Pregnancy planning is not only about when to get pregnant. It’s also about understanding your fertility and how it changes over time. One of the most important factors is the ovarian reserve, the number and quality of the eggs left in the ovaries.
Staying informed about the status of your ovarian reserve will help you make an informed choice regarding your reproductive health. Regardless of whether you intend to conceive soon or later, having information on your fertility status will aid you well when dealing with any possible fertility issue. This informative guide explains ovarian reserve, its reduction, testing methods, and the importance of fertility planning.
What is ovarian reserve?
Ovarian reserve is defined as the total number of healthy eggs available in the ovaries of a woman. As opposed to men who continue producing sperm throughout their lives, women are born with a fixed number of eggs in the ovaries, which cannot be increased in any way. The total number of available eggs decreases gradually from birth until puberty, whereby only 300,000 to 500,000 eggs remain. This number further reduces with every menstrual cycle.
Not only does the number of eggs reduce as a woman grows older, but also their quality deteriorates. This is why the fertility level of a woman decreases as she grows older, especially after 35 years of age. A low number of eggs may become a problem for conceiving naturally and may even lead to miscarriage. Although you must remember that the ovarian reserve is not the sole factor for fertility. Even if you have an excellent ovarian reserve, you may experience fertility problems. On the other hand, you can have low or poor ovarian reserve and yet be able to conceive naturally or with assisted reproduction techniques.
Low Ovarian Reserve Symptoms
The problem with women who have a reduced ovarian reserve is that there are usually no symptoms. Most females came to know only after conducting fertility tests. Yet, in some cases, women might experience the following symptoms:
- Trouble conceiving after several months of attempts
- Irregular and shorter periods
- Less blood flow during menstruation than usual
- Changes in periods’ patterns
- Miscarriage in certain cases
- Early entry into menopause
Since such symptoms might appear due to different illnesses as well, it is highly suggested to undergo appropriate fertility tests.
Causes of Low Ovarian Reserve
There are several possible reasons behind the diminished ovarian reserve. Although ageing remains the most frequent one, there are still some other possible medical and lifestyle reasons for that.
1. Ageing:
Fertility in females decreases with age. It occurs more quickly after the age of 35 and even faster after 40 years.
2. Genetic Components:
A woman may be born with a decreased egg count, or her ovarian reserve may age more quickly than expected due to genetic inheritance.
3. Medical Therapies:
Several medical interventions, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery of the ovaries, can lead to decreased healthy eggs and consequently reduced fertility potential.
4. Endometriosis:
Endometriosis may affect the ovaries and slowly diminish the ovarian egg reserve. Sometimes, the presence of ovarian cysts or even the removal of such cysts will result in fewer ovarian eggs being available.
5. Autoimmune Diseases:
There are some cases where the functioning of the ovaries is hindered by certain diseases, like autoimmune disorders, that result in decreased ovarian reserve.
6. Smoking:
The toxins found in cigarette smoke can expedite the process of losing eggs within the ovaries, hence the increased risk of ovarian reserve depletion.
7. Ovarian Surgery:
Operations performed to remove cysts within the ovaries or the partial removal of an ovary can lead to diminished ovarian reserve.
What Factors Can Affect Ovarian Reserve?
Ovarian reserve is affected by several factors, ranging from daily life to medical reasons.
1. Age
Age continues to be the most influential factor. This is because the quality and quantity of eggs diminish with age.
2. Lifestyle Factors
The biggest impact on the ovarian reserve is associated with smoking. It is possible to maintain the good health of the reproductive system through proper nutrition, a normal body mass index, and physical activity.
3. Medical Factors
Endometriosis, ovarian cysts, autoimmune disease, and some types of genetic disorders may harm the ovaries.
4. Cancer Therapy
Chemotherapy and radiation are harmful to the ovaries and eggs. It is particularly true for therapy involving the pelvis.
5. Environmental Factors
Exposure to certain environmental pollutants and industrial chemicals may also affect ovarian health, but further studies are needed to determine more.
What are the signs of reduced ovarian reserve?
Reduced ovarian reserve frequently occurs without symptoms. There are, however, indicators that may suggest the need for more tests. Such indicators are:
- Difficulty in getting pregnant naturally
- Having shorter cycles
- Menstrual irregularities
- Poor response to fertility drugs in IVF
- Low Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)
- High Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
- Family history of early menopause
Women usually discover their diminished ovarian reserve when undergoing fertility tests. This is one of the reasons why fertility tests have become common among women trying to conceive at an older age.
How is ovarian reserve tested?
Doctors depend on multiple tests when assessing ovarian reserve. No single test is enough to evaluate the chances of conception, yet it provides important information about reproductive potential.
1. Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Blood Test
AMH is produced by the follicles in the ovaries. It is believed to be one of the most effective ovarian reserve predictors. Higher levels of AMH point to the abundance of eggs left, and lower levels of AMH indicate decreased ovarian egg reserve.
2. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Blood Test
This test is done during the first days of the menstrual cycle (days 2 or 3). A high level of FSH may point to the fact that the ovaries try to compensate for some troubles with egg development, which means that there is poor ovarian reserve.
3. Estradiol Blood Test
It is done along with the FSH blood test to make sure that a clear picture of ovarian function is obtained.
4. Antral Follicle Count (AFC)
The process of counting antral follicles in the ovaries takes place during the transvaginal ultrasound procedure. A high antral follicle count indicates a good ovarian reserve.
5. Further Reproductive Function Testing
Depending on your medical history, your doctor might recommend that you undergo further hormone or imaging tests.
How to Increase Your Ovarian Reserve?
It is one of the most common questions asked by women. Unfortunately, it is impossible to increase egg count. Every female is born with a certain number of eggs. But there are measures to help you maintain reproductive health and preserve the high quality of your existing eggs.
1. Live a Healthy Life
Healthy nutrition involves consuming healthy foods with a lot of fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and healthy fats.
2. Quit Smoking
It is responsible for the reduction of egg numbers and poses an enormous risk of fertility problems.
3. Stay Fit
Staying fit ensures that one remains healthy and keeps hormone levels balanced. Generally, physical exercise is good, but women who are planning to conceive should not indulge in intense workouts.
4. Manage Stress
Even though stress does not decrease your ovarian reserve, it can help to boost your general state while planning to get pregnant.
5. Treat Medical Conditions
Conditions like endometriosis and thyroid problems should be managed well, as this may boost your chances of conception.
6. Preserve Fertility
Women who have been found to have poor ovarian reserves or women who are delaying their pregnancy for reasons of health and personal issues should consider egg freezing.
When should you consider an ovarian reserve test?
Ovarian reserve tests are not recommended for every woman, but they may be helpful if you:
- Are over 35 years old and wish to get pregnant
- Have tried getting pregnant unsuccessfully for more than six months
- Have irregular menstrual cycles
- Have a family history of early menopause
- Undergone cancer treatment with chemo or pelvic radiation therapy
- Suffering from endometriosis
- Wish to freeze your eggs
- Undergone ovarian surgery
- Have been postponing pregnancy
Why Does Future Fertility Planning Matter?
It has become more and more prevalent for many couples to begin their family life at an older age, because of career goals, education, money issues, etc. While all of this is strictly a personal decision, it must be emphasised that age has an effect on fertility. When you know how much ovarian reserve you have, you will understand your current reproductive condition better and discuss treatment with your doctor well in advance. Early planning will help you to have more time for thinking and to choose the treatment procedure, whether it be ovulation induction, IVF, or egg freezing.
It is also important to prepare yourself financially for the treatment because infertility diagnostics, hormonal medicines, IVF cycles, and fertility preservation procedures often cost a lot of money. If you have a special fertility plan, then you will not experience financial stress during planning and growing a family.
Conclusion
Knowing your ovarian reserve is a vital step for making an informed decision about your pregnancy plan. Although age continues to be the major determinant of one’s fertility, testing can give you a head start on understanding your reproductive capacity.
Appropriate advice from medical experts, along with financial readiness, can also go a long way to helping you deal with the expenses associated with fertility treatments. SafeTree offers fertility plans that are aimed at assisting you in preparing for the expense of fertility care.
FAQs
1. Can a woman with low ovarian reserve get pregnant?
Absolutely. Although reduced ovarian egg reserve makes conceiving difficult, many women with low ovarian reserve manage to conceive either naturally or via fertility assistance.
2. Is AMH the same as ovarian reserve?
No. AMH is one of the hormones tested in blood samples to estimate ovarian reserve. Several tests can be used to measure ovarian reserve.
3. Does ovarian reserve affect IVF success?
Yes. Women with low ovarian reserve may produce a small number of eggs during IVF. However, age, egg quality, and general state of health have a major impact on IVF success.
4. At what age should I test my ovarian reserve?
Testing has no specific age limit. But women aged above 35, those having problems with fertility, premature ovarian failure, or suffering from endometriosis, and those planning a pregnancy in the future can consider ovarian reserve testing.
Disclaimer:
This blog is for general informational and educational purposes only. The information provided here should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Before making any decisions related to health conditions, symptoms, or treatments, readers are advised to consult a qualified healthcare professional.
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