Treatment Options for Diminished Ovarian Reserve
At The Center for Fertility and Gynecology, the people of Los Angeles can find answers to their questions as well as help starting the families that they have always wanted. We offer a host of comprehensive male and female nfertility services and treatments, ones which can help improve your chances of pregnancy and live birth.
Issues with diminished or low ovarian reserve can have a negative impact on a woman's ability to have children. Let's consider these issues right now.
About Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Poor ovarian reserve is a condition in which a woman's fertility is greatly diminished. This may be due to a low number of viable or good-quality eggs remaining in the ovaries. With fewer viable eggs available in the ovaries, the likelihood of successful conception and pregnancy can go down significantly.
Common Causes of Diminished Ovarian Reserve
One of the most common causes of poor ovarian reserve is age. After women reach their mid-thirties, the number of viable eggs for pregnancy goes down. The number of viable eggs decreases even more once women reach the age of 40 and beyond.
Yet age is not the only reason that a woman may experience a low ovarian reserve. Women who are much younger may actually experience a condition known as premature ovarian aging (POA).
Other potential causes of low ovarian reserve include chromosomal problems, torsion, surgical removal of an ovary or part of an ovary, radiation exposure, chemotherapy, ovarian cysts, and obesity/morbid obesity.
Testing a Woman's Ovarian Reserve
Assessing potential issues with ovarian reserve often involves a few different kinds of tests.
For one, a fertility specialist may measure a woman's hormone levels, particularly focusing on follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). In particular, FSH will be measured on the third day of a woman's menstrual cycle.
Another option for testing involves a transvaginal ultrasound to determine antral follicle count (AFC). A less invasive ultrasound to check ovarian volume can also be performed.
The ideal test will depend on your age and your situation, so we will work closely with you to assess your situation and then administer the proper treatment as needed.
Treatment Options for Diminished Ovarian Reserve
There are plenty of fertility treatment options to consider when it comes to address these kinds of fertility problems.
The most common kind of treatment is in vitro fertilization (IVF). During IVF, viable eggs are harvested and fertilized in a lab setting to help ensure proper fertilization and pregnancy. This is a good option for male infertility issues as well.
In other cases, it may be ideal to seek out an egg donor. Egg donors are women who provide their own eggs in order for other women to use to start a family. An egg donor can be selected using physical characteristic as well as measurements of personality traits and intellect.
For older women, it may be suggested that a surrogate carrier be used. A surrogate carrier is a woman who is hired to bring a child to term on the behalf of another party. This is a good option when there are issues related to age, health, or other circumstances that would make a woman carrying a child to term on her own a risky endeavor.
Which Option Is Right for Me?
During your visit to the practice, we will be more than happy to go over all of your options for fertility treatments. This will help you start the family that you have always wanted to have, and give you a great idea of what to expect during the treatment process.
Contact The Center for Fertility and Gynecology
To learn more about treating infertility and helping patients start the families they have always wanted, be sure to contact our team of fertility specialists today. We at The Center for Fertility and Gynecology are here to help you.