LH

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LH (luteinizing Hormone)

LH (Luteinizing Hormone) is a hormone, released from the anterior pituitary gland. It is a gonadotropin, stimulating the ovary to produce hormones and ovulate.

LH stimulates ovum maturation and ovulation, estrogen production, progesterone production, and supports the corpus luteum.

There is spike of FSH coincidental with the LH surge. These lead to ovulation within a few hours.

Spot urine measurements of LH are available commercially in over-the-counter "LH Surge" kits. A positive test normally confirms ovulation either has just occurred or will occur within the next few hours.

Elevations found in:

Ovulation
Ovarian failure
Menopause
Testicular Feminization Syndrome

Decreases found in:

Pituitary failure

Normal Values*

Men	7-24 mIU/ml
Women (Follicular Phase)	6-30 mIU/ml
Women (Midcycle)	>3x baseline
Women (Menopausal)	>30 mIU/ml

*These are general values taken from a variety of sources. The actual normal values may vary from lab to lab and from one type of testing protocol to another.

LH Levels in One Cycle

Source: Operational Medicine 2001, Health Care in Military Settings, NAVMED P-5139, May 1, 2001, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, Department of the Navy, 2300 E Street NW, Washington, D.C., 20372-5300

This information is provided by The Brookside Associates. The Brookside Associates, LLC. is a private organization, not affiliated with any governmental agency. The opinions presented here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Brookside Associates or the Department of Defense. The presence of any advertising on these pages does not constitute an endorsement of that product or service by either the US Department of Defense or the Brookside Associates. All material presented here is unclassified.

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