Assessment of ovarian reserve--should we perform tests of ovarian reserve routinely?

Hum Reprod. 2006 Nov;21(11):2729-35. doi: 10.1093/humrep/del188. Epub 2006 Aug 26.

Abstract

Women undergoing IVF are routinely subjected to one or more tests of ovarian reserve. The results of these tests are also being extrapolated to women attending infertility clinics and those planning to delay childbearing. This debate examines the predictive power of currently available tests of ovarian reserve and questions the value of subjecting women to ovarian reserve tests. We propose that in the absence of an agreement on (i) a definition of poor ovarian reserve, (ii) the population to be tested and (iii) which interventions are effective in women with poor ovarian reserve, routine ovarian reserve testing is unhelpful.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Estradiol / blood
  • Female
  • Fertility / physiology*
  • Fertility Agents, Female
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Female / physiopathology
  • Ovary / physiology*

Substances

  • Fertility Agents, Female
  • Estradiol
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone