Ovarian Reserve
Testing in Mississippi

What is ovarian reserve testing?

Your ovarian reserve is your egg supply. Because we cannot count your eggs we use our testing to estimate your egg supply. This estimate is based on several factors, such as age and reproductive history. An ultrasound will be done to count the small (antral) follicles in the ovary.

The more antral follicles you have the better. The follicle number does not indicate a specific egg number, but can be correlated with the egg supply. A blood test will be performed to measure 5 hormones, and these hormone values will be used to calculate an egg score (Ovarian Assessment Report, OAR) The scores range from 1, which is low, to 20, which is excellent. There is not a score that can guarantee pregnancy, and there is not a score that indicates that you cannot get pregnant. These results will be explained to you at a return visit that will be scheduled at the time of your testing. The testing is best used to estimate egg quantity.

Unfortunately, egg quality cannot be accurately measured but is most closely correlated with your age.

How do I do ovarian reserve testing?

Notify MRM via the patient portal with the first day of regular bleeding.

You will send your message on the portal requesting the OAR test to:

You will return to the clinic on either day 2, 3, or 4.

If you should start your menses on a Thursday, you will come in on Friday morning, day 2. The clinic closes Friday at noon. If you should start menses on a Friday, you will return to the clinic on day 4, Monday.

When you come to the clinic, a transvaginal ultrasound will be performed. You will still be bleeding. After the ultrasound, your blood will be drawn for hormonal testing.

What can influence the test?

The results of the test can be influenced by ovarian cysts, recent surgery and the use of hormones, like birth control pills. Please let us know if you have recently been taking any hormones. If you are taking Clomid or letrozole, do not take those medications until after your testing is done. For example, letrozole is normally taken days 3-7, but if you do not do the testing until day 4, you will not take the medication until day 4.

How will the results of the tests be used?

We use the estimate of your egg supply to counsel you on your therapy and your prognosis. In addition, for patients who undergo In Vitro Fertilization, the testing will help determine your medication protocol. We do not use the results of the blood test alone to make decisions about therapy.