Medical Diagnosis Exams

FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), together with LH (luteinizing hormone), belongs to the gonadotropin family. FSH and LH regulate and stimulate the growth and function of the gonads (ovaries and testes) synergistically.

In women, the gonadotropins act within the hypothalamus‑pituitary‑ovary regulating circuit to control the menstrual cycle. Gonadotropins stimulate the growth and maturation of the follicle and hence the biosynthesis of estrogens and progesterones.

The highest LH‑concentrations occur during the mid‑cycle peak and induce ovulation and formation of the corpus luteum, the principal secretion product of which is progesterone.

In the Leydig cells of the testes, LH stimulates the production of testosterone. Determination of the LH concentration is used in the elucidation of dysfunctions within the hypothalamus‑pituitary‑gonads system.

The determination of LH in conjunction with FSH is utilized for the following indications: congenital diseases with chromosome aberrations (e.g. Turner’s syndrome), polycystic ovaries (PCO), clarifying the causes of amenorrhea, menopausal syndrome, and suspected Leydig cell insufficiency.