Methods of evaluation of the ovarian reserve

Abstract

The chances of pregnancy decrease with the natural aging process of the infertile couple. During treatment of an infertile couple, the clinicians are usually asked questions about the chance of conception. Ovarian reserve describes the reproductive ability of the woman. An ideal ovarian reserve test should be affordable, convenient and sensitive. Ovarian reserve tests help to predict a poor response or hyper-response to ovarian stimulation and help to formulate the treatment plan in an infertile couple. Decreased ovarian reserve refers to women whose ovarian response to exogenous gonadotropin stimulation is reduced compared to similar women of the same age.

Reversible decreased ovarian reserve after conservative ovarian surgery for benign lesion other than endometrioma – case report

“…Ovarian reserve reflects the number of the oocytes available in the ovaries of any woman and her reproductive ability [ 5 ]. Women at increased risk of DOR include: 1) > 35 years old; 2) family history of premature ovarian failure; 3) past history of ovarian surgery and/or radiation; 4) unexplained infertility [ 6 , 7 ]. In addition ; Balmagambetova et al .…”

“…The studied woman was at risk of DOR because of her age (over 35 years) [ 6 , 7 ] and because of ovarian surgery. She was worried about her fertility and reproductive ability; therefore, the hormonal profile done for her every month during the first 3 post-operative months, then every 3-4 months during the first post-operative year.…”

Gynotoxic Effects of Chemotherapy and Potential Protective Mechanisms

“…For this reason, it is recommended that the ovarian reserve should be assessed before treatment with chemotherapeutic agents. These tests should include determination of levels of four hormones—estradiol, inhibin B, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)—as well as estimation of the number of antral follicles using transvaginal ultrasound examination [ 15 , 16 ]. The AMH levels prior to chemotherapeutic treatment can be an essential factor in determining ovarian function in patients with early-stage breast cancer after completion of therapy [ 17 , 18 ].…”