Luteinizing Hormone: Image, Functions, Diseases and Treatments

A vital molecule in the human body, luteinizing hormone (LH), controls crucial reproductive system functions. Ovulation and the generation of the hormones needed to maintain pregnancy are both regulated by LH. Your doctor can suggest an LH test to assess your levels if you have reproductive problems or irregular periods.

• The area of your body that controls intricate processes, your brain, is where LH is produced. But the reproductive system contains the organs that LH aids in regulating.
• LH consists of a complex network of communication that includes the hypothalamus and pituitary gland of your brain, as well as your sex organs.Your brain secretes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which instructs your pituitary gland to release LH.
• LH instructs your ovaries or testes to create the hormones needed to commence and maintain reproductive activity.

The luteinizing hormone (LH) is crucial for sexual development, reproduction, and health. LH is produced by the pituitary gland, a little brain structure. LH then affects the sex organs, such as the ovaries or testes, to bring about the modifications necessary for the reproductive system to work properly.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), two essential hormones secreted by the pituitary gland, collaborate to control reproductive system functions. The sex organs (ovaries or testes) receive signals from these hormones, which act as chemical messengers, telling them to begin actions that will maintain reproductive health.Consider LH to be a chemical stimulant that causes your reproductive system to activate. Your sex organs may produce steroids or hormones in response to LH.

The second phase of the menstrual cycle is the only time when LH is produced from the pituitary in DFABs (those who are born female). That is, after an initial spike results in the release of an egg, LH is secreted continuously for two weeks. This increases ovarian progesterone synthesis and helps to regulate the menstrual cycle.

Your ovaries undergo modifications that promote pregnancy and the maintenance of your menstrual cycle as a result of luteinizing hormone (LH). People who were born with the designation 'female' (DFAB) experience these alterations as a result of LH, including cisgender women, certain transgender males, and nonbinary individuals with vagina.

• Ovulation: Around the second week of every menstrual cycle, your ovary releases a mature egg as a result of an increase in luteinizing hormone (LH). You are at the point in your cycle when you are most likely to get pregnant if your LH level is high around this time.
• Progesterone production: LH induces the corpus luteum, an ovarian structure, to produce more progesterone during the third and fourth weeks of the menstruation. To keep a pregnancy going in its early stages, a hormone produced progesterone is needed.

  LH (luteinizing hormone) levels grow as you age and reach menopause, whereas oestrogen and progesterone levels decline.

By encouraging the production of testosterone in the testes, luteinizing hormone (LH) is a key factor in male fertility. In addition to causing the production of sperm, testosterone also causes secondary sex traits like a deeper voice, more body hair, and larger muscles.

People who are designated as male at birth (DMAB), such as cisgender men, some transgender women, and nonbinary people with penises, rely heavily on LH-induced testosterone release.In DMAB individuals, the levels of the LH hormone stay mostly constant following puberty.

LH (luteinizing hormone) induces the production of more testosterone in the testicles and ovaries throughout puberty. Then, testosterone is converted into oestrogen in the ovary. These hormones alter how both sexes grow sexually.

• LH levels vary, particularly throughout your menstrual cycle. There is more to an LH level than just excellent or terrible.
• An increase in LH, for example, might indicate that you are ready to ovulate. This is the moment when you're most likely to become pregnant. If you're attempting to become pregnant, the fertility information that LH gives you will be useful. Your body's LH levels might also indicate difficulties.
• Your doctor can learn more about your fertility and any potential health issues by knowing your LH level at a certain time. A pituitary condition may be the root of your reproductive problems.
• This could be because perimenopause or menopause is approaching for persons with irregular periods (DFAB people). Low testosterone levels in DMAB users might potentially be problematic.
• Tests for LH levels may also assist your doctor in determining whether a kid will enter puberty early or late.

High levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) can indicate that the sex organs are not producing enough steroid hormones needed for reproduction to take place. This is common whenever the ovaries and testes have exhausted their capacity to generate oestrogen and testosterone due to genetic, autoimmune, surgical, or physiologic factors.

High levels of LH are associated with a number of genetic conditions like:

• Turner syndrome: a disorder that may result in excessive levels of LH and other issues with reproductive function and is brought about by the loss of a part of the sex chromosomes
• Klinefelter syndrome: a genetic disorder that causes men to have two X chromosomes rather than one, which can result in high levels of LH
• Androgen insensitivity syndrome: a condition where the body doesn't react to testosterone properly, which can seriously affect sexual development and fertility
• Fragile X syndrome: a condition that results in issues with mental and physical development, as well as a high LH level, and is brought on by a gene mutation
• Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) : It is a condition that affects people who are sexually active and may result in a slight increase in luteinizing hormone levels. These are associated with infertility and irregular menstruation.

Low luteinizing hormone (LH) levels may be an indication that the pituitary gland isn't producing enough LH to trigger physiological changes that promote sexual development or reproduction.

