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An antral or secondary follicle, also known as Graafian follicle and tertiary follicle, is an ovarian follicle during a certain latter stage of folliculogenesis. Definitions differ in where the shift into an antral follicle occurs in the staging of folliculogenesis, with some stating that it occurs when entering the secondary stage, [ 1 ] and ...
In addition, follicles that have formed an antrum are called antral follicles or Graafian follicles. Definitions differ in where this shift occurs in the staging given above, with some stating that it occurs when entering the secondary stage, [ 2 ] and others stating that it occurs when entering the tertiary stage.
The rise in FSH levels recruits five to seven tertiary-stage ovarian follicles (this stage follicle is also known as a Graafian follicle or antral follicle) for entry into the menstrual cycle. These follicles, that have been growing for the better part of a year in a process known as folliculogenesis, compete with each other for dominance. [5]
Transvaginal ultrasonography can be used to determine antral follicle count (AFC). This is an easy-to-perform and noninvasive method (but there may be some discomfort). Several studies show this test to be more accurate than basal FSH testing for older women (< 44 years of age) in predicting IVF outcome. [17]
Ovarian follicle activation can be defined as primordial follicles in the ovary moving from a quiescent (inactive) to a growing phase. The primordial follicle in the ovary is what makes up the “pool” of follicles that will be induced to enter growth and developmental changes that change them into pre-ovulatory follicles, ready to be released during ovulation.
Antral follicles are cells early in the process of developing from an oogonium into a mature oocyte. A physician may use a transvaginal ultrasound to visualize and count the number of antral follicles in each of a woman's ovaries in order to determine her ovarian reserve; however AFC is not predictive of embryo quality. [12]
The human ovary contains a population of primordial follicles. At 18–22 weeks post-conception, the female ovary contains its peak number of follicles (about 300,000 in the average case, but individual peak populations range from 35,000 to 2.5 million [3]). The size of the initial ovarian reserve is strongly influenced by genetics. [4]
The follicular antrum is the portion of an ovarian follicle filled with follicular fluid. Appearance of the follicular antrum during follicular maturation is the first sign that a follicle has reached the next stage of maturation. It has changed from a primary follicle to a secondary follicle.