Question

The dropping levels of estrogen and progesterone seem to be the cause of the onset of menopause and its symptoms. What is the approximate number of primordial follicles in the ovary of a woman of age 50?

Answer 1

By age 50, a woman may have very few or even no primordial follicles left, contributing to the onset of menopause. Hormonal changes, particularly the decline in estrogen and progesterone levels, are due to the decreased number and ovarian follicle insensitivity to hormones like FSH and LH. The timing of menopause can vary and is affected by various biological and environmental factors.

Step-by-step explanation:

By the age of 50, a woman is generally approaching menopause, a stage marked by the cessation of menstruation and the end of reproductive fertility. This transition into menopause involves a significant reduction in the number of primordial follicles within the ovaries. While the exact number can vary widely between individuals, studies suggest that by the age of 50, many women may have very few or even no primordial follicles remaining. This depletion of follicles is primarily due to atresia, a process through which follicles diminish over time.

The hormonal changes associated with menopause, particularly the decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone, result from the declining number and sensitivity of follicles to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH and LH levels increase due to decreased inhibin production, but the follicles fail to respond adequately, which leads to a decrease in estrogen production and the onset of menopausal symptoms.

The average age of menopause is around 52 years, but it can normally occur anytime between the ages of 45 to 55. Factors such as health, lifestyle, and genetic predisposition can influence the timing of menopause and the age at which a woman may experience a decline in ovarian follicle count.

Answer 2

Less than 1000

Step-by-step explanation:

Approximately at the age of 50, the number of follicles decreases significantly, a situation that causes the lose of the ability of the ovary to cycle normally, so steroid levels decrease. The follicles have the function of containing the oocytes, a small number of these follicles is an insufficient number to maintain the cyclic hormonal process necessary for menstruation.