What is ovarian reserve and how is the testing for ovarian reserve done?
Ovarian reserve is the ovary’s analogy to the semen analysis for the male. Ovarian reserve is the best method to evaluate the reproductive potential of the woman’s eggs. The testing requires measurement of menstrual day 3 Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels, or the clomiphene citrate challenge test (CCCT). Clomiphine citrate is Clomid/Serophene. For the CCCT, hormone measurements for FSH and estradiol are made on menstrual day 3, Clomid/Serophene is administered, 2 tablets on days 5-9, and FSH and progesterone levels are measured on menstrual day 10. Elevated FSH levels on either menstrual day 3 or 10, and/or an elevated day 10 progesterone are all indicative of diminished ovarian reserve. Abnormal levels of FSH must be determined for each laboratory, so caution should be taken when interpreting the results. The Bethesda Center for Reproductive Health and infertility has published multiple papers on ovarian reserve screening and has established the hormone standards for ovarian r
