Ovarian reserve testing
To determine the quantity and quality of your eggs, your doctor might test the concentration of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol (estrogen) and anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) in your blood during the first few days of your menstrual cycle.
Essentially, blood work gives an understanding of the hormone levels in your blood, as hormones are essential for regulating functions in the body, which includes:
- Development of eggs
- Ovulation
Test results, usually done together with an ultrasound scan of your ovaries, can help predict how your ovaries will respond to fertility medication. Your fertility specialist will prescribe fertility drugs to help regulate your hormone levels, but the blood work gives us the insights we need, to know what medications should be prescribed and how your body is likely to respond to fertility treatment.
The 3 key ovarian reserve tests are:
- Antral follicle count
- AMH blood test
- FSH blood test