Fertility, Did You Know?

What is the ovarian reserve?

The ovarian reserve refers to the number of oocytes (eggs) present in the ovaries. It is a crucial element of female fertility.

Unlike men, whose bodies constantly renew sperm from puberty, women have a predefined number of ovarian follicles and thus oocytes from birth.

This initial stock of oocytes, called the ovarian reserve, is formed during intrauterine life and then continuously decreases until menopause.
Throughout a woman's life, only 300 to 400 follicles will lead to ovulation.

How does the number of ovarian follicles evolve?

• 5-7 million at 5 months of gestation

• 1 to 2 million at birth

• 400,000 at puberty

• 25,000 at age 35

• 10,000 at age 40

• 1,000 at menopause

And for men?

From puberty, men begin to produce sperm, but its quality decreases with age.
Several million sperm are present in one ejaculation.