Conception Process >> Anatomy of Ovulation

The Anatomy of Ovulation: Just the Facts, Figures, Graphs & Pictures

La Anatomía de la ovulación: solo los hechos, números, gráficos e imágenes

To fully understand ovulation – defined most generally as the process by which an egg matures and is released by the ovary – it does not hurt to learn the details underlying these often complicated processes. This article is dedicated to examining the basics of reproductive anatomy and the processes of the menstrual cycle that govern ovulation. But instead of a wordy (boring) description of technical details, we’ll present some images, definitions, and graphs that represent the interplay of anatomy and hormones, as well as some interesting facts that might prove useful when it comes to predicting ovulation and achieving pregnancy.

Para entender completamente la ovulación -definida de modo más general como el proceso por el cual un óvulo madura y se desprende del ovario- no hace daño enterarse de los detalles que subyacen tras estos procesos a menudo complicados. Este artículo examina el proceso básico de la anatomía reproductiva y los procesos del ciclo menstrual que rigen el proceso de la ovulación. Pero en lugar de una larga (tediosa) descripción de los detalles técnicos, presentaremos algunas imágenes, definiciones y gráficos que representan la interacción de la anatomía y las hormonas, al igual que algunos datos interesantes que pueden resultar útiles a la hora de predecir la ovulación y lograr el embarazo.

The Womb
The Ovary:

El ovario:

The function of the ovaries (there are typically two, one on each side of the uterus)
is to house the egg-containing ovarian follicles. Your ovaries store all the
eggs you will ever have from the moment a female child is born – and this is
called your ovarian reserve. The number of ova count in the millions and during
your each menstrual cycle one will mature through a biological process called
folliculogenesis. During your menstrual cycle, your ovaries perform
a number of reproductive functions, including releasing hormones like estrogen
and progesterone. Also, the ovary provides a theatre for the development of
the ovarian follicle and maturation of the tiny eggs.

La función de los ovarios (generalmente hay dos, uno a cada lado del útero) es la de albergar los folículos ováricos que contienen los óvulos. Tus ovarios almacenan todos los óvulos que tendrás desde el momento del nacimiento de una niña: esto es lo que se llama tu reserva ovárica. El número de óvulos se cuenta por millones y durante cada uno de tus ciclos menstruales, uno de ellos madurará gracias al proceso conocido como foliculogénesis. Durante tu ciclo menstrual, tus ovarios realizan una serie de funciones reproductivas, entre ellas la secreción de hormonas como el estrógeno y la progesterona. Además, el ovario proporciona el entorno para el desarrollo del folículo ovárico y la maduración de los pequeños óvulos.

The Ovary
The Ovarian Follicle/Corpus Luteum:
Ovarian follicles contain the female
ova or eggs. During the first stages of a woman’s cycle, the ovarian follicle
develops and matures an ovum (folliculogenesis), culminating in ovulation
– the release of the egg. Following ovulation, the follicle becomes corpus
luteum
and serves to produce progesterone. In the image (see in context
above), maturation stages of the ovarian follicle are represented by
the various bluish circles. The larger blue follicle represents a mature follicle
and ova ready to be expelled into the fallopian tube. The “collapsed”
circles near the top represent the luteal body or corpus luteum.

El folículo ovárico o cuerpo lúteolos folículos ováricos contienen los óvulos femeninos. Durante las primeras etapas del ciclo femenino, el folículo ovárico desarrolla y hace madurar un óvulo /foliculogénesis), que culmina en la ovulación o expulsión del óvulo. Tras la ovulación. el folículo se convierte en un cuerpo lúteo cuya función es la de producir progesterona. En la imagen (ver en el contexto más arriba) , los estadios de maduración del folículo ovárico están representados por los distintos círculos azules. El folículo azul de mayor tamaño representa a un folículo maduro y óvulo que están preparados para ser expelidos hacia las trompas de falopio. Los círculos “colapsados” cerca de la parte superior representan al cuerpo lúteo.

The Fallopian Tube:
The fallopian tubes extend off the upper sides of the uterus and lead up to
the ovaries. They have 20 to 25 finger-like structures on their ends that hover
just above the ovaries and work to collect the mature egg when it is released.
It is in the fallopian tubes that fertilization of the egg will take place.

Las trompas de falopio: las trompas de falopio se extienden más allá de la parte superior del útero y llevan hasta los ovarios. Tienen de 20 a 25 estructuras en forma de dedos en sus extremos que se ciernen justo encima de los ovarios y cuya función es la de recoger

The Uterus / Womb: The uterus is the reproductive
organ commonly know as the womb. The uterus provides a home for a developing
baby during pregnancy. The uterus is composed of linings and layers that change
during a woman’s cycle. See endometrium below.

