Britannica Sources used in this answer

How long can an ovarian follicle remain dormant before developing?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Detailed cross-sectional illustration of a human ovary showing the stages of follicle development, ovulation, and corpus luteum formation, with labeled structures including primordial, primary, secondary, and mature follicles, a ruptured follicle releasing an ovum, and corpus luteum and albicans. An inset at the bottom shows the ovary's location in the female reproductive system. — ovary The steps of ovulation, beginning with a dormant primordial follicle that grows and matures and is eventually released from the ovary into the fallopian tube.

An ovarian follicle can remain in a period of dormancy for many years before it is stimulated to grow and mature. In humans, some follicles may remain dormant for as long as 40 years before they eventually mature, while others degenerate without ever developing.12

Once a follicle is activated and begins the process of development, it takes approximately four months to reach maturity. During a woman's reproductive life, only a small fraction of the thousands of follicles present at birth will undergo this maturation process.23