Possibilities and Limits of Ovarian Reserve Testing in ART

Antonio      La Marca; Cindy      Argento; Giovanna      Sighinolfi; Valentina      Grisendi; Marilena      Carbone; Giovanni      D'Ippolito; Alfredo      Carducci Artenisio; Gaspare      Stabile; Annibale      Volpe

Abstract

Markers of ovarian reserve are associated with ovarian aging as they decline with chronologic age, and hence may predict stages of reproductive aging including the menopause transition. Assessment of ovarian reserve include measurement of serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), and inhibin-B. Ultrasound determination of antral follicle count (AFC), ovarian vascularity and ovarian volume also can have a role. The clomiphene citrate challenge test (CCCT), exogenous FSH ovarian reserve test (EFORT), and GnRH-agonist stimulation test (GAST) are dynamic methods that have been used in the past to assess ovarian reserve. In infertile women, ovarian reserve markers can be used to predict low and high oocyte yield and treatment failure in women undergoing in vitro fertilization. However the markers may have limitations when an in depth analysis of their accuracy, cost, convenience, and utility is performed. As ovarian reserve markers may permit the identification of both the extremes of ovarian stimulation, a possible role for their measurement may be in the individualization of treatment strategies in order to reduce the clinical risk of ART along with optimized treatment burden. It is fundamental to clarify the cost/benefit of its use in the ovarian reserve testing before initiation of an IVF cycle and whether the ovarian reserve markers-determined strategy of ovarian stimulation for assisted conception may be associated to improved live birth rate.

Keywords: Ovarian reserve, AMH, AFC, FSH, ART, IVF, hyperresponse, OHSS, fetal life, chronologic age, high oocyte yield, ovarian stimulation, primordial follicles, granulosa cells, poor response