Low LH levels can be a sign of:

• Kallmann syndrome: an uncommon disorder that impairs the synthesis of both testosterone and oestrogen.
• Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea: when excessive exercise habits are connected to missed or irregular periods.
• Primary hypogonadism: a condition where men's testosterone production is inadequate.
• Central hypogonadism: a condition that affects women and is brought on by damage to the hypothalamus, a tiny region of the brain that regulates reproductive processes.
• Pituitary adenoma: A benign tumour that has the ability to produce LH.
• Preeclampsia: A condition that is characterised by high blood pressure, an abnormally high concentration of protein in the blood, and an abnormally high level of luteinizing hormone in the body.

If low levels of LH are present for an extended period of time, this could result in infertility or a reduction in bone mineral density. Reduced LH levels are linked to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

A simple blood draw is all that is required to perform an LH level test, which measures the amount of the LH hormone that is present in your blood. Due to the fact that these hormones work together to regulate your reproductive system, your doctor may also recommend an FSH test at the same time.

• When you get the results of your tests, it is important that you keep in mind that what constitutes 'normal' will vary depending on a number of different circumstances. Your age, gender, and medical history are all potential examples of these influences.
• The time of your menstrual cycle or whether or not you have gone through menopause are two factors that might influence your LH levels if you have DFAB.
• The following chart offers broad information on the typical LH levels found in men and women who identify as cisgender. However, the best way to understand what your particular test results mean is to discuss the situation with a healthcare professional.
• FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) levels in the typical woman throughout the menstrual cycle are as follows: 1.37 to 9 IU/L (international units per litre)
• Between weeks one and two; 1.5 6.17 to 17.2 IU/L in the second week before ovulation; 1.09 to 9.2 IU/L in weeks three and four;
• 19.3 to 100.6 IU/L in postmenopausal women. FSH levels in men normally range from 1.42 to 15.4 IU/L.

• Surgery for hypothalamic tumour : If you're thinking about having surgery to remove a tumour or fix a brain problem, you might be wondering what kind of surgery is available. There are numerous types of tumour surgery, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.
• Keyhole surgery: It is a sort of tumour surgery that is often conducted via a tiny keyhole in the skull. Large tumours in the brain or other areas of the head are often removed with this sort of surgery. It may also be used to treat brain disorders such as anencephaly (a birth defect in which the brain does not develop properly).
• Craniectomy: It is yet another sort of tumour surgery. Part or all of the skull is removed during this treatment. Craniectomy is often performed to treat bigger tumours or to cure brain disorders such as aneurysms (swelling collections of blood vessels) or stroke damage.
• Progesterone only pills : Progesterone-only tablets are effective for treating PMS and other female reproductive system disorders. Progesterone is safe for nursing mothers.
• Estrogen pills: Estrogen tablets are a popular oestrogen replacement medication. They're available in prescription and over-the-counter formulations and treat PMS and dysfunctional ovaries.
• Combined luteinizing hormone therapy and estrogen replacement therapy : Combining luteinizing hormone treatment with oestrogen replacement improves PMS symptoms, fertility, and uterine cancer risk. Both hormones work best when administered together.

• Steroids for reducing inflammation caused by Luteinizing hormone: glucocorticoids: such as prednisone and methylprednisolone, which suppress the immune system
• Antibiotics: antibiotics including, but not limited to, penicillin G or erythromycin, as well as other potential choices.
• Analgesics for pain in lower abdomen caused by anomaly of Luteinizing hormone: NSAIDs, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are medications that reduce pain and inflammation by inhibiting the production of prostaglandins. Examples of NSAIDs include ibuprofen and aspirin.
• Opioids for pain because of defects of Luteinizing hormone : opioid painkillers, such as morphine, oxycodone, and codeine, are derived from the opium poppy and are used to treat pain in patients with luteinizing hormone deficiency.
• Somatostatin analogues for pain by defects of Luteinizing hormone : somatostatin analogues are used for the treatment of pain in patients who have deficiencies in luteinizing hormone. These include octreotide, lanreotide, and duloxetine.
• Nutritional supplements for reducing pain in Luteinizing hormone: omega-3 fatty acids: such as DHA or EPA, which are found in fish and flaxseeds. curcumin, a phytochemical found in turmeric that has antiinflammatory properties. magnesium: a mineral that is essential for blood sugar control and energy production, and can help to relieve pain and inflammation. ashwagandha, an herb known to improve cognitive function and reduce stress.

There have only been a handful of studies that have investigated the possible connection between vegetarian diets and lower levels of LH and estrogen. Currently, there is no evidence to support the claim that vegetarian diets can reduce LH levels. In addition, there is no evidence to support the idea that a change in one's food consumption or diet can raise levels of LH.

Your healthcare provider can make dietary and lifestyle suggestions for you to improve your general health, including routines that support reproductive and brain function. Discuss your choices for making lifestyle changes with your healthcare practitioner.