Luteinizing hormone, also called LH, is a hormone produced by the pituitary gland and which, in women, is responsible for follicular maturation, ovulation and progesterone production, playing a key role in a woman’s reproductive capacity.also directly related to fertility, acting directly on the testicles and influencing sperm production.
In the menstrual cycle, LH is found in higher concentrations during the ovulatory phase, but is present throughout the life of the woman, with different concentrations depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle.
- In addition to playing an important role in verifying the reproductive capacity of men and women.
- The concentration of LH in the blood aids in the diagnosis of pituitary tumors and changes in the ovaries.
- Such as the presence of cysts.
- For example.
- This test is most requested by the gynecologist to monitor a woman’s health.
- And is usually requested with the dose of FSH and gonadotropin-releasing hormone.
- GnRH.
Measuring luteinizing hormone in the blood is usually necessary to check a person’s reproductive capacity and help diagnose certain changes related to the pituitary gland, hypothalamus or goons, so depending on the amount of LH in the blood, it is possible to:
In humans, LH production is regulated by the pituitary gland and acts directly on the testes, regulating sperm production and hormone production, especially testosterone.In women, the production of LH by the pituitary gland stimulates the production of progesterone, mainly and estrogens, which are essential for pregnancy.
To assess the reproductive capacity of men and women, your doctor may also request the measurement of FSH, a hormone also present in a woman’s menstrual cycle that influences sperm production.Understand what it’s for and how to understand the FSH result.
Luteinizing hormone reference values vary by age, gender, and menstrual cycle phase for women with the following values:
Children: less than 0.15 U/L;
Men: between 0.6 and 12.1 U/L;
Woman:
The analysis of the test results should be performed by the doctor, as it is necessary to analyze all the tests together, as well as the comparison with the tests performed previously.
When the LH values are below the reference value, this may indicate
Decreased LH can lead to a decrease in sperm production in men and in the absence of menstruation in women, a situation known as amenorrhea, and it is important to consult your doctor for the best treatment, which is usually done with the use of hormone supplements.
Increased LH concentration may be indicative of:
In addition, the hormone LH may increase during pregnancy, as the hCG hormone can mimic LH and may appear high during exams.