Why do I need a TSH test? You may need a TSH test if you have symptoms of too much or too little thyroid hormone in your blood. Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) is also called overactive thyroid. Having more thyroid hormones than you need speeds up your body functions and causes symptoms that include:

Your hypothalamus releases thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which triggers your pituitary gland to release thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which stimulates your thyroid to release T3 and T4. What is thyroid hormone? Thyroid hormone is the hormone that’s mainly responsible for controlling the speed of your body’s metabolism.

TSH stands for thyroid stimulating hormone. A TSH test is a blood test that measures this hormone. TSH levels that are too high or too low may be a sign of a thyroid problem. The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck. Your thyroid makes hormones that control how your body uses energy.

Your pituitary gland releases thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which triggers your thyroid gland to release its hormones, which then affect various aspects of your body. The second type of communication is between an endocrine gland and a target organ.

TSH test A TSH test measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in your blood. TSH is produced by the pituitary gland. It prompts the thyroid gland to make and release thyroid hormones into the blood. How the Test is Performed A blood sample is needed. Other thyroid tests that may be done at the same time include:

Thyroid stimulating hormone, usually abbreviated TSH, is manufactured by the pituitary gland. Release of TSH stimulates the thyroid to make T3 and T4, the hormones responsible for thyroid function. If the thyroid stops functioning, TSH levels rise as the body attempts to “force” the thyroid to produce hormones.