Ovarian Reserve Test

Who should take this test?

This test may be helpful for any woman who is interested in learning more about her ovarian reserve, essentially how many eggs she may have. This test is not meant to be an indication of how likely or unlikely it is that a woman will be able to successfully achieve pregnancy.

FSH is released by the pituitary gland in the brain and signals the ovaries to prepare for follicle maturation and egg release. A woman's FSH levels cycle monthly, with the baseline level of FSH determined early in the cycle. As a woman ages, baseline FSH levels increase because the hormone stimulation required for egg maturation increases as egg number and viability decrease. Lower levels of FSH early in a woman's cycle can indicate better egg reserve.

We do not recommend this test if you currently take hormones of any kind, including oral contraceptives. We do not recommend altering your hormone therapy without consulting your physician. If you are discontinuing hormone therapy, we advise waiting at least 6 weeks until collecting the sample.

How It Works

What will my results tell me?

Your results will contain your personal level of FSH which can be used as an indirect measure of egg count. The results will indicate if your ovarian reserve should be adequate to achieve a spontaneous ovulation, provided there are no other causes for preventing ovulation, such as a hormone imbalance. This test does not diagnose fertile or infertile states of health and does not provide information about possible reasons for the inability to become pregnant due to ovulation disorders or other factors.

What guidance will I get along with my results?

You will learn if your FSH level indicates a normal, diminished, or decreased egg quantity for your reproductive stage in life.

We recommend that any woman who has a diminished Day 3 FSH level or any woman over the age of 40 consider testing her FSH levels one cycle apart for a more accurate evaluation.As always, we encourage you to share your results with your doctor, who can provide more specific guidance regarding your fertility.