Published on: March 21, 2025
Author: Admin
Many couples go through a joyful experience when it comes to getting pregnant. The scenario is not the same for everyone. Others may have to go through the struggling process to achieve the conception. The size of ovarian follicles and their health plays a key role in the aspect of reproductive health. However, many women are unaware of how important the health of these powerhouses is, which has the potential to impact their fertility and menstrual cycle.
In this blog, let’s try to understand the stages of ovarian follicles, the minimum egg size to get pregnant, factors that affect its quality and quantity, and so on.
Stages of Ovarian Follicle Growth
Did you know that a woman by birth is born with millions of follicles with immature eggs?
Only a fraction of these follicles goes into the maturation process. However, the amount of these follicles gets declined by her puberty. It intensifies to decline even more by her reproductive age, causing only 400-500 follicles to ovulate during her lifetime. Yet, many follicles will go into the atresia process even before maturation. The atresia process is when a follicle dies just by shrinking itself. This shows how fascinating and selective the journey of follicles and eggs really is.
The growth of follicles in the ovary is otherwise referred to as folliculogenesis. This involves several stages. They are:
Primordial Follicle
These are the earliest stages of follicles with immature eggs. These follicles are developed when a woman is born and starts to grow during her menstrual cycle. In this stage, the oocytes or eggs are surrounded by a single layer called granulosa cells.
Primary Follicle
When the primordial follicles continue to grow, the eggs develop into a primary follicle surrounded by multiple layers called zona pellucida.
Secondary Follicle
After the primary follicle stage, the follicles continue to grow into the secondary follicle enclosed by an antrum. The antrum is a space filled with fluids within follicles. The secondary follicles are then surrounded by theca cells that significantly produce hormones.
Mature (Graafian) Follicle
In this stage, the follicles are matured, that is grown enough, to prepare for ovulation. The matured eggs are released as soon as they get a signal from the reproductive hormones such as luteinizing hormone (LH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).
Ovulation
During ovulation, the matured follicles are ruptured to release oocytes or eggs from the ovary. When ruptured, the eggs are then travelled to the fallopian tubes and wait for the sperm to get fertilized.
Corpus Luteum
After the ovulation process, the remaining follicles convert themselves into corpus luteum. These play a crucial role in producing the progesterone hormone to prepare the uterus for fertilization. When the ruptured eggs fail to get fertilized, the eggs are then shed during menstruation.
What is the ideal egg follicle size for conceiving?
The ideal egg follicle size for conceiving is typically between 18 to 22 mm at the time of ovulation..
Want to Know If Your Egg Size is Right for Conception? Speak to Our Experts!
Call Now: 80047 80048Minimum Egg Size to Get Pregnant
Let’s talk about our show’s topper – the minimum egg size to get pregnant.
In some rare scenarios, a woman with an egg that is just around 16 mm can get fertilized. However, this has the possibility of causing miscarriages. The minimum egg size to get pregnant is between 18-24 mm for a healthy pregnancy. When it comes to conceiving naturally, understanding the size of the egg is out of the syllabus. However, having intercourse before ovulation makes the ruptured eggs wait for the sperm in the uterus. This has the potential to increase the chances of pregnancy. This is likely to happen if a woman is in her reproductive age, which is below 30 years.
When it comes to getting pregnant through medical help, the size of an ovary egg is closely monitored using ultrasounds. When the follicles reach their minimum matured size, that is around 18 mm or more, your expert physician may suggest egg retrieval. This happens if the treatment is performed under assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs).
Note: All mature follicles don’t cause healthy pregnancies. Factors including uterine lining and the quality of the egg also play a key role.
Follicle Size and its Fertility Potential
Understanding the minimum size of an ovary egg is crucial to get pregnant. Listed below is a table for a better understanding of follicle egg size for pregnancy in mm.
| Follicle Size | Fertility Potential |
|---|---|
| <18 mm | Egg is not matured enough to get fertilized. |
| 18–25 mm | Ideal size to get pregnant naturally or through assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF, IUI, or ICSI. |
| 18–20 mm | Optimal size for retrieving eggs through assisted reproductive techniques such as IVF, IUI, or ICSI. |
| >25 mm | Post-mature eggs, which decline the chances of fertilization. |
Normal Follicle Size on Day 14
The normal follicle size on day 14 of a menstrual cycle typically ranges between 18 mm to 24 mm, which is considered the ideal size for ovulation. This is when the dominant follicle reaches full maturity and is ready to release an egg, increasing the chances of conception. Monitoring follicle size for ovulation is especially important for couples trying to conceive naturally or through fertility treatments like IUI or IVF.
Even if your cycle is shorter or longer, the follicle still needs to grow to this size before ovulation can happen. A smaller follicle (under 18 mm) might mean the egg isn’t quite ready, while anything much larger could signal a cyst instead of an egg.
Tracking follicle size during your menstrual cycle, especially with an ultrasound, helps pinpoint the best time for conception. Whether you're trying naturally or through fertility treatments, knowing the right follicle size for pregnancy can really make a difference.
Factors Affecting Growth and Development of Follicles
There are several factors that affect the quality and growth of ovarian follicles. They include:
Age
As we all know, the quality and quantity of a woman’s eggs decline with age. This is the reason why many women experience infertility during or after their 30s.
Quantity of Follicles by Age
| Age | Follicles with Healthy Eggs |
|---|---|
| Adolescence <19 | 80-95% |
| Reproductive Years (20-30) | 75-80% |
| Young Adults (30-40) | 60-50% |
| Perimenopause (40-50) | 50-30% |
| Postmenopause >50 | 10% |
Nutritional Deficiency
A nutrient-poor diet negatively affects the health of follicles in the ovaries. Including a well-balanced diet with minerals, vitamins, and proteins can enhance their quality and quantity.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hormones such as luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are primarily responsible for growing ovarian follicles. These hormones help regulate the ovulation process in women.
- Estrogen is responsible for the development of follicles.
- Progesterone prepares and maintains a healthy uterus for pregnancy.
An imbalance in these hormones can negatively impact the quality and growth of the follicles.
Lifestyle Factors
Lifestyle factors such as stress management, physical activity, and diet play a crucial role in fertility. Regulating negative factors can help improve normal egg size for pregnancy.
Medical Factors
Some medical conditions, including PCOS, endometriosis, thyroid disorders, and ovarian cysts, are caused by hormonal imbalances. These conditions can prevent follicles from maturing and negatively impact their quality. Seeking effective medical help and treatment can improve reproductive health.
Medicines and Treatments
Women undergoing high-dose medications or treatments such as chemotherapy for cancer or NSAIDs may experience a negative impact on the growth and development of follicles.
Signs You Need Medical Help
Your body exhibits certain signs and symptoms that indicate the need for medical attention. These symptoms may include:
Irregular Cycles
A regular menstrual cycle is a positive sign of a normal and healthy ovulation process. However, some women experience irregular or abnormal cycles, which may indicate reproductive health issues. This can make it harder to conceive without medical assistance.
Persistent Anovulation
Anovulation is a medical condition where eggs in the ovaries grow but fail to ovulate. Several factors, including PCOS, endometriosis, or hormonal imbalances, may contribute to this condition. Seeking effective medical treatment can help resolve the issue.
Medical Treatments for Follicle Growth
When it comes to increasing the growth and development of follicles, certain treatments play a crucial role. The treatments include assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) such as IVF, IUI, or ICSI. The medical interventions that are used in these treatments for stimulating the hormones through injections are luteinising hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). These hormone injections are administered by reputed expert physicians to produce multiple follicles. This increases the chances of fertilization.
Expert Tips to Improve Quantity and Quality of Eggs
Improving egg quality and quantity is possible through various lifestyle and dietary changes. Some effective methods include:
- Maintain a healthy weight: Keeping your body weight within an ideal range supports hormonal balance and fertility.
- Eat nutrient-rich foods: Include healthy fats, antioxidants, and proteins in your diet to nourish your eggs.
- Manage stress effectively: Practice relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation to reduce stress levels.
- Stay hydrated: Drinking enough water supports overall reproductive health.
- Limit caffeine and alcohol: Excessive consumption can negatively impact egg quality and fertility.
- Exercise regularly: Physical activity improves blood flow to reproductive organs, enhancing egg health.
Summary
Understanding the ideal size of an egg to get pregnant, factors that affects its quality and quantity, and ways to improve its quality plays a significant role in conceiving. No matter, if you are planning for natural conception or through medical help. Considering all factors, making the most informed decisions can lead to better outcomes.
