What is the total number of ova a woman has?

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From the Research

Total Number of Ova in a Woman

  • The total number of ova a woman has is estimated to be hundreds of thousands to over a million primordial ovarian follicles (PFs) in their ovarian reserve at birth 1.
  • Only a few hundred of these PFs will ever ovulate and produce a mature egg 1, 2.
  • The size of the primordial pool is influenced by key events during the formation of germ cells and by factors that influence the subsequent activation of follicle growth 2.
  • Approximately 0.1% of the oocytes in the primordial pool will ever be ovulated, with the rest undergoing degeneration 2.

Ovarian Reserve and Follicle Development

  • Ovarian reserve is a term used to estimate the total number of immature follicles present in the ovaries 3.
  • The number of ovarian follicles decreases progressively from birth to menopause 3.
  • The dynamics of primordial follicles, including the rate of activation and atresia, play a central role in women's life, affecting fertility early in life and overall health later in life 3.
  • In vitro maturation (IVM) offers the possibility to exploit the largely untapped biological resource of oocytes present in the ovaries at birth 4.

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This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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