LH, luteinizing hormone, is responsible for the formation and release of sex hormones in both men and women. It also regulates the monthly menstrual cycle in women. It is also known as lutropin and luteotropin.
What is luteinizing hormone?
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy and structure of the endocrine (hormone) system. Click to enlarge. Luteinizing hormone is also called luteotropin, lutropin, or yellow-coloring hormone – “luteus” means orange-yellow in Latin. The term luteinizing is derived from one of the hormone’s main functions, which is the development of the corpus luteum in a woman’s ovaries after ovulation. Luteinizing hormone belongs to the glandotropic hormones in the human body. These are hormones that basically act on the male and female gonads. The hormone, which is produced in the pituitary gland – the hypophysis – ensures the production of testosterone in men and progesterone and estrogens in women. The maturation of sperm, the male gametes in the testes, is also controlled by LH, which is sometimes called ICSH in men. In the female sexual cycle, LH triggers ovulation, and thus has special importance for fertility.
Production, manufacture, and formation
Various glands are primarily responsible for its formation and secretion in the human body. Luteinizing hormone is produced in the pituitary gland, called the hypophysis. The pituitary gland is a small gland located in the middle cranial fossa. It is considered to play a special role in the human hormonal system. In a complex interaction with the hypothalamus, it carries out the formation and secretion of the luteinizing hormone. The hormone itself consists of a concatenation of amino acids. This functioning of the hormone production means that the formation of LH is influenced by many internal and external factors that affect the autonomic nervous system. For example, psychological stress and also external factors can alter hormone levels.
Function, effect and properties
LH has a special significance for fertility and the sexual cycle of men and women. With the onset of sexual maturity, its work becomes more important. Then, luteinizing hormone is responsible for the regulation of the female menstrual cycle and for the production of male spermatozoa. In the female cycle, LH occupies a particularly significant position. It first triggers ovulation in interaction with the egg cell, and then ensures that the so-called corpus luteum is formed from the egg membrane, which is subsequently responsible for the release of progesterone and estrogen. This cycle is what makes a woman’s fertility possible in the first place, without which no pregnancy would be possible. The sex hormones progesterone and estrogen, which are formed in part by the support of LH, are also responsible for many other factors in the female organism and can strongly influence how we feel. In men, LH primarily controls the production of testosterone. This hormone is in turn required in the testes for the production of sperm cells. In order for testosterone to cross the blood-testicle barrier, luteinizing hormone is required, which makes transport possible in the first place. Without testosterone, the male organism would not be able to produce sperm cells at this point and would be infertile. A lack of testosterone can also affect other areas of the organimus.
Diseases, ailments and disorders
Since LH is significantly involved in the formation of the important sex hormones, a disturbed production can result in many diseases and complaints. Especially in women, the hormone level is responsible for many areas and functions in the organism. In particular, an underproduction of LH can lead to a deficiency of the hormones progesterone and estrogen. Progesterone deficiency leads, among other things, to premenstrual syndrome, which can cause many complaints in the cycle phase after ovulation. In severe cases, progesterone deficiency can lead to infertility, fibroids and cysts in the abdomen. Estrogen deficiency is also associated with a health risk.A permanent deficiency can lead to hot flashes, sleep disturbances, lack of vitality and, above all, a premature aging process. In men, a disturbance in the production of LH can lead to a lowered testosterone level in the blood. This can then lead to infertility and a variety of impairments. The psyche and sex drive are particularly affected. Erectile dysfunction, depressive moods, sleep disorders and a fundamental loss of vitality and drive are just some of the effects of a testosterone deficiency. The production of LH can be disrupted by a variety of factors, including poisoning, tumors, or prolonged stress.
