{"id":102564,"date":"2021-06-03T17:36:18","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T15:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/?p=102564"},"modified":"2024-12-23T14:00:42","modified_gmt":"2024-12-23T12:00:42","slug":"what-are-ovarian-follicles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/","title":{"rendered":"What are ovarian follicles?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Ovarian follicles<\/strong> play an essential role in a woman&#8217;s fertility \u2013 both in getting pregnant and during the early stages of pregnancy. If you\u2019re hoping to have a baby, it\u2019s useful to have an understanding of how these follicles work.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In this article, we&#8217;ll discuss what ovarian follicles are, how they&#8217;re measured, why they&#8217;re crucial to assisted reproduction treatment, and how they factor into the chances of having a successful pregnancy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#What_are_ovarian_follicles\" title=\"What are ovarian follicles?\">What are ovarian follicles?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#How_do_ovarian_follicles_develop\" title=\"How do ovarian follicles develop?\">How do ovarian follicles develop?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#Lifecycle_of_an_ovarian_follicle\" title=\"Lifecycle of an ovarian follicle\">Lifecycle of an ovarian follicle<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#How_do_ovarian_follicles_affect_fertility\" title=\"How do ovarian follicles affect fertility?\">How do ovarian follicles affect fertility?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#How_can_I_find_out_how_many_follicles_I_have\" title=\"How can I find out how many follicles I have?\">How can I find out how many follicles I have?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#Is_there_a_fertility_treatment_to_increase_the_ovarian_reserve\" title=\"Is there a fertility treatment to increase the ovarian reserve?\">Is there a fertility treatment to increase the ovarian reserve?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#If_youre_concerned_get_in_touch_with_our_fertility_specialists\" title=\"If you&#8217;re concerned, get in touch with our fertility specialists\">If you&#8217;re concerned, get in touch with our fertility specialists<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_ovarian_follicles\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">What are ovarian follicles?<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">An ovarian follicle is a fluid-filled sac in which an egg grows. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Once an egg reaches maturity, it is released from the follicle. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This is what we know as <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">ovulation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> . <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">While most people have a good grasp of what ovulation involves, fewer may understand exactly what ovarian follicles are and their role in the process of getting pregnant.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-102576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/05\/Ovarian-follicles-1024x424.png\" alt=\"What are ovarian follicles?\" width=\"451\" height=\"187\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/05\/Ovarian-follicles-1024x424.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/05\/Ovarian-follicles-300x124.png 300w, https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/05\/Ovarian-follicles-768x318.png 768w, https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/05\/Ovarian-follicles-1536x636.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/05\/Ovarian-follicles-200x83.png 200w, https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/05\/Ovarian-follicles-700x290.png 700w, https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/05\/Ovarian-follicles.png 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 451px) 100vw, 451px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_ovarian_follicles_develop\"><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">How do ovarian follicles develop?<\/span><\/span><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">During each monthly menstrual cycle, women develop several follicles, <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellfamily.com\/follicle-female-reproductive-system-1960072\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">measuring around 0.025 mm<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> to begin with. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Most women can expect to develop five or six follicles. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Over the course of the cycle, the follicles respond to various hormones and signals that trigger their growth. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In particular, the <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> , released by the pituitary gland, which causes the follicles to mature. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">FSH has another important role: it also slows down the growth of the smaller follicles to allow stronger ones to thrive. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">As the ovarian follicles grow, they begin releasing higher amounts of <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">estrogen<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> . <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">As the level of <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">estrogen<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">increases, it signals to the pituitary gland to reduce FSH production. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">As FSH levels decline, the smaller follicles begin to stop growing as quickly (or at all), allowing the bigger, stronger follicles to carry on developing.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">As the smaller follicles disintegrate, they leave behind one or two strong follicles. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">When fully grown, these follicles release large amounts of estrogen. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This encourages the pituitary gland to start releasing <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">luteinising hormone (LH)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> . <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This hormone is responsible for the follicle&#8217;s final development, before it bursts open to release the egg. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Although it may seem like there&#8217;s a lot going on, you can trust your body knows what it&#8217;s doing! <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This whole process usually takes around 14 to 16 days, with the release of egg from its follicle marking <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">ovulation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> .<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lifecycle_of_an_ovarian_follicle\"><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Lifecycle of an ovarian follicle<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The lifecycle of an ovarian follicle begins at birth. