As the age of the woman or intended carrier increases, egg quantity, and quality decline. Because of this, the likelihood of getting pregnant decreases, and the risk of miscarriage increases as the age of the woman or intended carrier increases. For example, 1/3 of families will have problems getting pregnant when the partner who plans to carry the pregnancy is 35 years or older.
Testing is available at the Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center to assess an ovarian reserve. Call to schedule a consult today: 314-286-2400.
To be clear, these are not perfect tests and they are best utilized in determining how aggressive to be with treatment, and more specifically how the patient might respond to in vitro fertilization.
Ultimately, they can help us better customize a treatment plan that will maximize your chances of live birth. Abnormal results suggest that fertility potential has declined but they do not tell us who will or will not conceive.
At the Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center we typically test multiple ovarian reserve screens to get pictures of one’s ovarian reserve. Tests include:
- Antimullerian Hormone: A blood test that serves as a marker of ovarian responsiveness to ovarian stimulation with IVF.
- Antral Follicle Count: An ultrasound measurement, quantifying the number of small follicles in both ovaries performed typically while on your menses (cycle day 2-5). The ultrasonographic “equivalent” to AMH.
- FSH/estradiol: A blood test performed while on menses between cycle day 2-5. An “indirect marker” of the efficiency of the communication between the brain and the ovaries.
If you have had these tests done and are not really clear on how they work, schedule a visit with one of our specialists to review the results with you. These tests should not be used to make treatment decisions in isolation and all factors: age of patient, other fertility factors, duration of infertility, etc need to be considered.
Call us today to schedule a visit. 314-286-2400