So what is Ovulation?
Ovulation is when a mature egg is released from the ovary, pushed down the fallopian tube, and is available to be fertilized. Almost every month, an egg will mature within one of your ovaries. As this egg reaches maturity, it is released by the ovary where it enters the fallopian tube to make its way towards waiting sperm and the uterus.
There are key facts, that stands sure to guide you in your ovulation .
• An egg lives 12-24 hours after leaving the ovary
• Normally only one egg is released each time of ovulation
• Ovulation can be affected by stress, illness or disruption of normal routines
• Some women may witness spotting of blood during ovulation
• Implantation of a fertilised egg normally takes place 6-12 days after ovulation
• Each woman is born with millions of immature eggs that are awaiting ovulation to begin
• A menstrual period can occur even if ovulation has not occurred
• Ovulation can occur even if a menstrual period has not occurred
• Some women can feel a bit of pain or aching near the ovaries during ovulation called “middle pain” .
• If an egg is not fertilised, it disintegrates and is absorbed into the uterine lining.
• Ovulation can be calculated by starting with the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) or by calculating 12-16 days from the next expected period. Most women ovulate anywhere between Day 11 – Day 21 of their cycle, counting from the first day of the LMP.
• This is what many refer to as the “fertile time” of a woman’s cycle, because sexual intercourse during this time increases the chance of pregnancy. Ovulation can occur at various times during a cycle, and may occur on a different day each month.[American pregnancy.org]
The ovaries are magnificent glands which are part of the female reproductive system. The ovaries are about the size and shape of an almond and sit just above the fallopian tubes — one ovary on each side of the uterus. Every month during ovulation, any one of the ovaries can produce a single mature egg for fertilisation. The female ovaries are the organs in the female uterus bearing eggs or oocytes.
Each ovary is about the size and shape of an almond. The ovaries have two functions: they produce eggs and female hormones. The size of each ovary is about 1.5 inches long. A new born baby girl is born with 1,000,000 ovarian follicles. At puberty, only about 4,000000 follicles are left, with the possibility to develop into mature eggs. It is important to know that only one follicle reaches maturation to an egg that is released at ovulation, while the remaining follicles are reabsorbed.
Ovaries are part of the reproductive structure of female. These structures produce and release hormones that govern physical characteristics and fertility. These are sex hormones. These organs are extremely important because they ensure the continued survival of the human race by producing ova, or eggs, which are intended in fertilisation in reproduction. In humans, they are around the size of an almond, and human females are actually born with all of the eggs they will ever have. This means that at birth, every female already have the full complement of her eggs, in her life time. The human ovaries, store ovum (eggs) and release them during the menstrual cycle. [womens health]
In human females, ovaries are attached to the funnel like structures called fallopian tubes, which are in turn connected to the womb [uterus]. During ovulation, a single egg is released into the uterus. If the egg is fertilised, it will implant and develop into a resulting embryo, which will ultimately become a baby. If the egg is not fertilised, the uterine lining is shed, along with the egg, allowing the uterus to prepare for a fresh egg.
Also, in addition to producing and releasing eggs that contain genetic material needed for reproduction, the ovaries also create sex hormones – progesterone and estrogen. These hormones help to regulate the ovulation process, and they also contribute to general physical characteristics associated with the female sex, such as the development of breasts. Levels of these hormones fluctuate, depending on the age of the female and where she is in her ovulation cycle. [courtesy womens health]
The ovulation process is started and controlled by a drop in the hormone estrogen (mostly esradiol) to a low level. When the drop in estrogen levels occurs the hypothalamus (a part of the brain) is signaled to increase the hormone (GnRH) A message is sent to the pituitary to increase its secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). This increase causes the growth of 10 to 20 of the ovarian follicles.
Estrogen is secreted by some of the cells in the follicle. Just before ovulation occurs, the follicle that contains the maturing egg eases toward the surface of the ovary. Once the matured egg reaches the ovarian surface, ovulation occurs when the follicle and the ovarian surface open allowing the egg to drift out of the ovary.
Additionally, progesterone is also produced by the cells in the ovarian follicles shortly before ovulation occurs., if pregnancy has not occurred after ovulation , the empty follicle is called the corpus luteum [CL] and it is reabsorbed into the body. If pregnancy does occur the CL produces hormones that help to maintain the pregnancy.
After the egg is released from the ovary it travels to the oviducts (the funnel-shaped ends of the fallopian tube, where it begins its long journey of several days into the uterus. The mature egg is moved along on its journey through the fallopian tubes by wavelike muscle contractions in the fallopian tube. The inner lining of each fallopian tube contains cilia which are constantly beating microscopic hairs; these cilia are what helps move the sperm towards the egg if a woman has had unprotected sexual intercourse. Conception (the fertilisation of an egg with sperm) most often occurs in the part of the tubes that is nearest the ovary. Five to six days are required for the fertilised egg to reach the uterus.
Estrogen controls the growth of the lining of the uterus during the first part of the menstrual cycle, cause breast development during pregnancy and regulates various metabolic processes.
The ovary may be the site of several diseases or conditions. Some of the possible diseases affecting the ovary are acute and chronic inflammation. Tumors, and cancer.
The reproductive health of a woman is wound around her ovaries, and it is paramount in her being able to reproduce. Any abnormality in the ovaries like cancer or any form of injury would lead to a disruption in the hormonal levels, and this leads to both physical and mental stress and discomfort, affecting the woman’s menstrual cycle and ultimately her being able to reproduce.
The ovary in a woman’s reproductive life is very important. A good functional ovary, would work as it is scheduled to do, produce mature eggs and good eggs would be released at ovulation, fertilization takes place upon meeting a sperm , and pregnancy occurs. It is as simple as this. It is therefore important that anything that could cause injury to your ovaries, must be avoided at all costs.
source#thisday#
