Egg maturation is one of the stages of the menstrual cycle. Ovogenesis is the scientific name of the process of egg formation in the ovaries. The shape of the egg is spherical, it contains a nutrient supply for life support of the embryo at the first stages of development.
The entire menstrual cycle is controlled by hormones, the level of which then rises, then decreases in the blood. When the level of follicle-stimulating hormone increases, the egg develops (ripens).
How many days does the egg mature?
The period of maturation of the egg can last from several days to a month, but most often the process of egg maturation takes 2 weeks.
In the follicles themselves, the hormone estrogen is produced, without which normal egg maturation and ovulation are impossible. When estrogen reaches a certain level (maximum), the pituitary gland sharply increases the production of another type of hormone, luteinizing. Under the influence of this hormone, a mature ovum leaves the follicle, ovulation occurs.
Sometimes there is a simultaneous maturation of two eggs, with the simultaneous fertilization of which the light will appear twins. Not necessarily they will be very similar, because they are different. But if in the process of division one fertilized egg splits into two or more parts, then absolutely identical identical twins will be born.
The female germ cell, from which a healthy organism can develop as a result of fertilization, contains a haploid (single) set of chromosomes. The final result depends on which set of chromosomes the egg has. If during the maturation in the egg there is a violation of the structure of chromosomes or a change in their number, then it is an abnormal egg. If such an egg is impregnated, then in most cases the embryo developing from it dies at one of the stages of pregnancy.
When is the egg ready for fertilization?
After the ovulation has occurred and the mature egg has emerged from the follicle into the abdominal cavity, it is captured by the fallopian tube and is directed to its inner part. The egg slowly descends the tube to the uterus. This is the most suitable period for the fertilization of an egg. If fertilization does not occur, then within 24 hours the egg will die. In order to increase the chances of conception, you need to know on what day the egg ripens. Usually a mature egg is ready for fertilization on day 14 of the cycle. This day is the most favorable for fertilization.
Why can an egg not ripen?
There are several reasons for this phenomenon. The most frequent of them are:
- problems with ovulation, when the menstrual cycle is too short or, conversely, too long. There is a risk that the egg can not ripen or is simply not viable;
- dysfunction of the ovaries due to impaired production of the necessary hormones, which is why the process of maturation of the follicle is disturbed. The egg in this case either does not ripen at all, or is not viable. Hormonal problems sometimes lead to the complete absence of menstruation and the maturation of eggs. Violations can affect not only the sex hormones, but also the thyroid pancreas;
- genetic disorders, such as Turner's syndrome, lead to the birth of girls who are very underdeveloped or completely lacking ovaries, which makes the process of egg maturation impossible;
- various disorders and diseases - polycystic ovary, violations in the cervical canal, erosion of the cervix, damage to the fallopian tubes, scars on the ovarian membranes after surgery - all this leads to a complete or partial loss of the ability to form a full ovum.
