What is the Origin of Luteinizing Hormone Assay?

The term combines "Luteinizing Hormone," named for its role in stimulating the corpus luteum in females, with "assay," a procedure for measuring the content or quality of a substance. Its origin is in reproductive endocrinology, where the measurement of pituitary hormones is fundamental to understanding fertility and gonadal health. The assay provides a crucial diagnostic window into the central regulation of the endocrine system.

What is the Mechanism of Luteinizing Hormone Assay?

The assay typically employs an immunoassay technique, using specific antibodies to bind to the LH molecule, allowing its concentration to be quantified. High LH levels often indicate primary hypogonadism, meaning the gonads are failing and the pituitary is overcompensating. Conversely, low LH levels alongside low sex steroids suggest secondary hypogonadism, indicating a failure in the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. This measurement helps pinpoint the exact location of the endocrine dysfunction.

Luteinizing Hormone Assay ∞ Area

Luteinizing Hormone Assay

Meaning

Luteinizing Hormone Assay is a quantitative laboratory test used to measure the concentration of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) in a patient’s blood or urine. LH is a critical gonadotropin released by the anterior pituitary gland, which regulates the production of sex steroids in the testes and ovaries. The assay is essential for diagnosing primary or secondary hypogonadism and for monitoring the function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis.