Low ovarian reserve is the decrease in the number of oocytes available to be recruited.
The ovarian reserve physiologically decreases with age, this is the first cause to be taken into account and, unfortunately, it cannot be avoided.
Among other unavoidable causes of low ovarian reserve we find:
- Endometriosis, a disease characterized by the growth, outside the uterus, of tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, causing pain, infertility or both.
- Autoimmune diseases
- Genetic conditions such as Turner syndrome or fragile X syndrome.
Surgery close to the ovary or chemotherapy treatments can also affect our egg reserve.
There are other less proven factors which are toxic. Toxics can condition fertility, although it is not known if they directly affect the ovarian reserve or if they act more on the quality. Smoking, for example, is one of these factors that can increase oxidative stress at the ovarian level.
Read the full article on: What is a woman’s ovarian reserve & how does it affect fertility? ( 41).
Marta Zermiani
M.D., Ph.D.
Graduated in Medicine and Surgery from the Università degli Studi di Padova in Italy, specializing in Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge in Barcelona. Specialist in Assisted Reproduction with 4 years experience and currently a gynecologist at Vida Fertility Madrid.
Licence number: 280847526
