{"id":1622,"date":"2023-01-28T14:27:16","date_gmt":"2023-01-28T14:27:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/?p=1622"},"modified":"2023-04-04T21:57:28","modified_gmt":"2023-04-04T21:57:28","slug":"fertility-planning-the-importance-of-ovarian-reserve-testing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/doral-beach-gynecology\/fertility-planning-the-importance-of-ovarian-reserve-testing\/","title":{"rendered":"Fertility Planning: The Importance of Ovarian Reserve Testing"},"content":{"rendered":"

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<\/span> women’s reproductive health<\/span><\/a>, which has immensely helped patients in the past.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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 <\/span>Doral Beach Gynecology \u2013 women’s health care<\/span><\/a>, which offers premium service and the latest technology usage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Low Ovarian Reserve\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Patient<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why?<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are many different reasons why your medical provider would recommend ovarian reserve testing. Here are the most common ones:<\/span><\/p>\n