When we talk about ovarian reserve, we are referring to the number of eggs that a woman has at a given time that are capable of generating embryos. It is a factor that determines her fertility and the chances of achieving pregnancy.
With age, ovarian reserve decreases both in quantity and quality. This reduces the probability of having children, making pregnancy more difficult. Although this decrease in ovarian reserve is progressive throughout a woman’s life, it generally becomes more pronounced after the age of 35, with another important turning point after the age of 40.
Time is not the only factor responsible for the decrease in ovarian reserve. Other factors can affect it, some pathological factors (such as endometriosis or autoimmune diseases), surgeries involving the ovaries or, to a lesser extent, unhealthy lifestyles (such as smoking, for example).
Knowing the state of your ovarian reserve is essential to assess the possibility of achieving pregnancy (either naturally or with the help of assisted reproduction techniques). The ideal is to make an appointment with a gynecologist or at a reproductive medicine center. Two tests will be performed to assess it:
- Antral follicle count ultrasound: These follicles are the ones that potentially produce eggs. Generally, if there are a total of 10 or more follicles between the two ovaries, the reserve is considered normal.
- Hormonal blood analysis: where some basic hormones are evaluated, such as basal hormone, FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone), LH (luteinizing hormone) and estradiol. Also the anti-Müllerian hormone or AMH, which is one of the best reflections of the ovarian reserve. An AMH level between 1.5 and 3.5 is considered a good index.
What if I have a low ovarian reserve?
The first thing you should do is stay calm. This is a much more common factor than you think. Fortunately, reproductive medicine has developed treatments to achieve pregnancy in these cases.
The ideal thing is to go to an assisted reproduction specialist, who will be able to provide better guidance on the case so that you know all the alternatives according to your condition and desires.
At iGin all consultations are free. At the first appointment we will carry out a fertility study free of charge and we will begin to find out the state of your ovarian reserve.