Why Ovarian Reserve Testing Is Important for Fertility
It isn’t uncommon for women not to know much about female fertility and unfortunately, many don’t consider looking into their own fertility in more detail until they’re struggling to get pregnant or they think they’re going through the menopause. Of course, if you’re trying for a baby, then knowing more about female fertility is incredibly beneficial and there are a few different tests that can help you to understand more about your own body.
One test, in particular, that is undeniably helpful for women to have, especially if they’re wanting to conceive, either now or at some point in the future, is an ovarian reserve test. This test looks into how well your ovaries are functioning and assess both the quality and quantity of your eggs. If you’re wondering whether ovarian reserve testing is something that you should look into further, below is more about the benefits of this particular test.
Most common female fertility test
An ovarian reserve test is one of the most common female fertility tests and it tends to form a vital part of any female ‘Fertility MOT’. This test tends to be popular because it provides information about the effect of your age on the ovaries, and your chances of falling pregnant naturally.
Commonly, ovarian reserve testing involves a combination of different blood tests and transvaginal pelvic ultrasound scans which help you to understand things such as your AMH (Anti-Mullerian Hormone) and FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) levels as well as your AFC (Antral Follicle Count). All of these things can help you to gain comprehensive information about your ovarian reserves and, in turn, your chances of conceiving.
Ensure you’re planning for the future
You may not know this, but unlike men who produce new sperm daily throughout their lives, it is believed that women are born with their lifetime supply of eggs, which is usually around four to five million. Unfortunately, over the years, your eggs will diminish in both quantity and quality, and this is why women over the age of 35 may struggle to start a family naturally.
Ovarian reserve testing can help you to plan ahead. Even if you’re only 25, for example, and you don’t want to have children for a few years, the information you get from this test will enable you to make decisions for the future. For example, if you have a low ovarian reserve, you may want to consider fertility preservation or elective egg freezing. A specialist will be able to inform you of all of your options moving forward to help make conception easier later down the line.
Increase your chances of getting pregnant
Whilst ovarian reserve testing alone won’t help you to conceive, it provides you with the information you need to choose the best fertility treatments available to help you start a family. All of the test results will enable a fertility specialist to advise you regarding which treatment solutions are most suitable for your individual circumstances.
It is highly likely that in order to ensure that you’re being recommended the correct fertility treatments, a specialist will always require you to undertake ovarian reserve testing at some point. So making this the first step in your fertility journey is always worthwhile and it will provide you with the vital information you require.
Finding out more about ovarian reserve testing
All in all, no matter whether you’re struggling to conceive and you’re looking for some answers or you’re simply wanting to find out more about your own fertility and where things currently stand for you, undergoing ovarian reserve testing is incredibly beneficial. There really is no denying that you can find out so much from this type of test and the results will enable you to make the best decision about your fertility moving forward.
Should you have any questions at all about ovarian reserve testing or if you’d like to arrange a ‘Fertility MOT’, please don’t hesitate to contact our team here at London IVF and Genetics Centre. We pride ourselves on providing tests that inform both women and men of important information about their fertility and any problems that they may face when conceiving naturally. Our Fertility MOTs can provide peace of mind and our team of friendly experienced fertility specialists will do all they can to assist you.
