Infertility affects many people across the world, limited ovarian or egg reserve is one of the important reasons for this condition. It’s because a well-functioning follicle contributes to proper ovulation that promotes successful conception. This article gives you a detailed view of these follicles and how they can enhance fertility rates, keep reading to know them.
Follicles in the Ovary - An overview
These are small sacs in the ovary with immature eggs. Once the egg matures, the follicles break and release eggs from the ovary, which happens every month. That’s how menstruation takes place and is important for a successful pregnancy.
Stages of ovarian follicle development
Primary follicles
The primary follicle is where the follicles are in the initial stage of development. Germinal cells start to form layers around the ovarian follicles.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Secondary follicles
The follicle further matures and granular cells create additional layers around the germinal cells.
Tertiary follicles
In the third stage, two more layers of theca (it is an envelope of connective tissue surrounding the granulosa cells), interna (inner layer of theca), and externa (external layer of theca) are formed. Then, it will have an antrum, where the space is filled with fluid, so the follicle will be quite big.
Graafian follicles
In this final stage, the oocyte is completely developed and prepared for release during ovulation. During this, the corpus luteum develops, which is crucial for supporting embryo implantation once the egg is fertilized.
Correlation between follicles and fertility
An optimal count of ovarian follicles is mandatory for successful conception. Women begin their puberty phase with 300000 to 400000 follicles and each one of them has the potential to release an egg (ovulate) for an optimal conception.
From this, you can understand that ovarian follicles are directly linked with fertility and reproductive health. Women are born with a certain amount of follicles and the range varies for everyone. Evaluating this helps doctors identify the underlying issues and which is the right treatment.
Women facing struggles in conceiving and decided to undergo fertility treatments usually do the ovarian reserve test. It helps them to find out how many follicles they have and how successful the treatment will be.
A transvaginal ultrasound scan helps you visualize and count the small, fluid-filled sacs that contain immature eggs in them. Counting these follicles is known as antral follicle count and is the most accurate way to assess the ovarian reserve.
List factors affecting follicle growth
Hope you understand the connection between fertility and ovarian follicles, and the importance of follicles during pregnancy and menstruation. However, knowing the factors that influence the health of ovarian follicles helps to take immediate action and improve fertility success.
Ovarian insufficiency
It is also known as premature ovarian failure, which happens when the ovaries stop functioning before the age of 40. It could cause irregular periods and reduced fertility and happens due to genetic abnormalities or other conditions.
PCOS
This is a condition where a woman’s body secrets androgen hormone (male sex hormones) and the exact reason for PCOS is not yet identified. They can experience hormonal imbalances, acne, irregular periods, and excessive body hair development.
However, the irregular menstrual cycle can lead to excessive storage of immature eggs inside the ovary. Such conditions may affect the proper growth of ovarian follicles.
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Functional cysts
Functional cysts form when the follicles fail to deliver an egg or fluid, which aren’t cancerous but can cause pelvic pain. Endometriosis and PCOS are two prominent reasons for the production of ovarian cysts.
Ruptured ovarian cyst
This type of ovarian cyst is harmless and prevalent among people of reproductive age, and women with ruptured ovarian cysts are more likely to experience stomach bloating, acute back pain, and vaginal spotting.
How can I know disease affecting follicle growth?
- Pelvic ultrasound scans help doctors to determine the ovary size and number of follicles in women. Blood testing helps to assess the hormone levels that determine the current health condition of an individual.
- Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that helps doctors to examine the inner layer of the pelvis and abdomen. It is also known as keyhole surgery as doctors make a small incision for inspecting the ovaries and cysts.
- Hormone-level testing helps in identifying the underlying reasons for increased hormone production.
The bottom line
Women who are facing challenges in conceiving or want insights into their reproductive health can monitor follicles. Tracking ovarian follicle growth before conception can help identify potential barriers to pregnancy. Consult your healthcare provider or fertility specialist at the right time to improve your chances of a healthy and successful pregnancy.
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The function of the ovarian follicles is to release eggs during ovulation and follicles are small and rounded structures around the ovary.
Ovarian cyst sacs vary in size and can swell with fluid when the eggs are not released properly. This can be filled with fluid and even some are attached to the ovary.
The matured follicle usually measures between 18 to 24 millimetres in diameter. Women can experience a healthy pregnancy when their follicle size is in between this range. According to the research, the follicles are matured at this stage and are ready for release from the ovary during ovulation.
Every follicle contains one egg, which is enough for successful fertilization. However, the health condition of the eggs and sperm is very crucial for successful pregnancy results. Therefore, even if the follicle is of good quality and sperm don’t have efficiency then conception may become difficult.
Follicles are the simple sacs that contain the eggs for successful fertilization with sperm. But when there are no follicles, no eggs will be there, so fertilization doesn’t take place.
Increasing the size of follicles directly is not possible. However, you can indirectly influence the growth of follicles by adjusting to some healthy lifestyle practices, food diet, and regular stress management activities. Women can also get some personalized advice after consultation as per their body’s needs.
