Timing of LH Surge Based on Your Hormone Values
Based on your current hormone levels on cycle day 11 (E1G 38.3 ng/mL and PdG 6.5 µg/mL), your LH surge is likely to occur within the next 1-3 days, most probably within 24-48 hours.
Understanding Your Current Hormone Pattern
Your E1G level of 38.3 ng/mL indicates active follicular growth and suggests you are approaching ovulation, as estrogen rises significantly before the LH surge triggers ovulation 1, 2. However, your PdG level of 6.5 µg/mL is already elevated above baseline (typically <2-3 µg/mL in the follicular phase), which suggests one of two scenarios:
- Most likely: You are in the very late follicular phase with early progesterone production beginning just before ovulation, and the LH surge is imminent 3
- Less likely: You may have already experienced your LH surge within the past 24 hours, as PdG typically begins rising 1-2 days after the LH peak 1, 4
Expected Timeline for Ovulation
The typical sequence of hormonal events is:
- E1G peaks approximately 1-2 days before the LH surge 2, 5
- The LH surge occurs and lasts approximately 24-36 hours 6
- Ovulation follows the LH surge by 24-36 hours 6
- PdG begins rising significantly 1-3 days after ovulation, with the most substantial increases occurring 2-6 days post-ovulation 1, 4
Given that your E1G is elevated (suggesting peak estrogen activity) and PdG is just beginning to rise, you are most likely in the 24-48 hour window before or immediately at the LH surge 2, 3.
Critical Action Steps for Conception
To maximize conception probability:
- Continue monitoring: Check for your LH surge daily, as it should occur within the next 1-3 days based on your current hormone pattern 1
- Optimal timing for intercourse: The fertile window extends from approximately 5 days before ovulation through the day of ovulation itself, with the highest pregnancy rates occurring with intercourse on the 2 days before ovulation 1, 2
- Confirm ovulation occurred: Recheck your PdG level around cycle day 18-21 (approximately 7 days after expected ovulation) to confirm successful ovulation, where levels should be significantly elevated above 5 µg/mL, ideally sustained above this threshold 6, 1
Important Caveats About Your PdG Level
Your current PdG of 6.5 µg/mL requires careful interpretation:
The slightly elevated PdG before confirmed ovulation could indicate early luteinization of the follicle, which sometimes occurs in the 24-48 hours preceding ovulation 3. However, if PdG continues rising without a detectable LH surge, this could suggest a luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF), where progesterone production begins without actual follicle rupture and egg release 3.
To distinguish between these scenarios:
- If you detect an LH surge in the next 1-2 days followed by sustained PdG elevation (>5 µg/mL for at least 3-4 consecutive days during the luteal phase), this confirms normal ovulation 1, 3
- If PdG rises without an LH surge, or if PdG fails to sustain elevation above 5 µg/mL throughout the implantation window (days 7-10 post-ovulation), this suggests ovulatory dysfunction requiring clinical evaluation 1, 3
Monitoring Strategy Going Forward
For the remainder of this cycle:
- Test for LH surge daily until detected (should occur within 1-3 days based on your E1G pattern) 1, 2
- Continue PdG monitoring every 2-3 days after suspected ovulation to confirm sustained elevation above 5 µg/mL through at least cycle day 21-24 6, 1
- A sustained PdG level above 5 µg/mL for at least 3-4 consecutive days during the mid-luteal phase (approximately 7-10 days post-ovulation) confirms adequate progesterone production for potential implantation 1, 3