Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLuteinizing HormoneAbnormal LH LevelsLH Blood TestLH and PCOSFertilityFinding BalanceFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Luteinizing Hormone
Abnormal LH Levels
LH Blood Test
LH and PCOS
Fertility
Finding Balance
Frequently Asked Questions
Hormones are chemicals your body produces that travel through the blood to your organs, muscles, and tissues. Hormones help your body regulate a variety of functions, including:
Luteinizing hormone(LH) is an important regulator for puberty, fertility, and sex drive. Too low or too high LH levels can affect adults who have a uterus (womb) or penis. They can also affect children of any sex.
This article will explain what LH is, and how LH levels impact reproductive and sexual health in adults and growth and development in adolescents.
What Is Luteinizing Hormone?
Like all hormones, even a small amount of LH can have a significant impact on bodily functions. Too much or too little LH can cause medical conditions or concerns to occur.
LH is primarily involved in the function of two organ systems:
Within the Brain and Endocrine System
Luteinizing hormone is part of a neurological pathway, comprising the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and gonads.Gonads (testes and ovaries) are part of theendocrine systemand the reproductive system.
The hypothalamus gland in the brain operates the hormonal system. It sends signals about the production and release of LH to the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland and your endocrine system work together to regulate LH and other hormones. This pathway is sometimes referred to as the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
The endocrine system is made up of organs and hormone-secreting glands. Endocrine glands are located throughout the body. Your endocrine system keeps track of how much LH is in the blood.
Information about LH levels is transmitted between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and gonads. If the hypothalamus gets the message that there isn’t enough LH in your body, it will start the process of manufacturing more. If it gets the message that you have enough LH, it will halt production.
Certain health conditions can skew this communication loop, causing too much or too little LH to be produced.
Reproductive Role
LH supports reproductive function and fertility in people of all sexes.
LH levels start to rise several years before puberty begins. In people with ovaries, LH prompts the ovaries to begin the process of manufacturing estrogen a year or two before puberty begins.
Once puberty has occurred, LH works in conjunction with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to control themenstrual cycle, which includes the release of an egg from an ovary each month (ovulation).
The corpus luteum is a temporary structure that produces hormones within the ovary after an egg has been released. If pregnancy doesn’t take place, it dissolves. If pregnancy does take place, other hormones take over the task of maintaining progesterone, and LH levels drop.
In people with testes who have not gone through puberty, LH signals the testes to start the process of manufacturing testosterone. The testes contain Leydig cells. LH binds to receptors within Leydig cells, which generates the release of testosterone.
Testosterone is a hormone. Without enough testosterone, the testes cannot produce sperm cells. Testosterone supports sex drive in people of all sexes.
LH levels in people with testes do not have a cycle and don’t fluctuate significantly during the month. However, LH levels rise and testosterone levels fall as people with testes people age.
Risks of Abnormal LH Levels
In Females
In people with ovaries, producing too much or too little LH can causeanovulation(not ovulating) to occur.If you don’t ovulate regularly, it will be harder and take longer for you to become pregnant without medical help.
High LH is associated with certain health conditions such aspolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)orTurner syndrome(a genetic disorder).Both conditions can compromise fertility and your ability to get pregnant.
In Males
Too high or too low LH in people with testes can reduce sperm cell production, making it harder to impregnate a partner.
Low LH may indicate problems with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. Low LH reduces testosterone production. This, in turn, can diminish sexual desire.
In Children
In children, LH naturally starts to rise a few years before puberty starts. High LH levels in very young children may indicate precocious (early) puberty. In some instances, it may indicate the presence of a neurological condition or brain injury.
Abnormally low LH levels may be an early clue that your child has a genetic condition, such as Turner syndrome or Klinefelter’s syndrome. Infections, eating disorders, and hormonal imbalances can also cause low LH in children. Too low LH can delay puberty in children of any sex.
When to Take an LH Blood Test
LH blood tests are often used to diagnose infertility in people of any sex in the following ways:
If you’re concerned that your child is entering puberty too early or too late, talk to their pediatrician. An LH blood test can help you get a diagnosis and figure out the next steps.
LH blood tests are also beneficial for uncovering problems in the central nervous system or a pituitary disorder. If you have unexplained symptoms such as fatigue, muscle weakness, weight loss, and a decreased appetite, your healthcare provider may order this test as part of a workup, although it is not enough to diagnose any disease.
Measuring FSH Levels for More Insights
Follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH) works closely with LH and other hormones to regulate menstruation, and support sperm production.
FSH testing is often done alongside LH level testing. It helps provide information about ovarian function, the beginnings of menopause, and other fertility concerns.
In people with testes, FSH testing can help uncover issues with sperm count. In children, it can be used to diagnose issues with early or late puberty.
LH Results Chart
LH in blood or urine can be used to predict when ovulation will take place. These levels vary from person to person, based on age and other factors, such as underlying health conditions.
Reference ranges can vary from lab to lab, so read your lab report in detail to see if numbers are flagged as low or high. Ask your healthcare provider to interpret the results in light of your age and other factors.
Reference numbers for LH blood levels during the menstrual cycle for people who menstruate are:
LH levels fluctuate and start to rise duringperimenopauseandmenopause. Along with fluctuations in other hormones, including FSH and estrogen, this marks the reduction and eventually, the end of reproductive potential in people with ovaries. The reference value for LH in postmenopausal people is 11.3 to 39.8 mIU/mL.
For adult males, the reference range is 0.8 to 7.6 mIU/mL.
LH and PCOS Complications
People with PCOS often have a challenging time getting or staying pregnant. Instead of varying through the menstrual cycle, this condition causes overly high LH levels at all times.
