Luteinizing hormone (LH) is important for both men and women, as it stimulates the production of other hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone. Fertility problems can arise when LH levels are low, but you can compensate for them by taking a drug that performs a similar function: gonadotropin. If you're not trying to get pregnant, it's easier to replace secondary hormones that are induced by LH.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Increase Luteinizing Hormone to Increase Fertility
Step 1. Find out about gonadotropin therapy
When the fertility drug (clomiphene) fails, the gynecologist often prescribes this other treatment. Luteinizing hormone is important in women for ovulation and gonadotropin acts in a similar way, stimulating the body to produce the other hormones needed to trigger ovulation. In men, LH is instead important for producing testosterone; in fact, gonadotropin acts in its place, increasing its levels and sperm count, which in turn make it more likely to conceive.
Step 2. Take Menotropin
Also called human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG), it is used to produce eggs; usually, if you are a woman, you need to take it every day for about 2 weeks through a subcutaneous injection. When your body responds to treatment, you can stop and see your doctor, who monitors the follicles until they're ready to release an egg.
Step 3. Get injected with chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to release the egg
When the follicles are ready, the gynecologist can undergo this hCG treatment to "inform" the body that it is time to release the egg into the uterus; this is the right opportunity to try to conceive within a couple of days.
Step 4. Start hCG therapy if you are a man
Usually humans should start with this hormone, which is given as a couple of injections per week. You can try this cure for about 6 months; if you don't get satisfactory results, your doctor may add hMG to therapy.
Step 5. Pay attention to side effects
The main ones caused by gonadotropin are swelling, irritability, agitation, headache, fatigue and depression; cases of acne, breast development and changes in libido can also increase in men.
Method 2 of 2: Compensate for Luteinizing Hormone Loss
Step 1. Determine if you need to increase your LH levels
It is an important hormone, but its absence can be treated differently without affecting its concentration; this means that you can act on the effects that a drop in LH brings, rather than induce more of it.
Step 2. Find out about replacement estrogen if you are a woman
If you are not trying to have a baby, the most likely treatment for you is taking estrogen to replace hormones that are not produced by the body due to low LH levels. You may also need to take progestins on a cyclical basis to reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer.
Usually, these hormones are in the form of pills or patches
Step 3. Consider testosterone substitutes if you are a man
Treatment in humans often consists of taking this hormone, which can be prescribed to adolescents who have stunted growth due to low LH levels; at other times it may be recommended for those who have low sexual desire or who have lost some male physical characteristics, such as facial hair.
- However, some doctors also advise men who have low LH levels to take gonadotropin, even if they don't want to increase their chances of conceiving.
- Testosterone can be taken in the form of injections, pills or patches.
Step 4. Gain weight to treat anorexia nervosa
In some people, LH levels are reduced due to eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa; to prevent this, your actual weight should not deviate from your ideal weight by more than 15%.
If you suffer from any eating disorder, you need to seek medical attention. You probably need a health team to help you, including your family doctor, psychologist or psychiatrist, and even a nutritionist; your primary care physician can help you find the right direction
Step 5. Address the underlying problems
There are many conditions or situations that can cause a lowering of LH levels, such as excessive use of opioids or steroids, pituitary gland diseases, excessive stress, chronic infections and eating disorders; Sometimes, addressing these underlying causes can improve LH levels.
Step 6. Try D-Aspartic Acid
Some people have found positive results by taking 3 mg of this amino acid per day. It is a supplement capable of increasing LH levels; however, only take it under medical supervision, as any LH imbalance can affect all other hormones as well.
Step 7. Consider the chaste tree
It's another supplement that may prove useful for your purpose, but it can lower your levels of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), which is critical for fertility. Therefore, this remedy is not a good solution for you if you wish to get pregnant; check with your gynecologist before taking it.
