Did you know that the follicle is essential for a woman to get pregnant? Yes, it is where everything begins. For pregnancy to occur, the ovarian follicle must be present and have an ideal size to indicate that it is mature.
What is a Follicle and Ovulation?
Ovulation1 is a physiological process in women, where each of the hormones works so that the egg is mature and can finally be released to be fertilized. But much more than that, the ovulation process is quite complex. It all begins in the pituitary gland, a gland located in the woman’s head. It is responsible for stimulating practically all the hormones involved in the ovulatory process or not, in the female body.
At the very beginning, the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, GnRH, is released by the pituitary gland2. This in turn stimulates FSH, which then stimulates the ovarian follicle found in the reserve inside the ovaries. A woman is born with her egg reserve already ready! The normal reserve of a woman at puberty is between 300,000 to 500,000 eggs, of which only 500 or 600 will be selected as the best for ovulation.
Throughout her fertile life, a woman releases about one to three eggs per ovulation, but only one of them may become the dominant follicle. This dominant follicle develops from the proper growth that estrogen provides. In addition to the follicle, estrogen also causes the endometrium to grow properly to prepare a bed for the zygote in case the egg is fertilized.
What Is the Ideal Size of the Follicle to Rupture?
After the follicle grows, the hormone responsible for its release once mature is LH. It comes into action when the mature follicle sends signals through the bloodstream to the pituitary gland, telling it that it is time to act. This process usually occurs in follicles approximately 19 to 30mm in diameter.
Follicles up to 30mm are viable, but the best ones are those released at sizes between 22 and 24mm. When LH acts and reaches its peak (detected by ovulation or saliva tests), the follicle is released within 48 hours. After the release and rupture of the follicle, the egg comes out and is captured by the fallopian tubes and remains there for 24 hours. For pregnancy to happen, the woman needs to have had sex close to this period, and there must be healthy sperm capable of penetrating the tough layer of the egg.
Another Function of the Follicle
Once ruptured, the follicle now has another role. It serves as hormonal support for the endometrium3, and after a period of 24 hours, it fills with blood and becomes vascularized, starting to secrete progesterone. The corpus luteum that provides this support degenerates if there is no pregnancy but remains until the 10th week if fertilization and implantation are successful.
Functional Cyst on Ultrasound
The follicle, also known as a functional cyst, can scare many women when they have an ultrasound and see its presence in the report. It is an excellent sign of fertility and does not cause any problems. What might happen is that it is an unruptured follicle, and in this case, a simple cycle can become a problem called polycystic ovaries.
Polycystic Ovaries
Polycystic ovaries are follicles that did not grow properly and were not absorbed by the woman’s body. They simply remain there undeveloped and serve no function, just interfering with the normal cycle. Usually, women with this problem also have an estrogen dysfunction and other hormones such as LH.
This could interfere with a pregnancy, for example. This type of cyst needs treatment. Another condition that affects follicles is LUF (unruptured follicle syndrome). This condition prevents the ovary from releasing the follicle and so the body absorbs it. The whole process happens and sometimes signs of ovulation appear, such as mucus and ovarian pain. This syndrome is only diagnosed with recurring ultrasounds and also an LH test.
Ladies, follicular cysts are the peak of fertility. Take advantage of this phase and enjoy lots of intimacy—good luck!
Readers’ Questions:
Can a follicle in the ovary mean pregnancy?
No, the presence of the follicle does not indicate pregnancy, but its presence is important for it to happen. It is only a problem if it is an unruptured follicle, which may become polycystic ovaries.
Is it possible not to have an ovarian follicle?
Yes, in the case of women who do not ovulate—or more specifically, who suffer from anovulation—there may be no ovarian follicle. With appropriate treatment, this situation can be normalized.
See also: What Is the Best Day to Get Pregnant? Understand Your Fertile Period
