The pituitary gland is one of the most important endocrine glands in men and women. It synthesizes most of the most popular biologically active substances, which are responsible for the normal functioning of the whole organism. Luteinizing hormone,( LH, luteotropin) is one of them. He is one of the activators of the internal organs, because he is responsible for the increased isolation of progesterone in women and testosterone in men. Increasing the amount of LH or its decrease can significantly affect the sexual life of a person. In most cases, with an excess or deficiency of this active substance, adequate treatment of the disease may be necessary.
Functions
The luteinizing hormone, together with follicle stimulating( FSH) and prolactin, is one of the genital. Its main task for women is to stimulate the synthesis of progesterone - a biologically active substance, which is necessary for the conception and normal development of the child. In men, he is responsible for the production of testosterone and maintaining the normal state of the reproductive system.
If the level of LH is overestimated in the blood of the fair sex, then, most likely, there was an ovulation. There is a special interaction of this substance with FSH, which regulates the right menstrual cycle.
Menstrual cycle
From the moment of puberty, every girl begins to experience regular changes in her body. They are represented by cyclic growth and rejection of the endometrium( inner shell of the uterus), which occurs in the form of monthly bleeding. This process is divided into several phases:
- Follicular( 1-14 days).It is characterized by the gradual growth of small sacs( follicles) with ovules inside. The main role in this period is played by FSH.The normal value of luteinizing hormone in this phase is 1-13 mU / l.
- Ovulation( 13-15 days).A very short phase, which manifests itself in the rupture of the saccule's shell with the exit of the sexual cell into the abdominal cavity of the woman. The normal amount of LH is 25-150 mU / l.
- Luteal( 15-28 days).Characterized by the growth of the yellow body and progesterone production. The normal values of LH in this phase are 2-18 mU / l.
Separately it is necessary to say about the fair sex in the period after menopause. At this age, the amount of luteotropin rises to 15-50 mU / l, which is the norm.
In men, the indices of this biologically active compound remain stable throughout life. They can fluctuate within 1-10 mU / l. If there is a significant increase in the amount of luteinizing agent, then there is a problem that requires adequate therapy.
Causes of the pathology of
When can a high luteinizing hormone be present? Physiological periods in women are:
- period of ovulation,
- menopause.
In the stronger sex, it should remain within normal limits. Nevertheless, it must be understood that the above figures are approximate. Depending on the individual characteristics of each organism, the criteria for normal LH values may change. However, they never vary by more than 10 mU / l.
The following pathologies can cause the increase in the number of LH:
- polycystic ovary,
- internal genital insufficiency in women,
- neoplasm in the pituitary,
- stress,
- renal failure,
- diligent and exhausting physical activity,
- prolonged fasting,
- endometriosis.
In men, elevated luteinizing hormone can be observed at the age of over 60, which is a consequence of the depletion of the reproductive system of the stronger sex.
Symptoms of
The main danger of an increased level of this hormone in women is a violation of the normal menstrual cycle. As a result:
- irregular bleeding,
- development of iron deficiency anemia,
- inability to conceive,
- increased risk of miscarriages,
- pathology of other internal organs and systems.
Such a picture must necessarily alert the patient. This requires appropriate treatment and care for the girl's body. However, she first should see a doctor if the above symptoms occur. Otherwise, therapy can have a noticeably less effect.
In men, a high level of such a substance can be a reason for the development of sexual dysfunction. Lack of testosterone leads to:
- a significant decrease in libido,
- poor blood flow of the penis during sexual intercourse,
- decrease in the amount of ejaculate,
- complete loss of orgasm,
- obesity,
- muscle weakness.
In any case, it is necessary to conduct appropriate healing of the body, and reduce the high level of the hormone.
When is it necessary to be surveyed?
It is important to understand that far from always increasing the amount of luteotropin is pathological. Each organism is individual and can respond to the same situation in different ways. Most often, doctors prescribe to their patients appropriate tests for:
- infertility,
- endometriosis,
- libido reduction,
- delay or acceleration of puberty of girls,
- for monitoring the effectiveness of hormonal therapy,
- polycystic ovary,
- for determining the day of the menstrual cycle,
- for partialor complete absence of menstruation.
It is important to know that the fair sex representatives must give blood for 3-9 or 18-22 days of menstruation to determine the amount of luteotropin. Men can be examined at any convenient time. The main condition is that the test is performed on an empty stomach.
Increasing the number of luteotropin should alert doctors and patients. Time spent therapy can completely eliminate the problem and ensure a normal sexual life.
