Hey there! Ever wonder what goes down in your ovaries during that monthly cycle? Let’s dive in!

First off, your ovaries are like treasure troves, each containing around 4 million tiny eggs. But here’s the kicker: only about 400 of them will ever get their chance to shine during your reproductive years.

So, what’s the deal with these eggs? Well, it all starts with the growth and development of follicles. These follicles are like cozy little homes for your eggs, nestled in the cortex of your ovary. Every month, around twenty of them start to grow, but only one lucky follicle will make it to ovulation.

As these follicles grow, they get bigger and bigger thanks to the magic of cell proliferation and follicular fluid accumulation. But not all of them make the cut. Some stop growing and undergo what’s called atresia, essentially fading away. These fallen follicles even form a sort of “interstitial gland” in your ovary.

You can actually track this follicle frenzy with regular ultrasound check-ups. Starting around day 9-10 of your menstrual cycle, one follicle emerges as the big kahuna, growing steadily until it’s ready to pop. And boy, does it grow! Just before ovulation, it’s like a water balloon ready to burst, reaching a whopping 17 to 25 millimeters in size.

But what about ovulation itself? Well, that’s the moment when the chosen follicle bursts open, releasing its precious cargo – a fertilizable egg. It usually happens around day 14 of a 28-day cycle. And it’s not just random pressure that causes this explosion; it’s a carefully orchestrated hormonal dance.

After the egg is set free, the ruptured follicle transforms into something called the corpus luteum. Think of it as the aftermath of a fireworks show – a colorful structure that secretes progesterone and plays a crucial role in pregnancy.

But if the egg remains unfertilized, the corpus luteum quickly ages and fades away, leaving behind a small bump on the ovarian surface called the corpus albicans.

So, there you have it – the wild, wonderful world of your ovaries during the menstrual cycle! Fascinating stuff, right?