Follicular Phase

The follicular phase is the longest phase of

your menstrual cycle. It lasts from 14 to 21
days. During the follicular phase, your ovaries
house a developing egg they will later release
during ovulation. The end of your follicular
phase is a particularly fertile period, when your
odds of getting pregnant increase if you have
sex.

What is the follicular phase of the

menstrual cycle?
The follicular phase refers to that part of your
menstrual cycle when an egg matures in your
ovaries. It’s part of an ongoing process in your
body during your reproductive years when
hormones activate changes in your body that
make it possible for you to become pregnant.

Your menstrual cycle consists of two phases:

the follicular phase and the luteal phase.
Menstruation (your period) and ovulation are
important events during your cycle that
correspond with each phase.

During menstruation, or your period, you

shed your uterus lining (endometrium)
through your vagina. The follicular phase
begins on the Grst day you menstruate. It
lasts until ovulation, when one of your
ovaries releases a mature egg.

During the follicular phase, Huid-Glled sacs

in your ovaries called follicles house
immature eggs. One of these follicles, the
dominant follicle, houses an egg that’s
bigger and healthier than the rest. The
follicular phase is the longest phase of
your menstrual cycle.

During ovulation, your ovary releases the

egg that matured during the follicular
phase. It begins its journey to your fallopian
tubes. Ovulation marks the end of the
follicular phase and the beginning of the
luteal phase.

During the luteal phase, the dominant

follicle that released the mature egg
changes into a structure called the corpus
luteum. The corpus luteum produces
important pregnancy hormones. If you
don’t get pregnant, the corpus luteum will
disappear, and you’ll shed your uterus lining
(menstruation).

With menstruation, the cycle repeats.

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What happens during the follicular

phase of the menstrual cycle?
You’re born with about a million eggs. This
reserve declines as you grow older. Once you
start menstruating, your body begins a process
of maturing these eggs. Only a select few fully
mature over your lifetime. During the follicular
phase of your menstrual cycle, around 11 to 20
eggs begin developing, but only one matures
completely.

Hormones in your brain and your ovaries

regulate the changes in your body that make
this process possible.

1. Your pituitary gland releases follicle-

stimulating hormone (FSH). A part of your
brain called your hypothalamus controls
your pituitary gland. Your pituitary gland
helps your body make the hormones it
needs to regulate important processes.
The FSH from your pituitary gland
activates your ovaries to start producing
follicles, the Huid-Glled sacs where your
eggs can mature.

2. A dominant follicle forms. A single follicle,

called the dominant follicle, starts to
develop more quickly than the other
follicles in your ovaries. As the dominant
follicle matures, so does the egg inside
that will eventually be released when you
ovulate.

3. The dominant follicle releases more

estrogen into your body. The increased
estrogen thickens your uterus lining so
that a fertilized egg (embryo) can implant
there. This stage is sometimes called the
proliferative phase.

4. The increased estrogen triggers a

decrease in FSH. Your pituitary gland
responds to the increase in estrogen by
decreasing the amount of FSH it produces.
This decrease causes the other follicles to
begin to wither away and reabsorb into
your body. Meanwhile, the egg inside the
dominant follicle reaches full maturity.

Toward the end of the follicular phase, high

estrogen levels trigger your pituitary gland to
release a surge of luteinizing hormone (LH),
the hormone associated with the luteal phase.
LH activates the mature egg to escape the
follicle and the ovary (ovulation).

What is the normal time range for

the follicular phase?
The average menstrual cycle lasts from 28 to
35 days. The follicular phase ranges from 14 to
21 days. The luteal phase lasts about 14 days.
Unlike the luteal phase, which stays fairly
consistent, the length of your follicular phase
may vary at different stages of your life.

The length of your follicular phase depends on

how long it takes the dominant follicle to form
a fully matured egg.

Long follicular phase

Having a long follicular phase doesn’t mean

you’re less likely to become pregnant. A long
follicular phase most likely means that your
menstrual cycle is longer, too. You can have a
long follicular phase for a variety of reasons:

It’s just your body’s normal timetable.

You’re taking birth control that’s

lengthening your follicular phase.

You have a vitamin D deGciency.

Short follicular phase

A short follicular phase could indicate that you

may have trouble becoming pregnant. It’s
common for your follicular phase to shorten
(for example, from 14 days on average to 10
days) as you approach menopause.
Menopause signals a shift in your life when
you no longer get your period.

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Starting in your late 30s, your FSH levels may

still increase during your follicular phase, but
your LH levels may not spike as they did
previously. As a result, the follicle may mature
faster than the egg inside and release it too
soon. These eggs may not be viable for
pregnancy.

Can you get pregnant during the

follicular phase?
Yes. You have the greatest chance of
becoming pregnant if you have intercourse
during the Gve days leading up to ovulation and
on the day you ovulate. This timetable provides
an ideal window for an egg and sperm to meet.
Ovulation calendars can help you keep track of
your cycle.

What are the symptoms of the

follicular phase?
Your body temperature at rest provides clues
about the various phases of your menstrual
cycle. Knowing when you’re in the follicular
phase can be useful if you’re trying to become
pregnant.

Take your temperature each morning at the

same time, right after you wake. During the
follicular phase, your temperature should range
between 97 and 97.6 degrees Fahrenheit. It
should increase during ovulation and remain
elevated when you’re in the luteal phase.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Knowing when the various phases of your

menstrual cycle are occurring can help you
plan the best time to try for a baby. You have
the best chance of becoming pregnant in the
days surrounding ovulation, including the end
of the follicular phase. Speak to a healthcare
provider or a fertility specialist about the best
strategies for tracking your cycle and
symptoms to increase your likelihood of
becoming pregnant.

Medically Reviewed

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical

professional on 08/08/2022.
Learn more about our editorial process.

References

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