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?

Luteinizing hormone (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 fertility, LH plays a crucial role in three key stages of the menstrual cycle:

• Stimulating the ovaries to produce estradiol (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 pregnancy.

If you are trying to conceive (TTC), keeping a close eye on your LH levels over time can help you 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 in blood 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.

The following chart shows typical LH ranges depending on menstrual cycle phase, pregnancy status, and menopause status – based on values from the Mayo Clinic Laboratories. 

Typical LH Levels in Women
Follicular Phase	1.9-14.6 IU/L
LH Surge/Ovulation	12.2-118.0 IU/L
Luteal Phase	0.7-12.9 IU/L
Pregnancy	<1.5 IU/L
After Menopause	5.3-65.4 IU/L

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.

Testing Your LH Levels

For women, LH testing is helpful for:

• Anticipating ovulation in order to plan a pregnancy
• Understanding the potential cause(s) of infertility 
• Assessing underlying medical conditions affecting the reproductive system
• Assessing menopausal status

LH levels can be measured in blood and urine. Here’s an overview of each type of test and what to expect.

LH Blood Testing

The most common way to measure LH levels in blood is by having a blood test at your doctor’s office. This requires your doctor to use a needle to take a blood sample. The sample is then sent to a medical lab for testing and you’ll receive your numerical LH results within a few days. 

Another way to test for LH is with a finger-prick test. These tests can be ordered online, and they often test other hormones (in addition to LH) to provide a broad picture of fertility. Finger-prick tests require you to collect a blood sample and then mail it to a laboratory. Your numerical LH results will then be sent to you within a few business days. 

LH Urine Testing

Another way to test for LH is with a urine test. The most basic LH urine tests are traditional ovulation predictor kits (OPKs), which can test for elevated LH levels. While OPKs cannot provide you with your numeric LH level results, they can identify whether or not your LH levels are ‘surging’ above the standard threshold for ovulation. This standard threshold is usually set above 25 IU/L, however, exact thresholds can vary depending on the brand of OPK. 

Another way to test for LH in urine is with a more advanced urinary hormone monitoring system, such as the Mira Monitor. With Mira, you can measure and track your numeric LH levels with lab-grade accuracy, allowing you to see your unique LH hormone curves and peaks over time. When tracked alongside E3G (estrone-3-glucuronide) and PdG (pregnanediol glucuronide), you can predict ovulation, chart your 6-day fertile window, and confirm when ovulation occurred – all from the comfort of your home. 

How to Increase Luteinizing Hormone Naturally: 7 Practical Tips 

Tip #1: Eat a Nutrient-Rich Diet

Lifestyle choices, including the way we nourish our body, can play a major role in hormone regulation and reproductive health. Foods that promote hormone balance and support healthy LH levels include:

• Whole grains – such as brown rice, quinoa, and whole-wheat bread and pasta 
• Leafy green vegetables – such as spinach, kale, arugula, and bok choy
• Citrus fruits – such as lemons, grapefruits, and oranges
• Lean proteins – such as fish, eggs, and tofu
• Healthy fats – such as nuts, seeds, yogurt, and avocado 

If you have a sweet tooth, dark chocolate is an excellent choice for a treat – it contains less sugar compared to milk chocolate and it is packed with flavonoid antioxidants. 

Tip #2: Maintain a Healthy Weight

Being over or underweight can have a negative impact on fertility and lead to hormone imbalance. To maintain a healthy weight, aim to get the recommended 2.5 hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. Maintaining an exercise routine alongside a nutrient-rich diet will help to keep your weight at a healthy level. 

Tip #3: Keep Stress Levels Low

Stress plays a huge role in our fertility – affecting things like hormone balance, sex drive, and the immune system. If you suffer from prolonged periods of stress, it’s worth exploring ways to reduce your stress levels. For example, activities such as exercising, yoga, journaling, meditation, counseling, coloring, and playing an instrument can provide stress relief in your day-to-day life. 

To address long-term stressors, take some time to think through all your responsibilities at home and at work. You can then identify areas where you may need to ask for some extra help – or, it may be time to let go of certain responsibilities in order to prioritize your mental health. 

Tip #4: Get Plenty of Sleep

Sleep is another major lifestyle factor that can impact hormone levels and overall health. The Sleep Foundation recommends that women should get a little more than seven hours of sleep each night. To improve your quality of sleep, try to maintain a consistent bedtime routine, avoid caffeine in the late afternoon and evening, and avoid screens at least 30 minutes before bed. 

Tip #5: Avoid Harmful Substances

There are a number of harmful substances that can interfere with your hormone health. If you are actively looking to improve hormone regulation (including LH production), try to avoid the following:

• Processed meats
• Artificial sweeteners
• Alcohol
• Tobacco products
• BPA (also known as Bisphenol-A) products

Lifestyle habits are not always easy to break. To set yourself up for success, start with small, achievable goals and work your way up! Even small changes can make a big difference!

Tip #6: Try D-aspartic Acid Supplements

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.

Tip #7: Try Chasteberry Supplements

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

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, you may have also heard of human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) treatment. While this treatment is not commonly used today, it has been used in the past as a way to help the 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.

Frequently Asked Questions