Ovarian Reserve TestingMissouri Center for Reproductive Medicine & Fertility

Ovarian reserve refers to the ability of the eggs remaining in a woman’s ovaries at a given age, to produce a viable pregnancy. This “reserve” may certainly decrease with age. We generally recommend testing on all women who are 35 years of age or greater, as well as women with a history of poor response to fertility drugs.

These are the available tests that evaluate ovarian reserve:

Basal FSH, Estradiol – a single blood test that is performed between days 2 and 4 of the menstrual cycle; we routinely use this test.brbr Clomiphene Citrate Challenge Test (CCCT) – involves administration of clomiphene citrate, with 2 blood test measurements on day 3 and day 10 of the menstrual cycle; we use this test less commonly.

Basal Antral Follicle (BAF) count – Transvaginal ultrasound is performed to count the number of small follicles (cyst with egg inside) available for stimulation at the beginning of a treatment cycle (low number may indicate poor response).