The Endometrium: The endometrium (or uterine
lining) is a layer of uterus in which a fertilized egg will implant

The Cervix: Situated between the vagina and
womb, sperm must pass through the cervix (or cervical canal) in order to pass
into the uterus. During a woman’s fertile time, the cervix produces “fertile”
cervical fluids that promote sperm movement and longevity. During non-fertile
times of the month, the cervix may produce “non-fertile” mucus to
protect the uterus from infection.

Hormone Graph
Hormone Changes and
Ovulation
: This graph sums up what is going on in your body, hormonally-speaking,
as you move through your monthly cycle. This representation presents an average
twenty-eight day cycle with the ovulation-day taking place on day-fourteen.
The reality, for many women, is a longer or shorter cycle, and when it comes
to the menstrual cycle (as with most other categories of life) “average”
should not be equated with “normal”. Cycle lengths (and ovulation-dates)
do different substantially among various women.

The color of the
graph
indicates changes in body temperature due hormone fluctuation
– from the cool stage of the ovulatory cycle (days 1-14) to the warm stage of
the luteal phase (days 15- 28). The cooler stage is dominated by the dominance
of estrogens (estradiol / purple line), while the
hot phase is usurped by progesterone (green line).
The former prepares the body for conception (thickens the endometrium with blood
vessel and tissues) while the latter warms the body and helps maintain a pregnancy
once a fertilized egg implants in the womb.

Also note the gray
line
– this represents your basal body temperature; your bbt thermal
shift typically becomes measurable approximately 24 hours after you ovulate.
Change in bbt temperature correlates with changes in progesterone levels, as
progesterone is the “causal hormone” of the thermal shift. By measuring
your daily basal temperature, you can determine when you ovulate during your
cycle.

Other significant hormonal
agents represented in the image include FSH (blue
line
), which stimulates the ovarian follicles (ova or eggs) to mature;
notice how it crests around the first week of the cycle. The most “radical”
of the hormones, so to speak, is LH – the red line
– which moves into action to help initiate ovulation; LH erodes the wall of
the ovarian follicle producing a “stigma” or hole through which the
ovum is released.

To summarize, FSH and estrogen
hormones are prominent during the first weeks of the cycle, toning the uterus
and helping the follicle develop and the ovum mature. Near midcycle, LH is released
to help stimulate ovulation. On day fourteen (on the graph), ovulation takes
place and the egg bursts into the fallopian tube and is swept toward the uterus.
At this juncture, the follicle becomes the corpus luteum – whose duty it is
to produce progesterone. With the rise of this hormone in your system, your
body warms and you are able to detect a thermal shift using a basal thermometer.

Helpful TTC Notes
for Looking at Ovulation and Your Menstrual Cycle

Fertility:
Once you ovulate, the egg must be fertilized within about twelve to twenty-four
hours. This is the maximum post-ovulatory life span of the ovum. However, you
are technically “fertile” in the days prior to ovulation as well,
due to the fact sperm may survive a number of days in the womb (waiting). Most
fertility experts advise that you “time lovemaking” for the handful
of days right before you ovulate, as well as the expected day of.

Timing Lovemaking:
To anticipate when you ovulate, there are many predictive methods – from using
a basal thermometer (discussed above) and keeping an ovulation calendar to using
tests that track the various hormonal surges represented in the chart. For example,
Lh (red line) offers a very clear and sudden surge that can be detected through
urine ovulation tests, letting you know that your ovulation-day is imminent.

How often?
In most cases, only one egg is discharged each cycle. In the case of fraternal
twins, of course, more than one ovum can be discharged. There is conflicting
data regarding ovulating more than one a month. Most fertility experts agree
that women can expect to ovulate once per month, or menstrual cycle, typically
near the midpoint.

Cycle Regularity:
There are many factors that can alter the regularity of the menstrual cycle
and therefore the regularity of an ovulation-date. These include changes in
the balance of hormones, illnesses, travel, stress, extended bouts of insomnia,
dietary factors, etc. Some women have clockwork cycles, but many do not. Cycle
irregularity or changes in cycle length are common. If you are concerned about
cycle regularity, it is advised to discuss the matter with your doctor.

Pregnancy:
Once an egg is discharged, conception occurs when a single sperm fertilizes
the egg. At that moment you have conceived. For a successful pregnancy to occur,
the fertilized egg must implant in the uterine lining. This typically takes
place, on average, about a week after you ovulate. The technical term is “implantation”.

Missed Periods:
If you become pregnant, your progesterone levels will stay high and
you will not menstruate (e.g., you will miss your period). If pregnancy is not
achieved, the corpus luteum stops producing the hormone and menstruation follows
– you have your period – and the next cycle begins.

Ouch.
Can you feel when you ovulate? Some women do. But not all. Ovulation pains occur
in some women as sharp pains in the lower abdomen.

Spotting:
It’s unlikely that ovulation will cause spotting, though in some rarer cases
it is classified as a sign. It’s possible to experience light, brownish spotting
shortly after you ovulate. This should not be confused with implantation bleeding,
which is a more likely occurrence (and pregnancy symptom) which takes place
a week or so after you ovulate.

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