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Women are born with a finite number of ovarian follicles, each containing a primary oocyte, or egg. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Each follicle has the potential to go through its full lifecycle right through to ovulation, but only around <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/rep.bioscientifica.com\/view\/journals\/rep\/156\/1\/REP-18-0058.xml\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">one per cent of ovarian follicles will reach a stage to support ovulation<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> . <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This means only one per cent of ovarian follicles will release an egg.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Here are the various follicular stages:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Primordial follicle:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> All ovarian follicles start out here. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Normally, babies are born with over a million primordial follicles, where they remain in a dormant or &#8216;sleeping&#8217; state. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">A large number of follicles are naturally lost in this time, leaving around 300,000 upon reaching puberty.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Primary follicle:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> From puberty until the menopause, the primordial follicles gradually begin to develop into <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">primary follicles<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> . <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This process takes place everyday in preparation for ovulation and can take several months. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The majority do not reach maturity, after which they disintegrate and are reabsorbed into the body.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Secondary follicle:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> At this stage, a layer of theca cells forms on the outside of the follicle, which contributes to the production of estrogen. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Tiny pockets of nutrient-rich follicular fluid form inside the follicle, which will later form the follicle&#8217;s fluid-filled cavity (the antrum).<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Tertiary follicle<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> : At this stage, the secondary follicle develops an antrum, forming the basic structure of a mature follicle. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">At this point, the follicle is at a size where it&#8217;s visible on an ultrasound scan. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Follicles at the tertiary stage are also known as <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">antral follicles<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> .<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Graafian follicle:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> This is the follicular stage where the follicle is mature and ovulation is feasible. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Each month, there is normally only one follicle which makes it to this stage.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Corpus luteum:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> This is the last active stage of an ovarian follicle. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">After releasing its oocyte, post-ovulation, the corpus luteum forms from the empty follicle. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The corpus luteum produces progesterone, which prompts the lining of the womb to thicken in preparation for an embryo and later, pregnancy.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">While all follicles enter the primordial stage, many do not mature and only a small number will progress to the later stages.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_do_ovarian_follicles_affect_fertility\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">How do ovarian follicles affect fertility?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Each ovarian follicle contains an oocyte, or an egg. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The number of follicles you have is what makes up your ovarian reserve.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>It is important to remember that you don&#8217;t need lots of follicles in order to have a baby. In the end, it only takes one. However, the number of follicles you have can be crucial in determining your chances of conceiving. It can also indicate whether you might need assistance in the form of a fertility treatment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_can_I_find_out_how_many_follicles_I_have\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">How can I find out how many follicles I have?<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing exactly how many eggs remain in the ovary. This is because it is impossible to count the primordial follicles which contain them. Primordial follicles are microscopic: they measure only 0.025 millimetres and are too small to be seen. However, upon reaching the tertiary stage, primordial follicles grow to around 200 times their size and become visible with ultrasound technology. Unlike primordial follicles, these follicles, known as antral follicles, can be counted. An Antral Follicle Count test (AFC) is an ultrasound scan which examines each ovary and counts the number of active antral follicles that measure between 2 and 10mm. It is performed at an early stage in the menstrual cycle.<\/p>\n<p>By counting the number of active antral follicles, we can calculate the ovarian reserve level. This is because the <a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/humrep\/article\/18\/4\/700\/596535\">number of active antral follicles<\/a> you have correlates to the number of primordial follicles that remain in the ovary.<\/p>\n<p>If you have fewer antral follicles, it may mean you have a low ovarian reserve and therefore less chance of getting pregnant, naturally or with assistance. A lowered ovarian reserve is a natural part of aging. On the other hand, an unusually high number of antrum follicles could indicate an ovulation disorder such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). So, they are a very important marker of your fertility.<\/p>\n<p>Another test that can determine your egg reserve is the <strong>Anti-M\u00fcllerian Hormone (AMH) test<\/strong>. At the tertiary stage, antral follicles produce high levels of the anti-m\u00fcllerian hormone. A simple blood test can measure this hormone to calculate your level of fertility: the more antral follicles you have, the higher the level of AMH will be circulating in your bloodstream.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_there_a_fertility_treatment_to_increase_the_ovarian_reserve\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Is there a fertility treatment to increase the ovarian reserve?<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>There is no treatment or medical intervention that can stop the natural depletion of an egg reserve, but there is hope and in this case, knowledge is power. Understanding your ovarian reserve and what it looks like gives you vital information about the steps you need to take to have a baby, when, and how.