II. Physiology
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH) is a Glycoprotein secreted by Basophil cells in the anterior Pituitary Gland
- Stimulation (releasing factors)
- Hypothalamic Gonadotrophic Releasing Hormone (GnRH)
- Inhibition (negative feedback loop to Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland)
- Testosterone (Males)
- Estrogen
- Progesterone
- Inhibin
- Produced by corpus luteum in women
- Produced by spermatogenesis in men (suppresses FSH, but not LH in males)
- Stimulation (releasing factors)
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH) effects in women
- Stimulates ovarian follicles to ovulate and mature into a corpus luteum
- Corpus luteum in turn secretes Estrogen and Progesterone
- Functions in concert with FSH which stimulates ovarian follicle growth and Estradiol secretion
- Luteinizing Hormone (LH) effects in men
- Stimulates Leydig Cells within Testes to produce Testosterone
- Functions in concert with FSH which stimulates spermatogenesis and maturation within Sertoli Cells
III. Labs: Normal Serum Levels
- Male: <15 mIU/ml
- Female: <30 mIU/ml (higher in mid-cycle surge)
- Menopause: 30 to 200 mIU/ml
IV. Labs: Urine LH
- Urine LH dip-stick kit used to detect Ovulation
- Urine LH consistently surges 72 hours BEFORE Ovulation
- Identifies 2 days in cycle most likely to conceive
- Start testing a few days before expected Ovulation
- As of 2022, Urine LH kits are accurate and cost effective (as low as $40 for 50 tests)
- Examples: OvuQuick, Clearblue Easy Ovulation
V. References
- Stewart (2003) AAFP Board Review, Seattle
- (2022) Presc Lett 29(2): 10-1
- Guermandi (2001) Obstet Gynecol 97:92-6 [PubMed]