Ovarian Ageing

The ovarian ageing/reserve test can provide an insight into the remaining number of fertile years a woman has. It can also tell us quite a lot about the quantity of eggs a woman has remaining. Although this test cannot tell us a significant amount about the quality of the eggs, it is one of the only ways of testing egg quality at all currently. It would seem that serum AMH is one of the best hormone markers to assess the quantitative aspect of ovarian reserve or dysfunction. Measuring AMH cannot predict whether a woman is able to become pregnant - there are other important factors that have to be taken into account - lifestyle, infection, genetic abnormality, quality of sperm and other male factors - but it is considered the best hormone to date to identify her potential reproductive capacity.

The test for ovarian aging is a simple blood test. The test is called an anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) test which is a substance produced in ovarian follicles. Research has shown that AMH blood levels are thought to reflect the size of the remaining egg supply - or ovarian reserve/ovarian aging. Low AMH levels are associated with lower levels of eggs and higher levels with higher numbers of eggs.

Women with risk factors for diminished ovarian reserve would include:

• most women over the age of 35 years
• women experiencing unexplained infertility
• women with a single ovary
• women with a family history of early menopause
• in some cases, women about to undergo chemotherapy

Findings such as premature ovarian failure can be effectively diagnosed by unexpectedly low AMH levels and in instances of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a well recognized endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age, a two or three fold increase in the number of growing follicles would be reflected in a two or three fold increase in the serum AMH levels.

The anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) can be measured at any time during your menstrual cycle. It does not correlate with lifestyle factors such as body mass index, smoking or alcohol consumption.

The results will be back in 72 hours.

It would seem that serum AMH is one of the best hormone markers to assess the quantitative aspect of ovarian reserve or dysfunction. Measuring AMH cannot predict whether a woman is able to become pregnant - there are other important factors that have to be taken into account - lifestyle, infection, genetic abnormality, quality of sperm and other male factors - but it is considered the best hormone to date to identify her potential reproductive capacity

If you are having the ovarian ageing test as part of your Preventicum Check-Up, it will cost £125. If you would just like to book for the ovarian ageing test, it will cost £155 and will include a consultation with our doctor

For more information please call the clinic on 020 7605 6900 or info@preventicum.co.uk