The study of the ovarian reserve can be carried out by means of different tests. The most common tests for measuring the ovarian reserve are:
- Antral follicle count by ultrasound
- Assessment of basal endocrine markers such as FSH, estradiol, AMH or Inhibin B
- Dynamic tests that study the response of the ovary to certain drugs
In this article we will explain the main methods that are applied to know the ovarian reserve of a woman in a certain moment of her reproductive life.
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Antral follicle count by ultrasound
Follicles are the ovarian structures where eggs mature. In each menstrual cycle, a set of follicles starts the maturation process, but only one of them will be able to reach the last stage and release a mature egg in what we know as ovulation.
The stages through which the ovarian follicles pass are:
- Primordial follicle
- Primary Follicle
- Secondary or preantral follicle
- Tertiary or antral follicle
- Pre-ovulatory follicle or Graff follicle
The antrum, which is the structure formed by the accumulation of fluid inside the follicle, allows the visualization of the follicle on the ultrasound. Thus, by means of transvaginal ultrasound we can count the number of follicles in the antral phase (diameter between 2 and 9 mm).
This count provides us with very valuable information on how the follicular reserve of the ovary is located.
To make a good assessment it is advisable to perform this test in the follicular phase of the woman's ovarian cycle, that is, between the 3rd and 5th day of the cycle.
This marker is one of the most accepted in assisted reproduction. In IVF cycles it even has a more predictive value than the baseline values of the FSH hormone, which we will see below.
This is what Dr. Miguel Dolz tells us:
We think that counting antral follicles to assess the ovarian reserve ultrasonographically is better than determining the anti-mullerian hormone.
The ovarian volume is another ultrasound marker that can also provide information on the state of the ovary and its effect on fertility.
Like the number of follicles, ovarian volume decreases with age. In fact, it goes from 4.9 ml in the fertile stage to 2.2 ml in the post-menopausal stage.
Endocrine markers of follicular reserve
A woman's ovarian cycle is controlled by hormones (endocrine system). For this reason, the analysis of the values of certain hormones involved in the development and maturation of the eggs can be of help when studying the ovarian reserve to analyze the state of the woman's fertility.
The main hormones that are measured are:
Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)
As a woman's age increases, her ovarian reserve decreases and the value of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) increases.
FSH levels should be measured between the 3rd and 5th day of the menstrual cycle. A level of FSH above 10 mUI/ml indicates a low ovarian reserve.
You can read more about follicle-stimulating hormone in this article: What is FSH?
Antimullerian Hormone (AMH)
HMA is a glycoprotein that is expressed in women from puberty until they reach menopause. Its levels decrease as a woman's age increases.
Unlike FSH, AMH can be measured at any time during the cycle and for many, it better reflects the ovarian reserve. In fact, it is one of the preferred tests for studying a woman's egg reserve. It is also a good measure of a patient's response to fertility treatments and her chances of pregnancy.
AMH levels between 0.7 and 3.5 ng/ml are considered normal. Levels below 0.7 ng/ml are associated with a decreased ovarian reserve.
It is used as an additional test when FSH results are inconclusive. If you want more information about it, you can read this article: What is the function of the antimullerian hormone?
Inhibin B
The concentration of inhibin B is inversely proportional to the FSH values. Its serum determination is a good indicator of the functioning of the follicles and the ovarian reserve.
An inhibin B value lower than 35-40 pg/ml is an indicator of poor prognosis, since it reveals alterations in the ovarian reserve and a poor response to in vitro fertilization treatments (IVF).
Estradiol
Estradiol testing is also performed in the first days of the menstrual cycle (between 3.) Most of the estradiol is secreted by the woman's preovulatory follicles.
Normal values of estradiol at the beginning of the cycle are less than 40 pg/ml. Low ovarian reserve has been associated with high oestradiol values at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. In any case, the estradiol value is not one of the best markers for the study of ovarian reserve.
Dynamic tests
The response of the ovary to the stimulus of drugs such as clomiphene citrate (CC) or GnRH analogues is assessed.
- Clomiphene citrate test
- the ovary is stimulated with clomiphene citrate for 5 days, usually from the third or fifth day of the cycle. Afterwards, the response of the ovary is assessed by ultrasound and hormonal controls. An abnormal test result, such as very high FSH, indicates a poor prognosis in relation to pregnancy.
- GnRH analogues test
- changes in serum estradiol are measured between the second and third day after administration of a GnRH agonist analogue. In a normal result (good ovarian reserve), basal estradiol levels appear elevated due to the medication administered.
Ovarian reserve and fertility
One of the main causes of female infertility is age, since the ovarian reserve decreases as the woman's age increases, especially after 37 years of age.
The reduction in the number of antral follicles seen on ultrasound, as well as a change in the values of female hormones (estradiol, FSH, anti-mullerian hormone and inhibin) are the main indications that fertility has decreased.
The results obtained from the above tests help to predict, to a large extent, a woman's ability to achieve a pregnancy naturally.
