7 Tips for How to Increase Luteinizing Hormone when TTC

The luteinizing hormone, often shortened as “LH”, is a type of reproductive hormone that is found in both men and women. Essentially, LH helps to “boost” or stimulate the production of other hormones critical for fertility. In women, this includes estrogen and progesterone and in men this includes testosterone.

While LH is found in both men and women, this article will focus solely on the role that LH plays in the female reproductive cycle.

Specifically, we will take a look at what the luteinizing hormone (LH) is, why you need it if you are trying to conceive (TTC), and strategies for how to increase luteinizing hormone both naturally and with medical assistance. We’ll conclude with a few tips for tracking your luteinizing hormone at home, and how Mira can help you with that.

Let’s get started!

Understanding Luteinizing Hormone (LH)

What is luteinizing hormone?

The luteinizing hormone, also known as “LH”, is one of the main fertility hormones and it is produced in the anterior pituitary gland. In women, LH is responsible for a number of processes throughout the menstrual cycle.

How does LH contribute to your fertility journey?

When it comes to your fertility, LH plays a crucial role in three key phases of your fertility journey:

Stimulating the ovaries to produce oestradiol (also known as “E2”) during the first two weeks of your cycle.

Surging around day 14 of your cycle to trigger ovulation (ovulation typically occurs 24-36 hours after your LH surge).

Stimulating the corpus luteum after ovulation; helping to produce progesterone and support early fetal development.

If you are trying to conceive, keeping a close eye on your LH levels over time can help you to predict ovulation, better understand your fertile window, and plan sex accordingly.

What are normal LH levels?

In women with a regular menstrual cycle, LH levels typically measure between 5-25 IU/L. This is considered “normal”. During an LH surge, LH levels rise dramatically, however, the exact measurement and percentage of increase can vary greatly depending on the individual.

Why might your LH levels be lower than average?

If your LH levels are low, this could indicate a problem with your pituitary gland or the part of your brain that controls your pituitary hormones. Alternatively, malnourishment or disordered eating may also cause your LH levels to be lower than average.

Why might your LH levels be higher than average?

Abnormally high LH levels can often indicate that something more serious is going on, such as ovarian failure or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Other possible explanations for high LH levels include recent exposure to radiation or chemotherapy, and certain genetic conditions such as Turner syndrome.

Increasing luteinizing hormone

If you are TTC and looking to boost your LH levels, there are a number of ways to do this naturally and/or with the help of a doctor. Here are a few examples.

How to increase luteinizing hormone naturally

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle choices can play a major role in hormone regulation and your reproductive health. If you are looking to increase your body’s production of LH naturally, start by taking stock of your lifestyle choices and identify areas that may need some improvement.

• This might include any of the following:
• Nutrition: Are you getting enough nutrients to support your fertility?
• Weight: Are you overweight or underweight? Do you exercise regularly?
• Stress levels: Do you suffer from prolonged periods of stress?
• Quality of sleep: Do you consistently get the recommended 7 hours of sleep each night?
• Alcohol intake: Do you drink more than 14 units of alcohol each week?
• Tobacco use: Do you smoke or use other tobacco products regularly?

If you need help managing any of the above lifestyle factors, speak with your doctor and they can provide you with practical advice and an action plan for a more balanced lifestyle.

D-aspartic acid

D-aspartic acid, sometimes called “DAA” or “D-Asp”  is found in the pituitary gland and helps your body produce LH. While there is limited research about the role DAA supplements can play in boosting LH levels, one study does suggest that there is a relationship between high concentrations of DAA and fertility.

As with other vitamins and supplements, always make sure to clear it with your doctor first before taking D-aspartic acid supplements.

Chasteberry

Chasteberry is another natural supplement that can potentially increase your LH levels. In addition to boosting LH, Chasteberry is also commonly used to aid PMS symptoms and regulate ovulation.

However, similar to D-aspartic acid, there are very limited clinical studies that show the benefit of chasteberry on fertility, so it’s best to speak with your doctor before taking chasteberry supplements.

How to increase luteinizing hormone with medical assistance

Estrogen replacement

Another possible treatment that may help boost your LH levels is estrogen replacement. This type of hormone therapy may also help with other fertility-related problems such as regulating your cycle and improving the thickness of your uterine lining – both of which can help to further improve your chances of conception.

Gonadotropin treatment

Gonadotropin is another type of fertility treatment that your doctor can use to help increase your LH levels. This medication contains both LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and once injected, these hormones work together to produce and mature multiple follicles for ovulation.

Human menopausal gonadotropin treatment

Similar to gonadotropin treatment, human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) treatment is another option that can help to boost LH and FSH levels. In turn, this helps your body ovulate and produce eggs.

Human chorionic gonadotropin injections

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injections are another treatment option if you have low LH levels. While hCG injections do not increase LH specifically, hCG does work in a similar way to LH and can help your body successfully release eggs during ovulation.

Where to start

If you think that your LH levels might be low or causing a problem with your fertility, the best thing you can do is begin testing for LH and tracking your levels over time. This will not only give you a better understanding of what your baseline LH levels are, but you will also be able to identify when your LH surge occurs.

One way that you can do this is with the help of the Mira Analyzer and Mira app. When used together, you can test for LH and monitor your personal LH levels over several cycles. You can then use this information to determine whether or not your LH levels are in the “normal” range. If not, you can then book an appointment with your doctor to explore potential treatment options for increasing your LH levels in order to improve your chances of conception.