The ovaries produce oocytes.
An oocyte is a female germ cell that is generated in an ovary . This is a phase of the development of the egg , when it has not yet matured. The oocyte arises as part of the gametogenesis process that develops in women and female animals.
Knowing the etymological origin of the term leads us to analyze that it emanates from Greek. Specifically, it is the result of the sum of two components of said language: oo , which can be translated as "egg" , and kytos , which is equivalent to "cell" .
From the oocyte to the ovum
The procedure begins with a primordial germ cell that transforms into an oogonium through meiosis . This oogonium, after oogenesis , will become an oocyte that will finally lead to a mature egg cell . The menstrual cycle causes these eggs to be released from the ovaries every 28 days from puberty to menopause.
The oocyte, which is also called an oocyte or oocyte , is therefore a female cell that is on the way to becoming a mature egg. This type of cell has a good level of cytoplasm that allows it to contribute to cellular nutrition at the beginning of development.
In the event of a shortage of oocytes, an assisted fertilization method can be used to achieve reproduction.
Reserve depletion
It is important to note that the number of oocytes that a woman has is already defined before her birth, since it is established in fetal development. As the years go by, the woman will lose oocytes in a phenomenon known as atresia . Menstruation causes the oocyte to develop and, in turn, be lost: upon reaching 35 years of age, the woman will have about 10% of the cells with which she was born, a circumstance that makes fertilization more complicated to specify and the health risks for the unborn child increase.
For this reason, it is established that when an older woman wants to become pregnant, it is, in most cases, necessary for her to undergo a gynecological study. Because? Because her reserve of eggs capable of giving shape to a baby in perfect health may have been exhausted.
Thus, if you undergo this analysis, in a clinic or medical center, it is usual to have a chromosomal study and even a polar body biopsy performed.
The result obtained in these tests may determine that it is necessary for the woman in question to undergo in vitro fertilization if she wants to have a baby. For this, medical professionals, before starting the process, will take into account factors such as ovarian reserve and also the relevant ovarian stimulation .
In this way, it is when the doctor who directs the treatment will be able to know what is the most suitable time to carry out fertilization; that is, when there are more guarantees that it will be a success. In this sense, it must also be stated that fertilization can be of two fundamental types: conventional or intracytoplasmic microinjection of sperm . The latter is more complex but offers great effectiveness results.