Let’s chat about ovarian reserve capacity! Every woman starts life with a unique number of oocytes stored in her ovaries, and as she goes through her reproductive years, that number gradually decreases. If you’re curious about your ovarian reserve, we can help you understand it better through some tests.
The First Step: Ultrasound
The first step is an ultrasound, which we typically perform at the beginning of your menstrual cycle—specifically on days two to five. During this ultrasound, we’ll count the antral follicles in both ovaries. These follicles are the ones that have matured enough to be seen on the ultrasound, and their count gives us a good idea of how many oocytes are still available.
Checking AMH Levels
In addition to the ultrasound, we also check the levels of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) through a simple blood test. The cool thing about AMH is that it reflects the number of primordial follicles, which are the earliest stage of development. So, by looking at your AMH levels, we can gauge how many oocytes are still hanging out in your ovaries.
Explore More Fertility Options
If you’re interested in learning more about fertility options, check out our other blog posts, like the one featuring Jamie Carter, which dives into family growth options. And for those exploring at-home options, you might want to take a peek at what Make A Mom offers with their baby maker home insemination kit. Also, if you’re looking for broader insights into pregnancy and home insemination, don’t miss this podcast from the Cleveland Clinic; it’s a fantastic resource.
Conclusion
To summarize, understanding your ovarian reserve capacity can help you make informed decisions about your fertility journey. Through ultrasound and AMH testing, we can provide valuable information about your reproductive health!