Gonadotropins

Anterior pituitary hormones, which act in the control circuit hypothalamus, pituitary gland, gonads. These include the luteinising hormone (LH) and the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). Both pituitary hormones are stimulated by pulsative releases of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH).

Standard value: The reference range for men is LH: 1.7 to 1.8 U/l, FSH: 1.5 to 12.4 U/l

LH:

• Women: LH Follicular phase: 2,4 - 12,6 U/l
• periovulatory: 14,0 - 95,6 U/l
• Luteal phase: 1.0 - 11.4 U/l
• Postmenopause: 7,7 - 58,5 U/l

FSH:

• follicular phase: 3,5 - 12,5 U/l
• periovulatory: 4,7 - 21,5 U/l
• Luteal phase: 1.7 - 7.7 U/l
• Postmenopause: 25,8 - 134,8 U/l
  

Pathologically decreased: Kallmann syndrome, anorexia nervosa, hyperprolactinaemia, anterior pituitary insufficiency, suppression under androgenic anabolica and exogenous sexual steroids.

Pathologically increased: Menopause, Sex chromosomal anomalies, Climacterium praecox, Resistant Ovary Syndromes, Hyperandrogenemic Ovarian Insufficiency