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Ovarian follicle dominance is the process where one or more follicles are selected per cycle to ovulate.
In female mammals, each ovulatory cycle, or menstrual cycle in humans, a set number of ovarian follicles ovulate, each follicle releasing an egg that can be fertilised. If that female becomes pregnant, this is the maximum number of offspring she could have. The ovulated follicles come from a larger pool of growing follicles Follicle dominance results from competition between follicles from this growing pool, as only some will be selected for further development. These selected follicles are known as the dominant follicles. In humans, there is usually only one dominant follicle per cycle.
Understanding this system allows medical practitioners to manipulate this process in women in order to help those who have reduced fertility though assisted reproductive technologies. These treatments are able to help women with conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome who have reduced fertility be able to conceive. These techniques can also be used in animal conservation and agriculture.