Most people who are trying to conceive must know the role of follicle size in ovulation. Egg follicle growth has the probability of influencing the fertility of couples. If you are trying to conceive for nearly one year without knowing the cause, try to check your egg follicle size to identify the issues of your infertility.
If you regularly monitor your follicle development, it is simpler to find out when conception should occur and enhance reproductive success. As ovulation is crucial to understanding the fertility potential of the couples, it paves the way for natural conception as well as successful assisted reproductive treatments.
At our Hive Fertility Centre, we provide advanced treatment and diagnosis methods to resolve egg-related issues. Consult our expert physician today to achieve your dream of parenthood.
What Are Follicles and Their Role in Ovulation?
The place for more mature and immature eggs, or oocytes, which are fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries, is known as the follicles. Women are born with millions of eggs. When a woman reaches her monthly cycle, a mature egg is released from either one of the ovaries and makes some room for fertilization to happen.
Among more developed eggs, only one is dominant enough to be released through the fallopian tube and await sperm to achieve fertilization.
Understanding Follicle Growth in IVF
In IVF, medications stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple follicles, each holding an egg. The aim is to get most eggs to the appropriate maturity level (M2; metaphase II) for fertilization, which is neither premature (immature) nor too late (post-mature or degenerated).
Concurrently, careful observation is necessary to prevent overstimulation of the ovaries, causing problems such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
Physicians monitor follicle development by scheduling periodic ultrasounds, assisting in determining the egg’s readiness and finding the best time to collect eggs. The meticulous follow-up helps specialists tweak the treatment to make successful IVF cycle outcomes more probable.
The Ideal Follicle Size For Pregnancy
Physicians measure the size of the follicles rather than the egg to know whether an egg is ready for fertilization. The minute water sacs in the ovaries, known as follicles, contain the eggs and discharge one egg for each ovulation.
Follicles should be of ideal size, from 18 to 20 mm (1.8 to 2 cm), for fertilization. The quality of the eggs matters as much as their quantity; egg size alone doesn’t decide pregnancy.
For an increase in the prospects of a successful pregnancy, doctors usually collect eggs in IVF treatments when follicles are between 16 and 22 mm. The timely scheduling of egg retrieval is made possible by regular monitoring.
Importance of Follicle Size in Fertility Treatments
In fertility treatments, the size of the follicle is crucial for determining the timing of interventions, such as triggering ovulation or egg retrieval. For IVF, follicles are typically monitored to ensure they reach an optimal size before administering a trigger to mature the oocytes.
The trigger is usually administered when two to three follicles are at least 17 to 18 millimeters in diameter. This timing helps ensure that the oocytes are mature and competent for fertilization.
A Simple Guide to Follicle Growth During IVF
Below is a general guideline of follicle growth during an 11-day stimulation cycle.
Day-by-Day Follicle Growth Chart
| Day of IVF Cycle | Typical Follicle Size (mm) | What’s Happening? |
|---|---|---|
|
1-3
|
< 9 mm
|
Small follicles start growing under medication. |
|
4
|
7 – 11 mm
|
Some follicles respond well and begin developing. |
|
5
|
9 – 13 mm
|
Growth continues, and doctors monitor progress. |
|
6
|
11 – 15 mm
|
Follicles are nearing the mature stage. |
|
7
|
13 – 17 mm
|
Growth accelerates, and medication doses may be adjusted. |
|
8
|
15 – 19 mm
|
The follicles get closer to the ideal size for egg retrieval.
|
|
9
|
17 – 21 mm
|
Most follicles should be nearly mature. |
|
10
|
19 – 23 mm
|
Doctors determine the best time to trigger ovulation. |
|
11
|
21 – 25 mm
|
The follicles are ready for egg retrieval. |
Follicle Growth in IVF
Physicians during IVF determine maturity for egg retrieval using follicle size. This is a brief overview of how follicle size works and what occurs in the case of slow or ideal growth.
Slow Follicle Growth
If your follicles are developing more slowly than anticipated, your physician can modify your prescription to help them continue to grow. But increasing the amount too much will not always be helpful since the body has a limited response capacity.
This is why there is a need to monitor regularly so that the balance can be attained. When receiving ovarian stimulation, always share with your doctor whenever you have side effects or problems.
The Ideal Follicle Growth
Developed follicles are usually 18-25 mm in size. The objective is to have multiple developed follicles, which will raise the chances of retrieving viable eggs. Even medium follicles (14-15 mm) at the time of the trigger shot will continue to grow before retrieval day.
Ideally, two or more follicles should be over 18 mm, with several 14-17 mm, as they continue to grow before extraction. By monitoring follicle growth regularly, your fertility specialist can ensure the best possible IVF cycle result.
Rapid Follicle Growth
Physicians focus on the ideal follicles in egg retrieval timing, and medication will be adjusted when the bigger ones develop too rapidly or irregularly. Follicle sizes might be equalised by the administration of oestrogen medication in subsequent check-ups for your IVF cycle.
To avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), physicians closely monitor those follicles that develop too rapidly. If necessary, they can delay the embryo transfer procedure for the sake of the patient’s health.
Irregular Follicle Growth
Follicles may grow at different rates, generating a combination of immature and mature eggs. To select the optimum strategy for a successful IVF cycle in such situations, clinicians thoughtfully analyse the situation based on factors such as age, ovarian reserve, and general treatment objective.
The Need for Customised IVF Treatment
The growth of follicles helps the fertility physicians evaluate how effective the treatment is and the possible number of eggs that mature can be harvested. For success with IVF, egg quality matters more than the number of eggs.
Lower-age patients who have high-quality eggs may not need as many eggs, yet multiple eggs provide greater chances to have viable embryos.
Remember that each IVF experience is unique, even if you have low AMH or a bad response to treatment. Genetics, age, and ovarian reserve all play a role in how your body responds. For optimal results, IVF treatment is tailored for each patient.
Conclusion
Hive Fertility Centre endeavours to provide individualised fertility treatments together with medical care and empathetic care. IVF, IUI, egg freezing, and other specialised reproductive treatments are the specialisation of our professionals. We make it our commitment to help couples in fulfilling their dreams of having kids.
We invite you to book an appointment for a consultation with one of our experts at Hive Fertility Centre to discuss your specific case. We are here to assist you in your journey towards fertility; please contact us and book an appointment.
