Ovulation

Abstract

Ovulation is the physiological process of releasing a mature, ready‐for‐fertilization ovum from the preovulatory, ovarian follicle to the fallopian tube. This is the central event during a woman's menstrual cycle and a prerequisite of successful conception and pregnancy. The ovulation is preceded by ovarian follicle growth and development, which take place during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle and remain under the control of hormones released from the hypothalamus and the pituitary. After the ovulation, the ovum travels via the fallopian tubes to the uterus, where it can be fertilized by a sperm. Ovulation can be reliably detected based on the direct observation of ovarian follicles through ultrasound and changes in the concentration of reproductive hormones. Ovulatory dysfunction comprises conditions of different causality that result in the complete lack of ovulation (anovulation) or the presence of infrequent and irregular ovulation (oligoovulation).