Every detail appears essential when you are trying to get pregnant, for example, your cycle, hormones, egg quality, and ovary size. Is ovary size a necessary factor for fertility to work correctly? Let’s explore this subject using knowledge from science and common sense.

What Is the Normal Size of an Ovary?

On both sides of the uterus are found ovaries, which are small and have an almond shape. Usually, the normal length of a woman’s ovary during reproductive years is around 3 to 5 cm, and its width is between 1.5 and 3 cm, while its thickness is around 1 to 1.5 cm. But the size of your menstrual cup may change during your cycle and also with things like age, hormones, and some health problems.

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The natural process of aging causes the ovaries to get smaller, and they may shrink a lot after menopause. Though this is a regular part of biology, being large alone does not show how much someone can reproduce.

Does Ovary Size Affect Fertility?

Still, this is not something that should be considered alone. The size of ovaries can give an idea of how many and how healthy the eggs are in a woman’s ovarian reserve. Usually, when ovaries are larger and contain many follicles, a woman is likely to have a greater ovarian reserve, but if the ovaries are small or look shrunken, it could be an indication of less reserve.

Still, how big the ovaries are doesn’t show the whole story. It needs to be examined with other major fertility indicators.

• The level of anti-Müllerian hormone
• The count of antral follicles (AFC)
• The concentration of FSH
• Ultrasound findings

The size of your ovaries does not decide whether or not you will become pregnant.

What Causes Small or Enlarged Ovaries?

Different things play different role in determining the size of a woman’s ovaries.

Hormonal Imbalances

If a person has PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), the ovaries may become bigger and contain several cysts, but low estrogen or early menopause can reduce their size.

Age-Related Changes

As a woman grows older, her ovaries shrink and do not function as well. After about 35, this process speeds up and is even clearer by the time you reach 40.

Surgical History or Medical Treatments

Ovarian cystectomy and chemotherapy can lower the size of the ovaries or harm their tissue, which may affect a woman’s ability to have children.

Genetic or Autoimmune Conditions

Some women are born with a smaller amount of eggs or have health problems in their ovaries that are caused by autoimmunity.

How Is Ovary Size Measured in Fertility Assessments?

A transvaginal ultrasound is usually used to check the size and structure of your ovaries. Usually, this test is performed at the beginning of your menstrual cycle and checks the antral follicle count (AFC), an essential sign of how many eggs are left in the ovaries.

When you are evaluating your fertility, ovarian size and the results of blood tests (AMH, FSH, LH, and estradiol) are used together to guide the plan of treatment, especially if you are going to use IUI or IVF.

Can You Improve Ovarian Health and Size?

Ovarian health can be supported even though genes and aging cannot be changed.

• Choose a diet that includes a lot of nutrients, antioxidants, omega-3s, and whole foods.
• Moderate your workout routine to keep the hormones in your body balanced.
• Don’t smoke because it leads to faster aging of the ovaries.
• Control your stress because too much cortisol in the body may disrupt hormone function.
• After consulting your doctor, you can consider using CoQ10, DHEA, or vitamin D as supplements.

Some patients are treated with hormones or fertility drugs to increase the number of follicles and improve the ovaries’ function for a while.

Conclusion: Size Matters, But It’s Not Everything

Ovary size can help explain some issues with fertility, but it’s only one factor to look at. What counts the most is if your ovaries are working correctly, your eggs are healthy, and you are generally healthy in terms of reproduction. If you are concerned about your fertility, consider all the factors and seek a personal consultation from a fertility doctor.

We realize that every woman’s experience with fertility is exceptional. Our team carefully uses various diagnostic tools to guide you and make sure you choose the right actions for parenthood.