$4.00
Priced per marker, with baseline labs included. You’ll see your total before you pay.
Hormones & reproductive
LH test
Luteinizing hormone. Pituitary hormone that triggers ovulation and supports luteal phase.
At a glance
In about 5 days
Most results are ready in about 5 days. Some specialty markers can take up to 21 days.
Best at a set time of day or cycle day
Contact us before your draw if you’re not sure.
Walk in at Quest
Your lab order arrives by email. Most Quest locations take walk-ins, so bring it with a photo ID.
What it measures
LH is a hormone from your pituitary gland, at the base of your brain. A sudden rise in LH each cycle can trigger ovulation, when an ovary releases an egg.
Why it matters for women
LH can help show whether you’re ovulating and explain irregular or missing periods. In PCOS, a common hormone condition, it can be high compared with FSH, a related hormone, and it can rise after menopause. Home ovulation tests look for the same hormone in urine.
You might check it if…
- your periods are irregular or a doctor mentioned PCOS
- you’re trying to get pregnant and want to understand ovulation
- your periods have stopped
- your cycle is changing in midlife
What your result may mean
High LH: what it may mean
High LH may be the normal mid-cycle spike that can trigger ovulation, and home ovulation tests can look for this same hormone in urine. It can also be elevated in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where it can run high compared with FSH, and in primary gonadal failure, when the ovaries or testes aren’t responding. LH can rise after menopause too. Because it can spike within hours, one result can be hard to read without your cycle day. Irregular periods, acne or hot flashes may offer clues, depending on the reason.
Low LH: what it may mean
Low LH may suggest a problem with the hypothalamus or pituitary gland, the parts of the brain that can set your cycle in motion. Hormonal birth control and pregnancy can lower LH as well. Under-eating, weight loss and hard training can quiet LH and stop periods, a pattern called hypothalamic amenorrhea. Missed periods, low sex drive or trouble getting pregnant may follow. A low value early in your cycle can be normal, and one result can’t tell you whether you ovulated.
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No insurance required · HSA/FSA eligible · No subscription
These notes provide context and do not diagnose a condition. Not yet available in NY, NJ, RI, HI, ND, SD or WV.