Reproductive Pituitary gland

Luteinising Hormone (LH)

Written by the VitaWhat editorial team · Medically reviewed by Steve Davis · Last reviewed 19 July 2026 · Editorial policy

Triggers ovulation and testosterone production.

What it does

  • Triggers ovulation (the LH surge) in women
  • Stimulates testosterone in men

Too much

  • High LH can indicate menopause or PCOS

Too little

  • Low LH can cause infertility
Keeping it balanced: LH is used in ovulation prediction and fertility testing.

Sources & references

  1. You and Your Hormones (Society for Endocrinology)
  2. NHS — Hormonal conditions

Think a hormone may be out of balance?

The symptoms of hormonal excess and deficiency are non-specific — tiredness, weight change, low mood and poor sleep have many everyday causes. No hormone problem can be self-diagnosed from a symptom list.

Diagnosis needs blood tests interpreted alongside your history, sometimes repeated at set times of day because many hormones vary hour to hour. Speak to a GP if symptoms are persistent; seek urgent care for severe symptoms such as confusion, fainting, chest pain or extreme thirst with frequent urination.

Related entries

Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)OestrogenOxytocinProgesteroneProlactinTestosterone
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