A patient seated in the chair before a blood draw
In person

LH

Your level of luteinizing hormone, from one blood draw.

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  • 2,000+ lab locations. Find one near you
  • Nothing due at the lab. FSA / HSA accepted
  • Ordered by a licensed clinician

At a glance

Collection
Blood draw
A standard blood draw at the lab.
Preparation
None
Nothing to do ahead of time. Water is fine.
Results
1 to 3 days
Typical turnaround after your visit.
Where
2,000+ lab locations
Nationwide, with nothing due at the lab.

About this test

Your pituitary gland releases luteinizing hormone (LH). A surge of LH in the middle of the menstrual cycle triggers ovulation, and in the testes LH signals testosterone production. LH changes a lot across the cycle, so ask a healthcare provider which cycle day to test.

For adults 18 and older. Test availability varies by lab location.

Who should take this test?

This test is often used by adults with irregular cycles, ovulation or fertility questions, or questions about testosterone, usually read with FSH. Commonly related symptoms include:

Reproductive

  • Irregular periods
  • Missed periods
  • Trouble conceiving

Skin

  • Acne

Hair

  • Unwanted hair growth

Sexual

  • Low sex drive

Ask about this test

Not sure this is the right test?

AI-generated. For information only, not medical advice. Call 911 for an emergency.

What does this test measure?

Your result shows your LH level on the day of the draw, which a healthcare provider can read with FSH, estradiol, or testosterone and with where you are in your cycle.

Luteinizing hormone (LH)
LH is made by the pituitary gland. In women a surge of LH triggers ovulation; in men LH signals the testes to make testosterone. Levels change across the menstrual cycle, so LH is usually read with FSH and the other reproductive hormones rather than on its own.
Why it’s measured: A pituitary hormone that triggers ovulation and testosterone production.

How it works

  1. Step 1

    Order online

    Check out here. A licensed clinician in your state reviews your order and sends it to the lab.

  2. Step 2

    Visit a lab

    Bring a photo ID to any of 2,000+ lab locations. No fasting needed, and nothing is due at the lab.

  3. Step 3

    Get your results

    Results post to your account, usually in 1 to 3 days, each number next to the lab’s reference range.

Find a lab near you

Choose from 2,000+ lab locations nationwide. Your order works at any of them.

What your results tell you

LH is reported as a number and compared with the lab’s reference range. Cycle phase, including the mid-cycle surge, affects how it is read.

  • Your number next to the lab’s reference range
  • Explained in plain language
  • A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test.
  • A lab report you can download and share

A healthcare provider reads LH with your cycle timing and other hormones, and decides whether a repeat or added test makes sense for you.

Clinical-grade testing, from the comfort of home.

From the lab to your report, every step of our process meets the gold standard in medical testing.

  • CLIA-certified labs

    Every lab we partner with is certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, meeting both state and federal standards with regular independent inspections.

  • We protect your health data

    We protect your health data with encryption and do not sell it. Some results must be reported to public health authorities by law. See our Privacy Notice.

  • Rigorous quality assurance

    All partner labs run regular internal quality checks, participate in proficiency testing, and comply with federal and state lab regulations.

  • Clinician-reviewed reports

    Results are reviewed by an independent, licensed clinician.

Questions

Common questions.

Anything else, our care team answers by phone, text, or email.

Home ovulation tests check urine for the LH surge over several days. This test measures LH in your blood at one moment, so a single draw may or may not fall during a surge.

That makes a blood LH result most useful when it is read with your cycle timing and other hormones, which a healthcare provider can help with.

LH stays fairly low for much of the cycle and surges around ovulation, so the day you test changes the result. The right day depends on your question.

A healthcare provider can advise which cycle day to test. If your periods are irregular or absent, ask them how to time it.

Yes. Hormonal birth control and hormone therapy can change LH, so your result may not reflect your own pattern. Tell your healthcare provider about any hormone medicine you use. Don’t stop or change any medicine or supplement without talking with your healthcare provider.

One LH result cannot tell you whether you ovulated in a given cycle or how fertile you are. Progesterone, drawn after ovulation, is often checked for that question. A healthcare provider reads LH with FSH, other hormones, and your cycle history.

Lab tests are informational and don’t diagnose conditions on their own. Available to adults 18 and older; test availability varies by lab location. A licensed clinician reviews your order and, if appropriate, orders the test. All testing is performed at CLIA-certified laboratories. Not for emergencies: if you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911.