OVARIAN RESERVE OR REPRODUCTIVE POTENTIAL is also known as the quality and quantity of eggs in a female - a woman's ability to conceive a healthy pregnancy.
The concept of reproductive aging is based on the principle that eggs peak in number during fetal life, undergo degeneration, and do not regenerate. Remarkably, the most eggs a woman will have are when she is a 20-week-old fetus with approximately 6-7 million eggs. At birth, the number of eggs falls to 1-2 million, and at puberty, she has only 300,000-500,000 remaining eggs. From puberty through menopause, it is estimated women will ovulate about 400-500 total eggs. The quantity of eggs can't be changed in a woman.
Egg quality describes an egg's genetic normality or abnormality. At the age of 30, 70% of a woman's eggs are chromosomally normal. At 35 years of age, about 60% of a woman's eggs are chromosomally normal (Euploid). By the time a woman reaches 40, about 35% of her eggs are chromosomally normal. As a woman's ovary ages, she will have increasing numbers of chromosomally abnormal eggs.
Lifestyle & Habits
Even though the number of eggs cannot be increased, it is possible to improve the quality of the eggs for better chances of conception. Here are a few tips:
Proper rest is essential. Get at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep daily.
Hormones like Prolactin and Cortisol are triggered due to stress. Meditation, yoga, and exercise can help release built-up tension.
Oxygen-rich blood nourishes the ovaries. Regular yoga helps boost blood flow.
Maintain a BMI from 18.5 to 24.9. Eat complex carbs, organic foods, and Omega-3 rich fish/seeds. Avoid trans fats, sugar, and caffeine.
Avoid alcohol and smoking. Take Folic Acid, Vitamin D, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, and Antioxidants (berries, leafy greens) to protect eggs from damage.
Diagnosis & Testing
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol are checked at the beginning of the menstrual cycle, usually drawn from cycle day 1 to 5.
Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is a vital test. It's made in the follicles, which house the eggs, and levels can be checked at any time during the cycle.
The Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test predicts how ovaries respond to IVF cycles by measuring FSH and estradiol levels before and after taking medication.
A transvaginal ultrasound counts small antral follicles (2mm-10mm). The number of follicles tells us how many eggs are available.
