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Luteinizing Hormone Surge

Meaning

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.