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What Is Ovulation?

Posted on Thu, 9 Oct 2014

Question: This is a question in relation to pregnsncy and ovulation. I have been told that it's not possible for girls at 2,3,4,5 to fall pregnant naturally as they have not ovulated. What I would like to know is exactly what ovulation is and why this allows for a girl to become fertile but infertile before a first ovulation? And secondly why can girls I.e not become pregnant before 5 years of age ?

Answered by Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
MATURATION OF GONADAL AXIS.

Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for your query.

Let me try to explain you in the easiet way possible.
To ovulate in a girl, there are some conditions and the main of them is maturation of HYPOTHALAMIC-PITUITARY-GONADAL AXIS.

Maturation of this axis usually occurs after 7 years of age in girls, this is the minimum age of puberty.

The integrating center of the reproductive hormonal axis is the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is the site of production of the hormone gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) which is transported to the adenohypophysis of the pituitary gland by a short portal venous system where it stimulates the synthesis and release of gonadotropic hormones (luteinizing hormone-LH and follicle stimulating hormone-FSH)(these are produced in ovaries).

Both neural input from the central nervous system and humoral factors from the ovaries modulate the secretion of GnRH.

So, this pathway leads to secretion of hormones(FSH and LH) which will signal the ovaries to ovulate(produce egg/ova) and will start the menstrual cycle which is the sign of puberty.

As you know to become pregnant a sperm(from males) and a egg/ova(from females) is required. If a girl doesn't ovulate(no egg/ova) there is no chance of pregnancy.

Rarely puberty occur at ages below 7 and this is pathologic (precocious puberty).

Hope I have clarified your question.

All the best

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (56 minutes later)

So medically a girl below 5 cannot get pregnsnt ?

Answered by Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (7 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Yes,a girl below 5 years cant conceive

Detailed Answer:
Hi again!

If the girl haven't periods there is no chance that a girl can conceive(be pregnant).
After she have periods she can ovulate than she can conceive.

All the best

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Follow up: Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (40 hours later)

So ovulation would not occur before 5 years in general ? Correct ? And secondly , ovulation will only occur after a pubertal changes have taken place in the female body ? This happens around 7 at the earliest ? Is this correct ? And ovulation will never occur before the body has matured, I.e pubic And underarm hair, breast size increases etc ? Would you say this is all correct ?

Answered by Dr. Vjollce Mbiarra (11 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
All that you writte are correct

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.

Ovulation don't occur before pubertal changes .
And ovulation occur only after periods take place .
Periods take place only after pubertal changes(pubic and underarm hair,breast size increased)
All what you've written is correct.
You know so much details about puberty.

All the best

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari