Having issues with fertility and getting pregnant is never easy for a couple. There are many different kinds of tests and advice given by experts on how to address infertility and what to do if you and your partner cannot have a baby after trying to conceive for six or 12 consecutive months, depending on your age. Many studies have been done to improve women’s reproductive health, which has immensely helped patients in the past.
One of the tests which provide a wider picture when it comes to a patient’s fertility status is the ovarian reserve testing. It sounds really good to know beforehand if one is going to have issues with fertility, so the couple can prepare, skip unnecessary steps and decide how they want to approach the problem and its potential solutions.
Ovarian reserve actually, in simple terms, means the number of eggs a person currently has, i.e., an egg count. Women are born with a limited number of eggs, i.e., their ovarian reserve, and as they get older, that number and the quality of the eggs decrease.
When doing an ovarian reserve test, the patient can do different tests such as an anti-Mullerian hormone test, a blood test, an antral follicle count, estradiol testing, etc. Testing to estimate the egg count has become increasingly popular due to contemporary research. It can be done in many clinics in the U.S., such as the Doral Beach Gynecology – women’s health care, which offers premium service and the latest technology usage.
Low Ovarian Reserve
As mentioned, when doing ovarian reserve testing, a few tests can be done. Regarding the anti-Mullerian hormone test, it is essential to mention that AMH is a protein hormone produced by ovarian follicle cells. By measuring the level of these cells in the blood, medical professionals estimate the number of follicles within the ovaries.
On the other hand, an antral follicle count is done via an ultrasound, where the visualization of the ovaries helps the doctor count the active follicles and estimate the patient’s ovarian reserve.
Previously a lot of medical providers used other methods to check whether the patient is suffering from a low ovarian reserve, such as measuring the levels of FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), estradiol levels (the higher the estradiol levels, the lower the ovarian count), etc. as well as inhibin testing which is done on the third day of the patient’s monthly period.
Another important topic to mention when speaking about ovarian reserve is egg count vs. the quality of the eggs. Both are essential when talking about natural fertility, especially in the context of staying pregnant and delivering a healthy child. Egg quality means that the egg needs to be genetically typical (euploid, i.e., without irregularities) because aneuploid eggs may cause infertility, miscarriages, or genetic issues in infants.
Egg quality largely depends on the age of the patients, whereas older women have mostly irregular or aneuploid eggs. It is viewed as a natural decline in fertility that occurs with age. Unfortunately, there are no tests for egg quality before conception, and the only tests done are done in the context of genetic flaws of embryos after fertilizing and developing.
Nowadays, in the context of egg count, ovarian testing methods have been improved for accuracy, although it is still safe to say that none of these tests are 100% accurate. Medical professionals often use a combination of a few different testing methods to create an overall picture of the patient’s ovarian reserve in question.
Why?
There are many different reasons why your medical provider would recommend ovarian reserve testing. Here are the most common ones:
- For persons who are older than 35 and who have been trying to conceive in the last six months without any positive results
- For persons who are suffering from PCOS
- For persons who are preparing to have an IVF
- Patients who want to freeze their eggs
- Persons who are under 35 and could not conceive in the last 12 months
- To find out how long the patient can delay the pregnancy
Some tests have been proven to help identify some other issues, as is the case with the anti-Mullerian hormone testing, which is an excellent indicator of menopause because it can help patients discover how much time they have until the beginning of their menopause.
What Can We Get From Ovarian Reserve Testing?
To summarize, here are some positive sides of ovarian reserve count which are seen as necessary in fertility medicine:
- Telling women when they will reach menopause through FSH testing of blood and urine
- Helping in determining if someone is at risk of early menopause
- Indicating potential reproductive issues such as PCOS
- Determining the patient’s chance of freezing her eggs or doing in vitro fertilization (IVF)
Limitations of ORT
As with any other approach, ovarian reserve testing does have its limitations, and below you can find some of the most common ones:
- Cannot provide a definite answer on the number of eggs in a patient
- Cannot say when the person will be able to have a baby
- Cannot determine if the person will be able to get pregnant at all
- Cannot determine what is the upper limit to getting pregnant when it comes to age
- The egg quality cannot be determined
Experts say that the test results, in this case, are to be taken as a general picture of the patient’s fertility status, especially if the person is under 35 years of age. A single test cannot give an accurate result, so ensure you get tested through several methods, to get the most precise image possible. Your chosen doctor is supposed to provide you with a recommendation on the needed tests per your wishes and plans for pregnancy.
Summary
So, in short, ovarian reserve testing is only one part of the puzzle called your fertility health. There are many other factors, such as age, habits, lifestyle, medical history, etc. which influence the person’s fertility status. Getting only numbers can create an utterly misguided picture, bringing a lot of stress and worry to the patient, so the best way to go is to consult a fertility expert, listen to their guidance, and believe their advice.
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Many patients who visit our clinic are coming in to consult with our expert on the questions of fertility and starting a family. Our center is equipped with excellent staff and premium technology to help you with any type of concern you might have regarding your reproductive health. Our experts are here for you, so give us a call and see why we are one of the best in the country. Contact us!