The frustration you feel when you're trying to conceive but can't can be extremely frustrating to overwhelming. You're not sure what's going on, but you know there must be some reason you can't grasp. If you've been actively trying to conceive for a year (six months if you're over 35) without success, it's time to see a fertility specialist and find out why you just can't get pregnant.
There are all kinds of reasons for infertility, and your diagnosis indicates the type of treatment needed. Some women experience a condition called low egg reserve or reduced ovarian reserve. This condition occurs when your ovaries produce too few eggs or eggs that are not viable for fertilization. This condition significantly affects your chances of a healthy pregnancy.
What is low egg supply?
A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have (about a million!) and by the time puberty hits, the reserve is at about 300,000 eggs. During their reproductive years, females lay about 300 to 400 eggs. As women age, the supply of viable eggs begins to decrease. This is why pregnancy becomes more difficult as you approach menopause. Of women seeking fertility treatment, between 20%-50% receive a low egg reserve diagnosis. Aging reduces the number of eggs you have, but there are other factors that affect your egg supply and fertility. These are the following:
- Endometriosis
- Chemotherapy
- Radiotherapy
- Fallopian tube disease
- Previous surgery on the ovaries
- Pelvic infection
- Autoimmune disorder
- Early menopause
- Certain birth defects
- Smoking
- Mumps
- Unexplained decreased ovarian reserve
Symptoms of low egg reserve
Usually, the first sign that you may have a low egg supply is an inability to conceive. Although in some cases there are other somewhat vague symptoms, such as:
- Amenorrhea (absence of one or more periods not due to pregnancy)
- Menstrual cycles (less than 21 days)
- Heavy periods
- Elimination
If you experience any of these symptoms and have not been able to conceive after 12 months of unprotected intercourse (six months over the age of 35), it is important to see a reproductive specialist.
How is the condition diagnosed?
If you have any of the above symptoms combined with your age, your lifestyle and the inability to get pregnant after six to 12 months of trying, the doctor may suspect a low egg reserve. There are a few different ways to diagnose low egg reserve. On or around day three of your menstrual cycle, your doctor draws blood to measure your hormone levels, specifically your follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/estradiol and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. These hormones are essential for normal, healthy ovulation. Those with higher FSH and lower AMH than normal are most likely to have low egg reserves. AMH reflects the number of eggs in the body. Your doctor evaluates these hormone levels, along with a transvaginal ultrasound to observe the number of visible follicles before making an accurate diagnosis.
Treatment for low egg supply
If your doctor finds that you have a low egg supply, there is no need to despair. There are treatment options available, depending on the degree of your egg supply.
For borderline individuals with a reduced egg supply, conventional IVF offers the greatest success. Those who have had multiple failed IVF treatments due to poor response or women with a very low egg reserve may benefit from the mini-IVF protocol.
Those with a very low egg reserve are excellent candidates for IVF donor eggs. Donor eggs are healthy, usually from a younger woman. Donors are screened and both donor and recipient remain anonymous. Some people use healthy donor eggs from a close friend or family member. Choosing to use healthy donor eggs increases the success of IVF for those with a low egg supply.
What can you do
For those concerned about low egg supply, the best thing you can do is make sure you are as healthy as possible. Quit smoking and avoid alcohol and other unhealthy substances. Eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight. Make sure you get some form of doctor-approved exercise and take doctor-approved supplements.
Although a low egg reserve diagnosis is stressful in itself, find healthy ways to deal with your stress. Get out in nature, meditate, take a yoga class, and consider discussing your diagnosis with a qualified therapist.
At the Reproductive Medicine Center “Dr. Alexandros Traianos” we understand the anxiety associated with infertility and we are here to help you find answers to this very personal situation. With state-of-the-art equipment and an experienced team of scientists specializing in Reproductive Medicine, our Center is ready to help you grow your family.
(+30) 2310 277 032 or send a message to 
email alexandrostraianos@gmail.com.