<\/p>\n<p>If your ovarian reserve appears healthy and time is on your side, then we may suggest further tests to find out if there is another issue preventing you from conceiving. At this stage, it might be beneficial to consider cryopreservation of your healthy eggs through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/assisted-reproduction-treatments\/vitrification-of-oocytes\/\">oocyte vitrification<\/a> (a method of freezing eggs that maintains their quality).<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re considering going through <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/assisted-reproduction-treatments\/in-vitro-fertilisation\/\">In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)<\/a> treatment and have a low ovarian reserve, it is possible to encourage the ovaries to generate multiple follicles. By administering gentle hormone stimulation, we can trigger multiple follicles to mature, allowing us to retrieve a higher number of eggs. This gives you a higher likelihood of successful fertilisation in the IVF lab, resulting in more embryos available for transfer.<\/p>\n<p>If you opt for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/assisted-reproduction-treatments\/intra-uterine-insemination\/\">Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)<\/a> treatment, then one or two follicles are all that is needed. While ovarian stimulation can encourage a higher number of mature follicles to develop and increase the chances of pregnancy, you may risk complications as a result of a multiple pregnancy. Every follicle has the potential to release an egg that could then be fertilised in the womb. Once in the womb, it is impossible to control the number of eggs that get fertilised.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"If_youre_concerned_get_in_touch_with_our_fertility_specialists\"><\/span><strong><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If you&#8217;re concerned, get in touch with our fertility specialists<\/span><\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">At IVI, we understand the importance of an accurate diagnosis. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We take an evidence-based approach to create tailor-made treatment plans, beginning with thorough diagnostic assessments for each and every patient. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">These tests provide crucial information that will help us build a treatment program that is highly personalized and most effective for you.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Our IVI Diagnostic Pack includes both Antral Follicle Count (AFC) and Anti-M\u00fcllerian Hormone (AMH) tests. <\/span><\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">By understanding your ovarian reserve level, it can help you plan your treatment. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/ask-for-an-appointment\/\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Contact us today<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"> and start your fertility journey.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ovarian follicles play an essential role in a woman&#8217;s fertility \u2013 both in getting pregnant and during the early stages of pregnancy. If you\u2019re hoping to have a baby, it\u2019s useful to have an understanding of how these follicles work.\u00a0 In this article, we&#8217;ll discuss what ovarian follicles are, how they&#8217;re measured, why they&#8217;re crucial&#8230; <a class=\"view-article\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/\">View Article<\/a>","protected":false},"author":42,"featured_media":102671,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,18,17],"tags":[331,330],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>What are ovarian follicles? - IVI UK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Ovarian follicles play an essential role in a woman&#039;s fertility \u2013 both in getting pregnant and during the early stages of pregnancy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What are ovarian follicles? - IVI UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Ovarian follicles play an essential role in a woman&#039;s fertility \u2013 both in getting pregnant and during the early stages of pregnancy.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"IVI UK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-06-03T15:36:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-12-23T12:00:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/06\/ovarian-follicles-min.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"933\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"ivilondon2019\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"ivilondon2019\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What are ovarian follicles? - IVI UK","description":"Ovarian follicles play an essential role in a woman's fertility \u2013 both in getting pregnant and during the early stages of pregnancy.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"What are ovarian follicles? - IVI UK","og_description":"Ovarian follicles play an essential role in a woman's fertility \u2013 both in getting pregnant and during the early stages of pregnancy.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/","og_site_name":"IVI UK","article_published_time":"2021-06-03T15:36:18+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-12-23T12:00:42+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1400,"height":933,"url":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/06\/ovarian-follicles-min.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"ivilondon2019","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"ivilondon2019","Estimated reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/","url":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/","name":"What are ovarian follicles? - IVI UK","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/06\/ovarian-follicles-min.jpeg","datePublished":"2021-06-03T15:36:18+00:00","dateModified":"2024-12-23T12:00:42+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/670876b24e62fc4796f9863b33ae6942"},"description":"Ovarian follicles play an essential role in a woman's fertility \u2013 both in getting pregnant and during the early stages of pregnancy.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/06\/ovarian-follicles-min.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2021\/06\/ovarian-follicles-min.jpeg","width":1400,"height":933,"caption":"ovarian follicles"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/blog\/what-are-ovarian-follicles\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"What are ovarian follicles?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/","name":"IVI UK","description":"Reproducci\u00f3n asistida - Tratamientos de fertilidad","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/#\/schema\/person\/670876b24e62fc4796f9863b33ae6942","name":"ivilondon2019"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102564"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/42"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102564"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":107229,"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102564\/revisions\/107229"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102671"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ivi.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}