Too much LH stimulates the secretion of testosterone and other androgens (hormones present in all sexes but that are usually higher in people with testes). People with PCOS don’t menstruate or ovulate regularly. Some people with this condition experience rare to no periods at all.
Luckily, infertility treatments ranging from taking oral medications such as Femara (letrozole) orClomid(clomiphene citrate) to procedures such asin vitro fertilization (IVF)can be highly effective solutions.
Fertility Advice for Low LH Levels
If your healthcare provider suspects that a pituitary issue (such as a tumor) is at the root of the problem, they will recommend diagnostic tests such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), as well astreatmentto resolve the problem. Most pituitary tumors are benign.
Achieving pregnancy despite having low LH can be achieved with ovulation induction and treatment with hormonal medications, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and human menopausal gonadotropin (HMG).
Your fertility specialist may recommend that hormonal therapy be done in conjunction with an assisted reproductive technology treatment, such asintrauterine insemination (IUI)or IVF.
Finding Hormonal Balance
Having irregular hormone levels, including LH, are common. If low LH is reducing your fertility, talk to your healthcare provider. They can recommend you to a specialist, such as a reproductive endocrinologist, who can recommend treatment options. Irregular LH levels can be conquered.
Summary
If you have high LH due to a condition like PCOS, changing your diet may reduce insulin levels and help to restore hormonal balance.
Too low LH can decrease testosterone levels in people of any sex. This can negatively impact sexual desire
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Hormones.MedlinePlus.Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels test.Nedresky D, Singh G.Physiology, luteinizing hormone. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Blair JA, Bhatta S, McGee H, Casadesus G.Luteinizing hormone: evidence for direct action in the CNS.Horm Behav. 2015;76:57-62. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.06.020Choi J, Smitz J.Luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin: distinguishing unique physiologic roles.Gynecological Endocrinology. 2014;30(3):174-181. doi:10.3109/09513590.2013.859670American Society for Reproductive Medicine.Am I ovulating?Golan R, Scovell JM, Ramasamy R.Age-related testosterone decline is due to waning of both testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary function.Aging Male. 2015;18(3):201-204. doi:10.3109/13685538.2015.1052392Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Kallmann syndrome.UF Health.Luteinizing hormone (LH).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pituitary tumors.Kazmi SRH, Can AS.Luteinizing hormone deficiency. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Xenou M, Gourounti K.Dietary patterns and polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review.Maedica (Bucur). 2021;16(3):516-521. doi:10.26574/maedica.2020
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Hormones.MedlinePlus.Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels test.Nedresky D, Singh G.Physiology, luteinizing hormone. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Blair JA, Bhatta S, McGee H, Casadesus G.Luteinizing hormone: evidence for direct action in the CNS.Horm Behav. 2015;76:57-62. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.06.020Choi J, Smitz J.Luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin: distinguishing unique physiologic roles.Gynecological Endocrinology. 2014;30(3):174-181. doi:10.3109/09513590.2013.859670American Society for Reproductive Medicine.Am I ovulating?Golan R, Scovell JM, Ramasamy R.Age-related testosterone decline is due to waning of both testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary function.Aging Male. 2015;18(3):201-204. doi:10.3109/13685538.2015.1052392Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Kallmann syndrome.UF Health.Luteinizing hormone (LH).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pituitary tumors.Kazmi SRH, Can AS.Luteinizing hormone deficiency. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Xenou M, Gourounti K.Dietary patterns and polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review.Maedica (Bucur). 2021;16(3):516-521. doi:10.26574/maedica.2020
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Hormones.MedlinePlus.Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels test.Nedresky D, Singh G.Physiology, luteinizing hormone. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Blair JA, Bhatta S, McGee H, Casadesus G.Luteinizing hormone: evidence for direct action in the CNS.Horm Behav. 2015;76:57-62. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.06.020Choi J, Smitz J.Luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin: distinguishing unique physiologic roles.Gynecological Endocrinology. 2014;30(3):174-181. doi:10.3109/09513590.2013.859670American Society for Reproductive Medicine.Am I ovulating?Golan R, Scovell JM, Ramasamy R.Age-related testosterone decline is due to waning of both testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary function.Aging Male. 2015;18(3):201-204. doi:10.3109/13685538.2015.1052392Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Kallmann syndrome.UF Health.Luteinizing hormone (LH).Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pituitary tumors.Kazmi SRH, Can AS.Luteinizing hormone deficiency. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.Xenou M, Gourounti K.Dietary patterns and polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review.Maedica (Bucur). 2021;16(3):516-521. doi:10.26574/maedica.2020
MedlinePlus.Hormones.
MedlinePlus.Luteinizing hormone (LH) levels test.
Nedresky D, Singh G.Physiology, luteinizing hormone. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Blair JA, Bhatta S, McGee H, Casadesus G.Luteinizing hormone: evidence for direct action in the CNS.Horm Behav. 2015;76:57-62. doi:10.1016/j.yhbeh.2015.06.020
Choi J, Smitz J.Luteinizing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin: distinguishing unique physiologic roles.Gynecological Endocrinology. 2014;30(3):174-181. doi:10.3109/09513590.2013.859670
American Society for Reproductive Medicine.Am I ovulating?
Golan R, Scovell JM, Ramasamy R.Age-related testosterone decline is due to waning of both testicular and hypothalamic-pituitary function.Aging Male. 2015;18(3):201-204. doi:10.3109/13685538.2015.1052392
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.Kallmann syndrome.
UF Health.Luteinizing hormone (LH).
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Pituitary tumors.
Kazmi SRH, Can AS.Luteinizing hormone deficiency. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2022.
Xenou M, Gourounti K.Dietary patterns and polycystic ovary syndrome: a systematic review.Maedica (Bucur). 2021;16(3):516-521. doi:10.26574/maedica.2020
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