The Luteinizing Hormone Surge is a rapid, high-amplitude spike in the circulating concentration of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) released from the anterior pituitary gland, which serves as the indispensable endocrine trigger for ovulation in the female reproductive cycle. This dramatic hormonal event occurs approximately 24 to 36 hours before the physical release of the ovum from the dominant ovarian follicle. The LH surge is a precisely timed and essential physiological signal that marks the critical transition from the follicular phase to the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. Its detection is a key method for predicting fertility windows.
Origin
This term is fundamental to the field of reproductive endocrinology, with ‘Luteinizing Hormone’ referring to its established role in stimulating the formation of the corpus luteum post-ovulation. The ‘Surge’ describes the characteristic, transient, and profound peak in its plasma concentration. This phenomenon was fully elucidated through the study of the pituitary-ovarian axis regulation, which revealed the positive feedback mechanism of high estradiol levels on the pituitary gland.
Mechanism
The surge is initiated when the mature ovarian follicle secretes high, sustained levels of estradiol over several days, which paradoxically switches from exerting negative to positive feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary. This high estradiol stimulus triggers a massive, pulsatile release of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus, leading to the profound and transient release of LH from the pituitary. The resulting LH surge causes the final maturation of the oocyte and the enzymatic breakdown of the follicular wall, culminating in the physical release of the egg—the critical process of ovulation.
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