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Understanding Diminished Ovarian Reserve
According to the research Center for Human Reproduction, about 10% of women experience diminished ovarian reserve problems. Where most of us do not know about the ovarian reserve and diminished ovarian reserve. Before going toward diminished reserves let’s start to understand the ovarian reserve first.
Ovarian reserve is a count of a follicular pool of oocytes in women at their productive age. The follicular pool is the rational count of qualitative follicles present in the ovary while diminished ovarian reserve indicates the reduction in follicular count and quality leading to infertility. It is most commonly observed in aged women where follicular count and quality both start to diminish.
To understand the diminished ovarian reserve, antral follicular count (AFC) and baseline FSH are evaluated. Secondly, it is a must to access whether an ovarian reserve is diminished with age or due to any gynaecological pathology or any injury.
How Diminished Ovarian Reserve Affects a Girl/Woman’s Life?
When a woman conceives a baby girl, immediately the tiny baby starts developing her oocytes within her body. So you have these oocytes when you were in the womb of your mother. The number of oocytes when you were born was maximum at the time of birth which decided the follicular count for the rest of your life. These oocytes were maximum at birth and start to decrease with age.
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist, every girl has about 6-7million oocytes at your 20 weeks gestational age. With age, this count lowers as:
| At the time of birth | 1-2 million oocytes |
| Puberty | 300,000-500,000 oocytes |
| At age after 35 years | Around 25000 oocytes |
| Above 50 years | Around 1000 oocytes |
Top 4 Factors that Lower Down the Ovarian Reserve
1. Age
With age your hormone level most probably FSH increases while androgen and AMH level decreases.
2. Psychological Stress
Stress plays an important role in the hormone level of the female where it potentiates the series of hormonal imbalance leading to follicle development-related complications. It impairs the quality of oocytes.
3. Genetic Abnormality
Genetic abnormality also affects the quality and quantity of oocytes which can be a sign of diminished ovarian reserve in future.
4. Gynaecological Disorders (PCOS), Ovarian Surgery
Gynaecological pathologies that cause a hormonal imbalance of FSH, androgen, AMH significantly lower the ovarian reserve.
How to Use Herbs to Help Diminished Ovarian Reserve Naturally?
Since DOR has to do with how many eggs remain, it makes sense to do the best you can with what you have left. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) supplement which is a mild androgen is used to normalize the androgen levels. Though not an herb, this hormone is released naturally from the adrenal cortex and the cells of the ovaries. This is responsible for maintaining healthy oocyte count in female ovaries. With age, this hormone starts to decline. DHEA Creme by Whole Family Products may provide some help for both women and men to keep their hormone levels in balance but especially useful in this way.
Other herbs, such as those in Fertile Lady may help to keep moving along as healthy as possible. Herbs that will help to lengthen the luteal phase can help to make pregnancy more of a success story for women over 40 with DOR. Maca, Tongkat Ali, Muira Puama Root Powder, L-Arginine and others may help and will certainly help with keeping an active libido.
Getting Pregnant with Diminished Ovarian Reserve – Is it Possible?
Studies show that if your ovarian reserve is diminished there is still about a 33% chance to conceive with your remaining eggs with proper medication. But early diagnosis is so important if you are trying to conceive.
If you are diagnosed with diminished ovarian syndrome earlier then it may be possible to freeze healthier eggs for the future IVF procedure.
Donor eggs is also a significant option to cope up with diminished ovarian syndrome. These donor eggs are retrieved from a healthy female donor to further proceed with the IVF procedure. Read more here about trying to get pregnant through Self-Insemination.
Fear and stress won’t help Diminished Ovarian Reserve. Instead, do your best to remain active and healthy and give the eggs you do have a fighting chance.
