What Does A 16*12 Follicle Size Indicate?

Posted on Thu, 1 Jan 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 1 Jan 2015 Answered on

Wed, 28 Jan 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : hello doctor ...
please tell me what is mean by 16*12 mm follicle.... ??

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (35 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
It means the growing egg in your ovary measures that much on day 12.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX,

Thanks for writing to us with your health concern.

This means that you have a growing egg in your ovary which measures 16 mm by 12 mm.
On cycle day 12, this is a good finding.
The egg normally grows at a rate of 1 - 2 mm per day, and ovulation generally occurs on day 14 of the cycle.
Ovulation occurs when the egg is atleast 18 - 20 mm in size.
If this is the size on cycle day 12, then by day 14, the egg should ripe for ovulation by that time.
So it is a normal finding.
All the best
Please feel free to discuss further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari

Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (6 hours later)

Hello docter...
can u please tell me what is difference between 14mm and 16 × 12mm follicle. .??? on day10 my follicle size was 14mm and on day12 it was 16×12mm. .??? reply pls.

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (33 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Dimensions are listed.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
16 mm by 12 mm is a two dimensional finding - length and width of the follicle.
14 mm is a single dimension.
On day 10, the follicle's largest dimension was 14 mm, and on day 12 it was 16 mm, so it is growing normally.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar