Women's egg count and fertility life cycle

Fertility Specialist Kristin Bendikson, MD, explains how many eggs a woman typically has a different stages during her fertility life cycle
Women's Egg Count Through The Fertility Life Cycle
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Women's egg count and fertility life cycle

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The most eggs a woman will have in her ovaries is actually when her mother was pregnant with her at about five months of gestation. At that point, a woman is going to have about 4 million to 6 million eggs in her ovaries. By the time she is born, that number is already going to decrease between 2-3 million. By the time a woman reaches puberty, the number has already decreased to 400,000. When a woman reaches menopause, the average age is 51, the eggs are gone. A woman doesn't have 400,000 periods between the age of menarche and menopause. Menarche is when you first get your periods. You don't have 400,000 periods, but you lose about 400,000 eggs. This happens regardless of if you are on the birth control pill, if your pregnant, if you've had your uterus removed, or even if you've gone through in vitro fertilization and had lots of eggs harvested. We don't understand why some women lose their eggs faster or whether they are born with more less eggs because that will affect their fertility potential.

Fertility Specialist Kristin Bendikson, MD, explains how many eggs a woman typically has a different stages during her fertility life cycle

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Kristin Bendikson, MD

Fertility Specialist

Dr. Kristin A. Bendikson joined USC Fertility after finishing her obstetrics and gynecology residency at Harvard Medical School and completing her subspecialty training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the internationally renowned Center for Reproductive Medicine and Infertility at Cornell University Medical College. During that time, she received intensive training in ovulation induction, in vitro fertilization and fertility surgery, as well as the management of other disorders including recurrent pregnancy loss, endometriosis, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Kristin received her undergraduate degree from UCLA and attended the prestigious New York University School of Medicine. Her extensive training and years in practice have prepared her to deal with the most difficult and challenging cases.

Kristin holds the title of Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the USC Keck School of Medicine. She is the currently the principal investigator of several research projects including the study of zygote intrafallopian tube transfer for women of advanced reproductive age, aging of the uterine endometrium and vitamin D and its role in infertility. It is her goal to provide the highest quality care for her patients and to help them fulfill their desire of having a healthy baby. In addition, she strives to guide her patients through what can be a trying and difficult journey by providing them with the support and personal attention they need.

Fertility expert, teacher, and researcher, Kristin is also a married mother of two. She resides in West Los Angeles with her family.

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Transcription: 
The most eggs a woman will have in her ovaries is actually when her mother was pregnant with her at about five months of gestation. At that point, a woman is going to have about 4 million to 6 million eggs in her ovaries. By the time she is born, that number is already going to decrease between 2-3 million. By the time a woman reaches puberty, the number has already decreased to 400,000. When a woman reaches menopause, the average age is 51, the eggs are gone. A woman doesn't have 400,000 periods between the age of menarche and menopause. Menarche is when you first get your periods. You don't have 400,000 periods, but you lose about 400,000 eggs. This happens regardless of if you are on the birth control pill, if your pregnant, if you've had your uterus removed, or even if you've gone through in vitro fertilization and had lots of eggs harvested. We don't understand why some women lose their eggs faster or whether they are born with more less eggs because that will affect their fertility potential.