Diminished ovarian reserve refers to a reduced egg supply
A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have. Each month, the ovaries prepare multiple eggs for ovulation, but the body typically releases just one egg at a time. As a woman ages, her egg supply naturally declines. Some women experience this age-related decline in fertility earlier than others, but all women will experience it at some point. Experts like our Las Vegas fertility specialists refer to a reduced egg supply as diminished ovarian reserve.
Different factors can cause a woman to have a reduced egg supply
The most common cause of diminished ovarian reserve is age. However, other factors can lead to a reduced egg supply.
- Genetic causes, such as Fragile X syndrome
- Surgeries for ovarian cysts or endometriosis
- Injuries to the ovaries due to endometriosis or pelvic infection
- Exposure to chemotherapy or radiation
One of our Las Vegas fertility specialists can perform testing to learn more about a woman’s egg supply. If she has diminished ovarian reserve, it doesn’t mean she can’t have a baby. It simply means our team will have to use different fertility treatments to make motherhood possible.
Our clinic offers treatments to help women with diminished ovarian reserve
There is no way to improve a reduced egg supply. However, advanced fertility treatments can help many women with this issue have a baby or preserve their fertility for the future.
- IVF is often the best course of action for women with this diagnosis. Because a woman with a very low ovarian reserve may not respond as well, higher doses of ovarian stimulation medications may be necessary to produce enough eggs.
- Some women with a reduced egg supply may need to consider egg donation in addition to IVF.
- If a woman isn’t ready to try for a baby, egg freezing is an option. When she is ready to try for a baby, we can thaw her eggs and fertilize them to create embryos. One of our doctors can then transfer one or more embryos to the patient’s uterus.
Diminished ovarian reserve becomes more of a problem over time. As a result, it’s important to get tested quickly if you’ve been trying to become pregnant for a year without success. If you’re 35 or over, you should see a fertility specialist right away if you’ve been trying for six months or longer.
To start the process, contact us today to make an appointment with one of our doctors. Our Las Vegas fertility specialists have helped many women overcome this common cause of infertility to become mothers.