Infertility is a sad reality for many women. They may struggle through joys and sorrows month after month, longing to become pregnant and wishing for the joys of becoming a mother while discovering at the end of each month that, once again, they are not pregnant. Women who believe that they may be infertile are unable to receive an affirmative diagnosis until they have gone 12 months without becoming pregnant. For some women, these months may be too long, impacting their ability to have a baby in the future even with medical help. Thanks to new research in the fertility field, this may all change over the next few years. With ovarian reserve testing as a part of ovarian treatment, you and other women can know the state of health of your ovaries before you ever even try to get pregnant.
What Is Ovarian Treatment?
An ovarian reserve test can tell you what your egg count is. This test looks at how much anti -Mullerian hormone you have; this then allows doctors to estimate how many follicles, or eggs, are in the ovaries. This part of the test is combined with an antral follicle count, which is done during an ultrasound. Taken together, these tests let our doctor estimate how many follicles you have left to produce. To get pregnant, your ovaries must produce an egg from the follicles at just the right time and the environment inside your uterus must be just right to sustain a fertilized egg.
How Can It Impact Infertility Treatment?
The results of your ovarian treatment through reserve testing can help our practitioner know what is needed for a viable pregnancy to occur. Our doctor may prescribe an ovulation pill or certain hormones to help you. He or she can also let you know if your supplies are dwindling and if you are reaching menopause.
What Else Should You Know?
While ovarian reserve testing is incredibly helpful for women wondering how high their likelihood of becoming pregnant is, you should realize that it does not tell you everything. For example, the eggs that you have may not be of high quality. It also does not tell you if your body is a positive or negative environment for an egg to be fertilized in and for the fertilized egg to implant itself into your uterus. Therefore, it is vital that you discuss ovarian treatment and your results with our practitioner so that you can get the best care suited for your unique needs.
If you are concerned that you may struggle with fertility, we recommend requesting an ovarian reserve test at West Coast Women’s Reproductive Center in Sherman Oaks, CA. This test can help set your mind at ease in many cases and can guide treatment at other times. Call us today to learn more about this unique test and to schedule a consultation!
