Luteinizing hormone and ovulation timing

Serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels are routinely used in the treatment of infertility for ovulation assessment and timing of artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization and endometrial biopsies. Extensive clinical research has shown the LH surge in serum or plasma to be the standard for precise ovulation timing. The relationship of the LH surge to oocyte maturation (preovulatory) and fresh ovulatory stigmata (postovulatory) enhances the status of LH as the standard. Within this context, the advantages and disadvantages of the method are weighed against broad clinical application for general ovulation prediction.