Follicular development involves the maturation of the ovum, hormone secretion, ovum ovulation, and the changes in the ovaries to prepare oocyte for fertilization.
In the context of oogenesis and follicular development, there are approximately 5 million oocytes at birth, 1 million oocytes at puberty, and 100,000 – 500,000 oocytes at menopause, with others degenerating.
Factors that influence oogenesis/follicular development include nutrition, high caffeine and alcohol consumption, high fat diet, age, stress, cigarette smoking, chronic exposure to environmental pollution, and others.