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Some women experience a condition called low egg reserve or diminished ovarian reserve. Of those who seek fertility treatment between 20%-50% receive a diagnosis of low egg reserve. Aging reduces the number of eggs you have, but there are other factors which affect your egg reserve and your fertility like endometriosis, chemotherapy, disease of fallopian tube, previous ovarian surgery, pelvic infection, smoking etc.

On or about the third day of your menstrual cycle, your doctor draws blood to measure your hormone levels, specifically the Follicle Stimulating (FSH)/oestradiol and the Anti Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels and a transvaginal ultrasound of pelvis to count the basal number of follicles. Those who have higher FSH and lower AMH than normal most likely have low egg reserves.

 For those individuals who are borderline with diminishing egg reserve conventional IVF offers the most success. Those who have multiple failed IVF treatments due to poor response or women with a very low reserve may benefit from the short protocol. Another promising novel method is Ovarian rejuvenating therapy/ platelet rich plasma infusion to ovaries. Those who have very low egg reserve are excellent candidates for donor eggs with IVF. Eggs from a donor are healthy, typically from a younger woman.

WHAT YOU CAN DO!

For those concerned about low egg reserve the best thing you can do is make sure you are as healthy as you can be. Stop smoking and avoid alcohol and other unhealthy substances. Eat right and maintain a healthy weight. Make sure you get some form of doctor-approved exercise and take doctor-approved supplements.

Even though a diagnosis of low egg reserve is stressful, find healthy ways to deal with your stress. Get out in nature, practice meditation, take a yoga class and consider discussing your diagnosis with a qualified therapist. Most importantly, contact Miracle IVF for a consultation to discuss your fertility. Together we will work on achieving your goal of growing your family.