![\"Menstruation](\"https:\/\/resolve.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/bb-plugin\/cache\/GettyImages-1586656383-circle.jpg\" "\\"Women")
\nA woman is born with all of the eggs she will ever have. Each month a woman who is ovulating normally will drop one egg, this process is called ovulation.<\/p>\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n
As the eggs are formed, thin layers of cells (granulose cells) grow around them. The granulose cells and the oocyte are contained within a follicle. The follicle supports the egg it encloses for 50 years or more, providing it with nourishment but preventing it from maturing. The great majority of follicles and eggs never grow to maturity and ovulation. Follicles begin to develop, but if conditions for continued growth are not optimal, the eggs lose nourishment and die. The follicle cells then are absorbed back into the ovary (atresia.) Atresia continues throughout a woman’s life until all of the follicles are gone and she enters menopause.<\/p>\n
During the hours leading up to ovulation when the mature egg is released from the dominant follicle, some important processes begin:<\/p>\n