Ovarian reserve is the female fertility potential. Usually, this naturally decreases with age, but sometimes it can decrease faster or slower than expected. Ovarian reserve is also extremely helpful in fertility treatment planning as it can indicate what the response will be to the stimulation of the ovaries and the potential for success.
Ovarian reserve testing relates to the tests undertaken to understand a woman’s ovarian reserve. In particular, there are two key tests when undertaking ovarian reserve testing; antral follicle count and AMH blood tests. Together these two tests provide an accurate assessment of the female reproductive potential.
The antral follicle count is the number of antral follicles that are present in the ovary and have the potential to grow and become competent follicles (antral follicles are small follicles (2-9 mm) that we can see, measure and count. These can, with reasonable accuracy, be counted through vaginal ultrasound examination.
The sum of the antral follicles in the ovaries can indicate what the fertility potential is of the woman and importantly what the response will be to treatment involving stimulation of the ovaries, particularly for in-vitro fertilisation (IVF). Therefore, this is an important test in planning fertility treatments and understanding the success potential, for example:
Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a hormone produced by the ovarian follicles, therefore levels of AMH often relate to the number of antral follicles in the ovary. But, AMH levels in isolation depict the remaining lifespan of the ovaries,. The level of AMH in the blood can thus indicate how many egg-containing follicles are available in the ovaries with the potential to ovulate. In other words, the AMH level can tell us the size of the ‘ovarian reserve’.
AMH declines naturally with age and high levels can suggest polycystic ovaries, which is important when considering fertility treatments such as IVF.
Fertility Plus offers a complete package for ovarian reserve testing (initial egg count package) either to determine your fertility potential and how much time there is left or to help with fertility treatment planning.
Understanding your fertility is a significant step towards planning your future, whether it’s starting a family now or in the years to come. Our comprehensive ovarian reserve testing provides personalised insights into your reproductive potential, allowing you to make informed decisions.
Prices for fertility assessments start at £300. Please visit our pricing page or contact us for more information on fees.