Purpose of the LH Surge Test During IVF Treatment
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About LH Surge
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The luteinizing hormone (LH) is produced during a woman's cycle to stimulate an ovary to release a mature egg. Once her body has produced the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), which helps mature the egg before release, she will produce a surge of LH. During the course of her cycle, a woman will have a lower level of the LH hormone and, then, an abrupt rise in that level, which can be detected by an over-the-counter kit.
Benefits of Testing LH Surge
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LH surges may be monitored with easy-to-use test sticks, which work much like over-the-counter pregnancy tests. A woman tests her urine daily over several days, until the test indicates a surge in the level of luteinizing hormone. The LH surge generally predicts that the ovary will release an egg in the next day or two, and the woman is in the fertile stage of her cycle. Having intercourse during this fertile period should increase her chances of conceiving.
LH and Ovulation
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Some women may not have proper surge of LH during the course of their cycles. The lack of the hormone surge could cause anovulation which is a failure to ovulate. According to the Mayo Clinic article, "Infertility Causes", "Even slight irregularities in the hormone system can prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs." Thus, women who suffer from this hormonal irregularity may also suffer from infertility.
Infertility and IVF
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Women who suffer from anovulation may seek treatment for infertility, as there are several medications available to stimulate proper ovulation. Some women, however, may not achieve successful fertilization after these treatments. These women may seek further treatment through in vitro fertilization (IVF). During this procedure, a fertility specialist will: medically stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs, retrieve the eggs through minor surgery, inseminate the eggs and allow them to fertilize and grow in a lab, and transfer the resulting embryos into the patient's womb for potential implantation.
IVF Monitoring
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The Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research recommends monitoring of IVF patients before the procedure, during the procedure, and throughout a pregnancy until the resulting live birth. Patients' blood work may be monitored for such hormones as: follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), gonadotropins, estrogen, luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone. Additionally, the patients will be monitored for ovarian response and edometrium (lining of the uterus) health.
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