Follicles - Anyone know much?

[Mamamirfy]

Hi Girls, My hubby and I have been trying to conceive for just over two years. I had blocked tubes, those have been unplugged and it's been a couple months of trying (I'm very hopeful for this cycle). Anyway, my fertilty Dr told me I had nine follicles. He said that was great but seeing as we had so much to discuss we didn't get into it really. Can anyone explain to me why that's great? Does having 9 follicles give me more of a chance to have multiples? Both of my grandmothers were twins so I'm curious if many follicles cause you to hyperovulate or just that having 9 follicles means is good because it's not zero. Any help would be great!! Thanks ladies. Baby dust to all!!!

 

[TrixieLox]

Hmmm, that's interesting, I might be wrong but I was told 12 follicles is 'normal', anything below is below par. I had 7 follicles and was told this was of concern but it shouldn't be a major issue.

Maybe I'm getting confused, maybe someone else can shed light? If you google it, it definitely says below 12 isn't great and my consultant said this too but he said not to worry.

 

[MummyIwanabe]

I'm always interested to know about follicles. Its confusing!

I read that follicles grow and then within say those 7, one mature egg is released during Ovulation. The rest are then absorbed into the body and process repeats itself.

I don't know what the norm is, last time I had 15 but this time I don't know. I've tried googling it a bit but its a bit mind numbing!

I don't think it means you get multiples, its just your bodies way of releasing one. follicles really come into play when you're doing IVF as the stims make them produce lots of eggs in teh follicles so lots of them produce eggs.

 

[Mamamirfy]

I didn't explain that very well. It was my understanding that I had nine follicles on each side. Oooops. Does that make it better? Or are we "supposed" to have more than 12 on each side. Ahhhh, sometimes I wish I was Dr, so I didn't spend my free time googling fertility questions and second guessing everything told to me. Thanks for your help!

 

[brumbar]

18 follicles is very good!!!! I had 15 the month they checked and they were quite happy!One follicle is usually bigger and takes over-
You'll release one egg from the dominant follicle, rarely women have 2 mature eggs at the same time! the rest of the follies/eggs will die...
hope this helps

 

[Jolene]

Hi mamamirfy, I thought it matters more what size they are. Did he measure them? Last year I had two mature follies that resulted in twins and that was from only about 12 follies in total.

Good luck hun. What's the next step?

 

[Mamamirfy]

Jolene - I can't remember if he measured them. It was about a year ago he had told me all this. It took months to actually get in to get tubes unplugged - but they're free and clear. This will be our last month to try on our own. If we get a BFN next week, I'll be going back to the Dr to start discussing IUI and hopefully get that started for the next cycle. Fingers crossed it doesn't come to that. Be much nicer to see a BFP on mother's Day!

 

[Jolene]

Ooh I'm testing mother's day too. Fx for you, perhaps we'll be bump buddies, lol

 

[Mamamirfy]

That would be great! I took out the garbage today and nearly got sick....not sure if that's my mind playing tricks on me, it's an extrememly EARLY preg symptom or if I waited a day too long to take out the garbage haha.

 

[fawkesymomma]

Mummy you are right. If you aren't on clomid or other meds, then you have several follicles develop. In a normal cycle one follicle will start getting larger and then 'win'; it becomes the one to actually develop into an oocyte and get ovulated. The others will get resorbed into the ovary and are gone forever. It is possible to have more than one follicle mature and release an egg, and that would be fraternal twins (or triplets, quads, etc). If only one egg is released and then splits, those are identical twins. I am not sure about this, but I have heard that fraternal twins can be inherited from parents, but not identical. HTH!

 

[Mamamirfy]

Yes, identical twins are a "fluke" because it's when the egg splits there's no control over that while the gene for fraternal twins can be inherited. You have fraternal twins when you hyperovulate (release more than one egg per cycle). Both of my Grandmothers were fraternal twins. So I think I have a pretty good chance....just wasn't sure what the amount of follicles meant. 1 or 2 babies I'll be over the moooooooon.