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I decided on a career as a doctor very early. Probably aged 5 whilst trying to intubate my sister with a snorkel on holiday! At medical school, I was interested in women’s health from the start and particularly, the amazing anatomical and physical changes that occur during pregnancy. As a postgraduate, I chose to train in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
The term ovulation implies release of an egg from the egg sac (follicle) of the ovary. This usually occurs mid-cycle i.e. day 14 of a 28 day cycle, but the day of ovulation can vary from month to month. Generally, women who have regular periods are ovulating, however, this becomes more dysfunctional and irregular as a woman gets older.
This would vary depending on individual circumstances. Generally if a couple has been trying to conceive for more than a year it is likely that there is a problem contributing to their difficulties, nevertheless, 50% of couples who haven’t conceived after one year will conceive if they wait another year. It is for this reason, that the UK’s National Institute for clinical excellence (NICE) recommends waiting 2 years before undergoing treatment for fertility problems.
When a female is in her mother’s womb she has about 7 million eggs during the fifth month of pregnancy. However a significant reduction in this number takes place resulting in only 2 million eggs left in the ovaries at birth.