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Ovulation

Meaning

Ovulation is the critical reproductive event in the female menstrual cycle where a mature ovarian follicle ruptures and releases a secondary oocyte, or egg, from the ovary into the fallopian tube. This event marks the transition from the follicular phase to the luteal phase and is the necessary prerequisite for potential fertilization and pregnancy. It is a precise, hormonally-driven process that occurs approximately midway through a typical cycle. The timing of ovulation is clinically important for fertility tracking and reproductive planning.