How many ovaries does a woman have?

The body structure of women is particularly complex, especially the reproductive system. However, due to some bad living habits and irregular diet of women, they are prone to some gynecological diseases. Some gynecological diseases often require surgical treatment, which will affect women's fertility and physical and mental health. Among them, the female ovaries are a relatively important reproductive system. Let's take a look at how many ovaries women have.

How many ovaries does a woman have?

There is one ovary on each side, which is gray-red, tough, flat and oval in shape, with a convex surface. The surface is smooth in young girls, but after sexual maturity, the surface often becomes uneven due to the enlargement of the follicles and scarring after ovulation. The size and shape of the ovaries also vary with age. In the same person, the left and right ovaries are not the same, and the left side is usually larger than the right side. The average length of an adult ovary is 2.93cm on the left and 2.88cm on the right; the average width is 1.48cm on the left and 1.38cm on the right; the average thickness is 0.82cm on the left and 0.83cm on the right; the weight of the ovary is 3-4g. The ovaries begin to shrink gradually between the ages of 35 and 45, and after menopause, they can gradually shrink to 1/2 of their original volume. The size of an adult's ovary is usually about the size of a person's thumb. Due to repeated ovulation in the ovaries, the follicles rupture and shrink, and are replaced by connective tissue, so their essence gradually becomes hard.

Ovarian function

Reproductive function

Except during pregnancy and lactation, the ovaries of women of childbearing age undergo cyclical changes and release eggs once a month, with ovulation usually occurring on the 14th to 16th day of the menstrual cycle. The egg cell is secreted and discharged from the follicles in the ovary. Among the development of several follicles, usually only one matures, so only one egg matures every month. The egg survives for several hours after ovulation. At this time, if the egg enters the fallopian tube and meets the sperm, it will be fertilized and become a pregnant egg (fertilized egg).

The ovaries are like a "small garden" inside the mother's body. It was formed when the mother was young, and there are many "seeds" hidden inside it. As the mother grows up, the "seeds" also grow slowly. What do the "seeds" rely on to grow? The environment around the “garden” – The environment inside the mother’s body is very important, just like a real “garden”, without good climate and air quality, the “seeds” cannot thrive. Therefore, the mother's health can ensure the good quality of the "seeds".

In addition, the "garden" needs to be fertilized regularly. The estrogen and progesterone (or progesterone) secreted by the ovaries are equivalent to this fertilizer. The main function of estrogen is to promote the growth and development of female reproductive organs and the appearance of female secondary sexual characteristics; the main function of progesterone is to promote the continued growth and development of the endometrium on the basis of the action of estrogen, preparing for the implantation of the fertilized egg in the uterus. Therefore, only with moderate fertilization and watering can the "seeds" grow better.

The "seed" grew and matured, and finally one day it left the "garden" that gave birth to it and went to another place - the fallopian tube, waiting for the arrival of sperm.

Oocytes (eggs) are produced by follicles, which is one of the functions of the ovaries. When a baby girl is born, each ovary contains about 750,000 primordial follicles. As she ages, most of the primordial follicles gradually disintegrate and disappear. Starting from puberty, a certain number of follicles grow and develop each month, but usually only one follicle matures (in about 28 days) and ovulates. The diameter of a mature follicle can reach about 1 cm and protrude from the surface of the ovary.

Through the introduction of how many ovaries a woman has, we all know that some women have gynecological diseases and have to remove one ovary. This is often the most worrying issue for female friends, who are afraid of affecting their fertility. In fact, there is still a chance of fertility after removing one ovary, which will allow many women to put aside some concerns. However, they must maintain an optimistic attitude, adjust their living habits in time, and ensure regular work and rest time.