Luteinizing Hormone

• If you are taking a medicine that contains testosterone, estrogen, or progesterone (such as birth control pills), ask your doctor whether you should stop taking it for several days before having a luteinizing hormone (LH) test.
• You can buy home ovulation kits at a drugstore to help identify the most fertile days of a woman's menstrual cycle. The kits test for LH in urine with a dipstick or test strip. Other home ovulation tests that measure the amount of LH in urine and display the results on a small computerized monitor also are available.
• Other tests for ovulation include measuring basal body temperature, testing the progesterone level after ovulation in the menstrual cycle, and noting changes in cervical mucus. For more information, see the topic Reference Fertility Awareness.

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