Every woman is born with a lifetime supply of eggs in her body. The amount of immature eggs at the time of a female’s birth is approximately 2 million.
Starting from her first period, the woman’s body selects around 1,000 immature eggs to grow and fertilise. Unfortunately, only one egg gets to ovulate every month. The eggs that do not ovulate die. As a result, a woman loses her egg quantity as she ages. This egg quantity is referred to as “Ovarian Reserve.”
You can know your egg quantity through an ovarian reserve test. It measures your chances of conceiving. Read on to learn more about the female ovarian reserve.
What is Female Ovarian Reserve?
Ovarian reserve is a complicated medical phenomenon in women’s fertility system. It is influenced by genetics, daily habits, and age.
The ovarian reserve of a female is the number of immature eggs. These immature eggs determine the possibility of pregnancy in a woman.
- Poor ovarian reserve (low egg quantity) means fewer chances of conceiving.
- High ovarian reserve (increased egg quantity) means better and enough chances for natural pregnancy.
What is Ovarian Reserve Test?
Ovarian reserve test is a collective name for several medical tests that determine your ability to get pregnant through egg quantity.
The test for ovarian reserve measures the number of your oocytes (immature eggs) at any age. It serves as a credible predictor of the remaining fertility time.
There are a total of four biomarker tests to examine ovarian reserve in females. These biomarkers are;
- Follicle-stimulating hormone
- Anti-mullerian hormone
- Inhibin B
- Antral follicular count
When is the Right Time for Ovarian Reserve Test?
The ovarian reserve test is helpful for women seeking information about their fertility condition. It can help in taking the proper steps to improve your chances of getting pregnant or any other fertility treatment. The right time to go for ovarian reserve tests depends on its biomarkers. You should go for these tests depending on this timeline;
For Follicle-Stimulating Hormone
The right time for the FSH test is a bit complex. The levels of FSH in women differ throughout the menstrual cycle. In addition to this, the average levels vary by day.
So, the right time to assess your ovarian reserve through an FSH test is to go for a blood test on the 3rd or 4th day of your period.
For Anti-Mullerian Hormone
Fortunately, the anti-mullerian hormone doesn’t change throughout your menstrual cycle. Hence, you can take an AMH test to measure your ovarian reserve at any time of the month.
For Inhibin B
Most doctors don’t recommend taking the Inhibin B test for ovarian reserve. It is only suggested if you have a pelvis mass or tumour.
For Antral Follicular Count
The right time to go for a transvaginal ultrasound for the antral follicle count is 3rd day of your menstrual cycle.
Who Should Go for Ovarian Reserve Test?
Every woman should go for an ovarian reserve test throughout her life. It’s a helpful test that predicts your menopause timeline and indicates your chances of getting pregnant. However, you should consider this test if you;
- Trying to conceive for more than six months
- Future family planning
- Understanding other fertility options
- Diagnosing for any fertility complications
Final Thoughts
The tests for ovarian reserve are a wonderful way to know your chances of achieving natural pregnancy. It can help assess if you should consider any other fertility options.
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