests?
Most hormone tests, including FSH and LH, need no fasting. Ask the lab when booking whether any test on your form does.
Are FSH and LH tested in women too?
Yes. Men and women make the same two hormones, but in women they act on the ovaries and the results mean different things. Our page on FSH, LH and oestradiol test meaning explains them for women.
How soon will the FSH and LH report be ready?
The tests run on automated analysers in the fertility laboratory. Some tests run at set times; ask the lab when your report will be ready.
Your visit is confidential — nothing about you appears on this website or on social media.
What you read here explains fertility care in general terms and cannot replace a consultation. Decisions about your own care should be made with a doctor who knows your history and has seen you. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind, which is prohibited by law in India under the PCPNDT Act.