📅 Last Updated: May 2026 | 🩺 Medically Reviewed by: Edward Salko, D.O., Medical Director | 🧪 Lab Partner: Labcorp
Luteinizing hormone (LH) is the pituitary signal that triggers ovulation in women and stimulates testosterone production in men. Testing LH reveals critical information about fertility, PCOS, menopause status, and pituitary function that
no other single test provides.
Order online, visit any Labcorp location nationwide, results in your private portal in 24 to 48 hours. No doctor visit required. HSA and FSA eligible.
Also Known As
Interstitial Cell-Stimulating Hormone (ICSH), Lutropin
Purpose of the LH Test
Luteinizing hormone (LH) is produced in the brain’s pituitary gland and plays a significant role in reproductive health for both women and men. LH starts its work in puberty, when levels rise and they trigger estrogen production in girls and testosterone in boys. And you need LH to get pregnant because it helps with ovulation and sperm formation. That’s why an LH test can be an important component of fertility testing for men and women.
What Does the Luteinizing Hormone Test Measure?
This test measures the LH levels in your blood. You can test LH on its own or alongside follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which is another critical reproductive health hormone.
Who Should Take a Luteinizing Hormone Blood Test?
Men and women can take this test to help determine the cause of infertility; women can also use it to time their cycles and improve their odds of conceiving. LH blood work may also be recommended if someone is experiencing:
- Delayed or early onset of puberty
- Irregular menstrual cycles
- Symptoms associated with menopause or perimenopause
- Fatigue, weakness, or weight loss, which are symptoms linked to pituitary gland dysfunction
LH Lab Test Preparation
You don’t need to fast or complete any other special requirements before getting your blood drawn for the luteinizing hormone test.
LH Normal Ranges — What Your Results Mean
| Phase / Population | Normal LH Range | What Abnormal Means |
|—|—|—|
| Women — Follicular Phase | 2.4–12.6 IU/L | High: PCOS or menopause. Low: hypothalamic suppression |
| Women — Ovulation Peak | 14–95 IU/L | The LH surge — confirms ovulation is occurring |
| Women — Luteal Phase | 1.0–11.4 IU/L | Should drop after ovulation — persistent high = anovulation |
| Women — Postmenopausal | 7.7–58.5 IU/L | Elevated — confirms menopausal status with FSH |
| Men | 1.7–8.6 IU/L | High: primary hypogonadism. Low: pituitary problem |
| LH/FSH Ratio (PCOS) | Below 1:1 normal | Above 2:1 on day 3 is classic PCOS pattern |
What LH Tells You That Other Hormone Tests Cannot
LH is produced by the pituitary gland in response to GnRH from the hypothalamus. In women it works in a precise cycle — rising slowly through the follicular phase, then surging dramatically mid-cycle to trigger the dominant follicle to release an egg. After ovulation LH falls and progesterone takes over.
This cycle-dependent pattern means the clinical meaning of LH depends entirely on when it is drawn.
The LH surge and ovulation tracking — a mid-cycle LH drawn at day 12 to 14 of a 28-day cycle that shows LH above 14 IU/L confirms the ovulation trigger has been released. Home ovulation predictor kits detect urinary LH — a blood LH provides
the most precise measurement of whether
ovulation is actually occurring.
The LH/FSH ratio and PCOS — drawn on day 3 of the menstrual cycle, an LH to FSH ratio above 2:1 is the classic PCOS pattern. The pituitary is producing too much LH relative to FSH, disrupting normal follicular development and causing anovulation. This ratio is one of the most clinically specific markers for PCOS available through blood testing.
LH in men — in men LH stimulates Leydig cells in the testes to produce testosterone. High LH with low testosterone indicates
primary hypogonadism — the testes are not responding to the pituitary’s signal. Low LH with low testosterone indicates secondary hypogonadism — the pituitary is not sending an adequate signal. These two patterns require completely
different treatments.
LH and menopause — elevated LH alongside elevated FSH and low estradiol confirms menopausal status. LH alone rising above 25 IU/L in a woman with irregular cycles is a strong perimenopause signal.
Reviewed by Edward Salko, D.O., Medical Director, Personalabs
LH Lab Results
Women’s results are influenced by their current life stage and, if menstruating, where they are in their cycle when tested. Generally, normal ranges for premenopausal women are 5 to 25 IU/L and 21.9 to 56.6 IU/L at the height of the cycle. LH levels for postmenopausal women should range from 14.2 to 15.3 IU/L. Men’s normal levels can range from 1.24 to 8.6 IU/L.
Where Can I Get an LH Blood Test Done Near Me?
The luteinizing hormone blood test is just one example of hormone testing for women and men offered at Personalabs. We take the guesswork out of caring for your health by giving you the accurate, reliable information you need to make solid medical decisions.
Just follow these simple steps to get an LH lab test:
Step 1: Buy the LH lab online and download the lab order. (A doctor’s approval won’t be needed, depending on the state where you live.)
Step 2: Select the lab nearest you for testing. With more than 4,000 locations across the country to choose from, you get convenience and accessibility when it’s time to schedule your blood work.
Step 3: Bring your lab order to your testing appointment and give your blood sample.
Step 4: Check your confidential Personalabs portal for your results report, usually within 2 to 10 business days.
Explore our wide range of men’s and women’s health tests. Shop our collection online today.
Frequently Asked Questions: LH Blood Test
What is a normal LH level?
Normal LH varies by cycle phase. Follicular phase: 2.4 to 12.6 IU/L. Ovulation surge: 14 to 95 IU/L. Luteal phase: 1.0 to 11.4 IU/L. Postmenopausal: 7.7 to 58.5 IU/L. In men: 1.7 to 8.6 IU/L. The clinical interpretation depends entirely on when in the cycle the test is drawn — timing is critical for meaningful results.
What does a high LH/FSH ratio mean?
An LH to FSH ratio above 2:1 drawn on day 3 of the menstrual cycle is the classic PCOS hormonal pattern. The pituitary is producing disproportionately more LH than FSH, disrupting follicular development and preventing normal ovulation. This ratio is one of the most specific blood markers for PCOS and should always be interpreted alongside total testosterone and estradiol.
How does LH differ in men vs. women?
In women LH triggers ovulation mid-cycle and works with FSH to regulate the menstrual cycle. In men LH stimulates testosterone production in the testes. High LH with low testosterone in men indicates primary hypogonadism — the testes are not responding. Low LH with low testosterone indicates secondary hypogonadism — the pituitary is not signaling adequately. These require different treatments.
When should I get an LH blood test?
For PCOS evaluation or ovarian reserve assessment — test on day 3 of your cycle. For ovulation confirmation — test on day 12 to 14. For menopause evaluation — any time is acceptable. For male hypogonadism — any time of day, ideally morning. Available through Personalabs without a doctor’s visit — results in 24 to 48 hours. HSA and FSA eligible.
