Luteinising hormone, or LH as it is known, is a sex hormone found in both men and women. In the male and female body, the LH has certain specific functions. The luteinising hormone plays a major role in determining the level of fertility in men and women. While LH levels do not fluctuate much in the male body, many fluctuations happen in the female body.
The Luteinising Hormone plays a major role in the development of reproductive functions, fertility levels, and other sexual functions of a person, especially women. The hormone is secreted from the pituitary gland of the body, and it is an important hormone to test for fertility health issues and other conditions of the body. While the pituitary gland creates and secretes the LH, the secretion pace and time are controlled by hormones released by the
hypothalamus.
Functions of Luteinising Hormone
There are many functions of the luteinising hormone in men, women, and children. It is a major hormone to track to know if the development pace for the person is going as expected or not. We carry out the testing for LH along with other hormones of the reproductive system for various purposes. Before you know more about the tests done to find out LH level, you need to know about the functions of LH. The functions of the Luteinising hormone are as follows-
For sexually active women
Women who are going through regular periods and are reproductively active need to maintain healthy levels of the Luteinising hormone. The LH is the hormone that controls and maintains the menstrual cycle for women and determines the fertility levels at different ages.
The Luteinising hormone is also responsible for the egg maturing from the ovary and releasing of this egg every month in preparation for pregnancy.
The movement of the egg and the onset of periods are all controlled by LH in young women. The level of LH is what controls the pace of ovulation, and the peak of LH in your body tells you when the chances of getting pregnant are highest. For couples who are planning a baby or going through fertility treatments to conceive, the monitoring of the LH hormone is important.
For men
Although the LH levels in men do not fluctuate, the male body still secretes the Luteinising Hormone. The Luteinising Hormone is responsible for the production of testosterone, and in a way, it controls the development of all male characteristics in the patient’s body.
The luteinising hormone also plays an important role in the differentiation of sperm and sperm release, which is a major factor in male fertility. Therefore, male fertility doctors also recommend LH testing to their patients.
In children
Children usually have low levels of LH and do not have high levels until they approach puberty. As the Luteinising hormone is a major hormone that determines the development of reproductive organs and functions, the Luteinising hormone levels rise during puberty and help develop the physical and internal characteristics of women and men. Between the ages of six and eight, the levels of Luteinising hormones remain very low.
However, when the time for puberty approaches, the hormone levels shoot up, which include other sex hormones. If we talk about the level of LH in girls, there are high levels of luteinising hormone just before puberty and a signal for the release of estrogen from your body. Estrogen is the female sex hormone and is responsible for the development of all physical characteristics of the female body. LH indirectly plays a huge role in starting the menarche.
In boys
In young boys who are approaching puberty, the LH hormone function triggers the release of testosterone, which is the primary male sex hormone responsible for the development of hair, beard, and sexual functions from the beginning of puberty. The LH indirectly also controls the changes that come in the male voice and the minute changes that happen in a boy’s body.
If you are developing problems in the endocrine system, such as the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus gland, then it can also affect the release of the Luteinising hormone. Therefore, endocrinologists also recommend LH tests to patients to understand the functioning and problems of the endocrine glands. Any fluctuation in reproductive functions or a change in the physical characteristics of a person are also often traced with the help of Luteinising hormone tests.
How are LH tests used?
LH tests are often done for men and women and sometimes for children. In women, the LH tests are done to track the changes in period length or perimenopause symptoms, if any. The levels of luteinising hormones often determine the fertility level of the woman. Therefore, before any fertility treatment, LH testing is done.
LH testing might also be done as a part of regular gynaecology checkups for a sexually active woman. If you are trying to conceive, this hormone is traced to track ovulation to create a window for the conception of the baby. Some of these tests for ovulation can be done at home with kits. However, for accurate levels and proper tracking, you need the help of a diagnostics team like ours.
The Luteinising hormone is also tested for its level to see if you face any problem with your period length or flow. If your doctor suspects that your ovaries are affected by any condition like PCOS, he will also test for LH multiple times. The LH is an important hormone to track at all ages of women and can also be a signal for perimenopause.
In men, LH is also tested to monitor the fertility levels and childbearing capacity of the male. As LH indirectly controls the way sperm is produced, the hormone is tracked to determine
the fertility level of a man. If a man has a low sperm count or low sex drive, the doctor will suggest LH tests for the person.
Conclusion
At Agilus Diagnostics, we offer a range of tests to determine the fertility level of young people. We offer accurate Luteinising Hormone tests to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of reproductive health conditions. You can contact our team and register for LH testing at one of our centres today. By determining the accurate levels of LH in your body, we help you maintain your reproductive functions.
