Follicle Size on Day 9: Ideal Growth Chart & Best Size to Conceive

What are ovarian follicles?

Ovarian follicles are small, fluid-filled sacs present in the ovaries containing immature eggs. Each follicle has an immature egg surrounded by cells that support the egg’s development. Ovarian follicles play an important role in the menstrual cycle and fertility because they mature to release eggs during ovulation. Ovaries contain a large number of follicles in different development stages. But, only a small fraction of follicles mature and release eggs during each menstrual cycle.

What Happens Till Day 9 Of The Menstrual Cycle?

A normal menstrual cycle lasts about 28-32 days, though it varies from woman to woman. By day 9, follicles grow due to the release of follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland. Each follicle has an immature egg. Several follicles start developing during each menstrual cycle, but only one becomes a dominant follicle to release an egg during ovulation. Doctors advise an ultrasound on day 9 in a natural pregnancy and fertility treatments to track follicular growth. Early monitoring helps to predict when ovulation will start, the size of the follicle, and the best time for intercourse or infertility procedures like IUI or IVF.

Day-By-Day Follicular Growth Chart

Follicles grow 1-2mm daily under normal circumstances. This chart can help you understand how follicles grow during the menstrual cycle:

What If The Follicle Size Is Smaller?

If follicle size is smaller than 10mm on day 9, it may indicate slow follicular growth, hormonal imbalances, low ovarian reserve, or PCOS. Smaller follicular size can result from stress, poor sleep, or nutritional deficiencies. Doctors may prescribe fertility medications, hormonal tests, and lifestyle changes to improve follicle size.

What If The Follicle Size Is Larger?

A follicle larger than 16-18mm on day 9 indicates early or premature ovulation, a short follicular phase, and a high response to stimulation medications. Doctors will advise timed intercourse immediately and may plan a trigger injection in fertility treatments.

Best Follicle Size To Conceive

When the follicle is fully mature and ready to release the egg, it is the best time to conceive. The ideal size for ovulation and pregnancy is 18-24 mm. Ovulation occurs when a follicle reaches this size. The follicle releases the egg once it ruptures. The life span of an egg is only 12-24 hours, but a sperm can live inside the female reproductive system for 3-5 days. Therefore, the best time to conceive is 3-4 days before ovulation starts until the day of ovulation.

Factors Affecting Follicle Size

Many factors affect the growth and development of ovarian follicles:

• Age is the most critical factor because the quality and quantity of follicles decline naturally with age.
• A poor diet can also affect follicle growth. If your diet lacks important nutrients, the follicle growth will be affected.
• Hormonal imbalances, such as those in polycystic ovarian disease, can lead to the development of small follicles.
• Lack of exercise may cause slow follicular growth and development due to an impaired blood supply to the reproductive organs.
• Taking too much mental stress can imbalance the hormones that can affect follicle growth.
• Excessive alcohol intake and smoking can also impact the quality and quantity of eggs during the reproductive age.
• High FSH levels indicate that your ovaries are not working efficiently and may have an underlying cause.
• Women with endometriosis may have poor-quality eggs or an impact on follicle growth.
• Certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs and long-term use of NSAIDs, can also affect follicle growth.

Why Are Follicles Important For Getting Pregnant?

Follicles are essential because:

Larger follicles indicate the egg's quality. Follicle size can also indicate how healthy the egg is, so if there is a larger follicle size, this suggests that the eggs will likely fertilise better and therefore have a higher chance of resulting in a pregnancy.

By measuring follicle size, physicians can confirm when an egg is ready to ovulate and be fertilised.

How To Increase Follicle Size?

Natural ways to increase follicle size

By adopting a healthy lifestyle, women can be more likely to achieve good overall reproductive health, which may support healthier follicle development. There are many natural methods women can use to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

• Drink plenty of water and avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages.
• Eat a variety of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, lean meats and whole grains, including food sources rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, protein and fibre.
• Practice relaxation methods such as yoga or meditation to help reduce stress levels.
• Improve blood flow to the reproductive organs by doing moderate exercise.

Medical ways to increase follicle size

Medicines include hormones such as luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone that are administered under the guidance of a fertility expert.

Monitoring Follicle Size During Fertility Treatment

• Doctors monitor the follicle size closely during IVF or IUI treatment through ultrasound scans.
• Starting around day 8 of your menstrual cycle, the doctor will measure the follicle size every 1-3 days.
• Once the follicle size reaches the desired size of 18-20mm, the doctor will give you a trigger shot of hCG to induce ovulation.
• In IVF, the doctor will schedule egg retrieval 35-36 hours after the trigger shot, and in IUI, insemination is planned around 24-36 hours after the trigger shot.

Conclusion

It is important to understand follicle size, especially on day 9 during a normal menstrual cycle. Follicle size gives an estimate to plan a pregnancy. Whether you try to conceive naturally or through fertility treatment, knowing the follicle size can help you plan things perfectly. The right follicle size is important because a healthy and mature egg can get fertilised quickly by a sperm and can help to achieve success. You must consult with a fertility expert if you fail to get pregnant after trying for a year without success. A doctor can understand or find the right cause of infertility to give you a personalised and well-planned treatment.