Luteinizing Hormone Deficiency Follow-up

  • Author: Nichole M Barker, DO; Chief Editor: Richard Scott Lucidi, MD   more...
 
Updated: Aug 31, 2010
 

Further Outpatient Care

  • Kallmann syndrome: Patients require lifelong hormonal therapy and specific treatment to achieve fertility.
  • Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism: Patients with stress-related hypothalamic dysfunction can often regain gonadal function after weight gain or stress reduction. Patients with genetic or idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism require lifelong hormonal therapy and specific treatment to achieve fertility.
  • Pituitary dysfunction: Pituitary microadenomas (≤1 cm) often resolve spontaneously. Pituitary macroadenomas (>1 cm) are usually persistent and require at least annual imaging to detect enlargement. Most causes of panhypopituitarism are irreversible and patients require lifelong hormonal therapy and specific treatment to achieve fertility.
  • Luteal phase deficiency: When pregnancy is desired, hormone therapy is required for ovulation induction or luteal support. No long-term health risks are associated with this condition.
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Complications

LH deficiency results in infertility and decreased sex hormones if untreated. Complications associated with the secondary lack of estrogen or testosterone can be avoided by replacement hormone therapy. Hypothalamic and pituitary anomalies can result in other hormonal deficiencies (eg, thyroid, adrenal) that can adversely affect health.

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Prognosis

Most causes of LH deficiency are irreversible. However, with appropriate hormone replacement therapy, fertility and a normal life expectancy can be anticipated.

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Patient Education

Patients need to be educated about the incidence, pathophysiology, and treatment of their specific condition.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Nichole M Barker, DO  Fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals/Case Medical Center

Nichole M Barker, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Rebecca Flyckt, MD  Fellow, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Allen Donald Seftel  MD, Professor of Urology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; Head, Division of Urology, Director, Urology Residency Training Program, Cooper University Hospital

Allen Donald Seftel is a member of the following medical societies: American Urological Association

Disclosure: lilly Consulting fee Consulting; sanofi-aventis Consulting fee Consulting; auxilium Consulting fee Consulting; solvay Consulting fee Consulting; plethora Grant/research funds clinical trial; endo Consulting fee Consulting; nature publishing journal editor

William W Hurd, MD, MSc  Professor of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Lilian Hanna Baldwin Chair in Gynecology and Obstetrics, Director, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospitals Case Medical Center

William W Hurd, MD, MSc is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physician Executives, American College of Surgeons, American Gynecological and Obstetrical Society, American Medical Association, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Society for Gynecologic Investigation, and Society of Reproductive Surgeons

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Karen Loeb Lifford, MD  Director of General Gynecology, Associate Program Director, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Instructor, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School

Karen Loeb Lifford, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Massachusetts Medical Society, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Frederick B Gaupp, MD  Consulting Staff, Department of Family Practice, Hancock Medical Center

Frederick B Gaupp, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Family Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Richard Scott Lucidi, MD  Associate Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Richard Scott Lucidi, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Society for Reproductive Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

MRI of pituitary adenoma courtesy of Kristine Blackham, MD, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Case Medical Center, Department of Radiology

References

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Basal body temperature (BBT) chart.
MRI of pituitary macroadenoma.
 
 
 
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