These tests are also of great help to know, quite reliably, the probability of success of the fertility treatment, as they help to obtain information about the patient's response to the ovarian stimulation treatment applied in most assisted reproduction techniques (e.g. artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization)
When the examination of the ovarian reserve shows a very low egg count, associated also with a decrease in quality, it is usually recommended to resort to egg donation to achieve pregnancy. In this link you can find detailed information about this: What does egg donation consist of?
It is essential to combine this type of test with other studies of female fertility that help to assess with greater certainty the reproductive potential of each woman before indicating the need for a particular assisted reproduction treatment.
Costs
Female fertility studies cost around $300-450 depending on which tests are included.
In the most basic ones, a vaginal ultrasound is performed to assess the ovarian reserve and observe the uterus. Others also include a hormonal analysis to see how well the ovary is functioning and possible menstrual cycle imbalances.
The determination of the anti-mullerian hormone is considered a separate analysis and therefore makes the fertility study more expensive if requested.
In assisted reproduction, like any medical treatment, it is necessary for you to trust the professionalism of the doctors and the clinic you choose.
This Tool generates you a personalized report with all information necessary about the treatment you will need. Besides, there is a list of clinics in your area which we have chosen based on our selection criteria with their budget plan included. Last but not least, you will find a series of useful tips for your first clinic visit.
FAQs from users
Is there a relation between ovarian reserve and egg quality?
Ovarian reserve is a measure of the quantity and quality of the eggs; it is best measured by a combination of chronological age, antral follicle count (AFR) on ultrasound, and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH).
An AFR of less than 11 reflects diminished ovarian reserve and less than 6 is severe. AMH levels below 1.6 have been shown to reduce the number of eggs retrieved with IVF and may predict pregnancy outcome. Levels below 0.4 are severe.
Read more
What do I have to do to know my ovarian reserve?
To find out about the ovarian reserve, you should go to an infertility and assisted reproduction specialist for a detailed study of the ovarian reserve. To analyze your egg reserve, he will mainly perform an ultrasound scan (to count the antral follicles) and a blood test (to measure the hormones that we have mentioned in the section Endocrine markers of follicular reserve within this article).
Can I become a mother with low ovarian reserve?
Yes, it may be difficult to achieve a natural pregnancy, but assisted reproduction offers several solutions. Among them, we find in vitro fertilization with a previous cycle of ovarian stimulation.
On the other hand, in the most serious cases in which the ovarian reserve is very low, egg donation is perhaps the most appropriate reproductive solution.
Is artificial insemination recommended if my ovarian reserve is low?
Artificial insemination is generally not recommended when a woman has a low number of eggs, as the chances of success are low. It is usual to perform an IVF, although it will depend on the results obtained in the evaluation of the ovarian reserve of each case.
Suggested for you
We have discussed some of the main hormones that are indicative of the ovarian reserve. If you want to know other hormones related to female fertility and their normal values, I recommend you to consult this article: Female Hormone Check- How Are Hormone Levels Monitored?
As we have seen, the ovarian reserve test is one of the main tests for analyzing a woman's fertility. However, there are others that can complement the study of the ovarian reserve. Do you want to know what they are? Find out here: Female Fertility Tests- How Do You Know if You Can't Get Pregnant?
Finally, we recommend you read this article to learn more about the ovarian reserve and its influence on fertility: How Many Eggs Does a Woman Have?
Our editors have made great efforts to create this content for you. By sharing this post, you are helping us to keep ourselves motivated to work even harder.
References
Authors and contributors
is it possible to improve ones low egg count?
Hello Cynthia,
At the moment of embryonic development, when the future woman is only a fetus in her mother’s womb, the formation of oocytes begins. This period ends before the birth of the woman, and as far as it is known today, it is not possible to prolong it. This means that the woman is born with a certain number of oocytes (millions of them.
When she reaches puberty, regular ovulations begin. Similar as happens with sperm, only one egg is good enough to be fertilized in the fallopian tube, that means the rest of the eggs on their way to the tube will irrevocably be lost. Shortly said, with every ovulation until menopause, a woman loses eggs compromising her ovarian reserve which can consequently not be improved.
So in order to get pregnant with an already low egg count, the patient would need to opt for a fertility treatment.
Hope I could solve your question,
Best regards
Hello
I’m 36 years old, I’ve been trying for a baby for two years. I’ve had my hormone tests done and they didn’t come back very hopeful.
AMH : 0.3 ng/ml
FSH : 4.56
LH: 3’83
Oestradiol: 102.2
I’d like you to tell me if there’ s a chance of success with these results.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Cindy,
The antimullerian hormone (AMH) score is low, indicating a low ovarian reserve. However, you can achieve a pregnancy with IVF treatment.
The pregnancy rate of an IVF-ICSI in women of 39 years is about 26%.
If you are not successful, you will have to resort to egg donation in order to become a mother. I leave you the following article that may be of interest to you: IVF treatment with egg donation.
I also recommend you to have a look at this tool: Fertility Report. In this way, we can recommend the clinics that best suit you. In addition, we will also give you some advice about when it is time to visit the clinics.
I hope I have helped you.