A woman’s egg count changes significantly throughout her lifetime. Here are the key facts about a woman’s egg supply:
Egg Count Throughout Life
Fetal Development
At 20 weeks gestation, a female fetus has about 6-7 million eggs.
At Birth
A baby girl is born with approximately 1-2 million eggs.
Childhood
The number of eggs decreases rapidly before puberty, with over 10,000 eggs dying each month.
Puberty
By the time a girl reaches puberty, she has about 300,000-500,000 eggs remaining.
20s and Early 30s
In her 20s, a woman typically has 150,000-300,000 eggs. By her early 30s, this decreases to about 100,000-150,000 eggs.
Late 30s
At age 37, the average woman has around 25,000 eggs left.
40s
By age 40, the egg count drops to approximately 5,000-10,000.
Menopause
At menopause, fewer than 1,000 eggs remain.
Key Points About Egg Supply
- Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have and do not produce new eggs during their lifetime.
- Only about 400–500 eggs are released during a woman’s reproductive years, typically one per menstrual cycle.
- Egg quality and quantity both decline with age, affecting fertility.
- The rate of egg loss varies among women and can be influenced by factors like genetics and certain health conditions.
Fertility Implications
- A woman’s fertility peaks in her mid-20s, with a 25-30% chance of conceiving per cycle.
- Fertility begins to decline around age 32 and drops more rapidly after 37.
- By age 40, the chance of conceiving per cycle decreases to about 5%.
Understanding your egg count can help you make informed decisions about family planning and fertility treatments. However, it’s important to remember that egg quantity is just one factor in fertility, and women with lower egg counts can still conceive naturally.
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