Ovarian reserve assessment primarily involves hormonal blood tests and a pelvic ultrasound. The goal is to determine whether ovarian stimulation for assisted reproductive technology (ART) is feasible.
These tests are performed early in the menstrual cycle, typically between day 2 and day 5 of menstruation, and include blood measurements of:
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Luteinizing hormone (LH)
- Estradiol
- Progesterone
- Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH)
A transvaginal pelvic ultrasound is also conducted to count antral follicles, which provides an indirect estimate of ovarian reserve—the remaining stock of “dormant” primordial follicles in the ovaries.
