Lancing system for withdrawing body fluid having a lancing element and a lancing instrument, which includes a lancing drive, by which a lancing movement of a lancing element is driven. The lancing drive comprises a drive source and a transmission having a housing coupling mechanism which includes at least two transmission links, a housing bearing, and a coupling element adapted for coupling a lancing element thereto. A lancing depth limiting stop is positioned in the housing so that a stop surface of the lancing element contacts the lancing depth limiting stop during the forward phase of the lancing movement. The housing coupling mechanism comprises a length compensation device to ensure a distance adaptation of the spacing between the lancing element and a housing bearing of the housing coupling mechanism during contact of the stops and further movement of the lancing drive.