Editing Ovulation (section)

=== Follicular phase ===
{{See also|Folliculogenesis}}

The [[follicular phase]] (or proliferative phase) is the phase of the menstrual cycle during which the [[ovarian follicles]] mature. The follicular phase lasts from the beginning of [[menstruation]] to the start of ovulation.<ref>{{cite book| last1 = Littleton | first1 = Lynna A. | last2 = Engebretson | first2 = Joan C. | name-list-style = vanc |title=Maternity Nursing Care |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=9781401811921 |page=195 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=nondhCqicAAC&pg=PA195 |access-date=2013-11-09 |date=2004-10-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last = Gupta | first = Ramesh C. | name-list-style = vanc |title= Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology |publisher=Academic Press |year=2011 |isbn=9780123820334 |page=22 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jGHRR32wz5MC&pg=PA22 |access-date=2013-11-09 }}</ref>

For ovulation to be successful, the ovum must be supported by the [[Corona radiata (embryology)|corona radiata]] and [[cumulus oophorus|cumulus oophorous]] [[granulosa cell]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012 |title=Cumulus Oophorus - an overview |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/veterinary-science-and-veterinary-medicine/cumulus-oophorus |access-date=2023-05-22 |website=sciencedirect.com}}</ref> The latter undergo a period of proliferation and mucification known as cumulus expansion. Mucification is the secretion of a [[hyaluronic acid]]-rich cocktail that disperses and gathers the cumulus cell network in a sticky matrix around the ovum. This network stays with the ovum after ovulation and has been shown to be necessary for fertilization.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://coveville.com/can-you-get-pregnant-after-ovulation/|title=Can You Get Pregnant after Ovulation?|website=coveville.com|access-date=3 Feb 2015|date=2015-02-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/296751.php |title= Fertilization: your pregnancy week by week|website=medicalnewstoday.com |access-date=15 Feb 2016 }}</ref>