Facing challenges with fertility can be overwhelming, especially when you are told that you have a Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR). Although it is a common issue and diagnosis for women who are trying to conceive, there are many who wonder - can IVF help when diminished ovarian reserve? The answer to this question is - yes, IVF can help with diminished ovarian reserve. But there is a bit more to this aspect than DOR just occurring and IVF helping with this issue.
In this blog, we shall discuss what DOR means, its cause, and how it affects natural conception. Additionally, we shall also discuss what symptoms to look out for, and explore the role of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in treating DOR.
What is Diminished Ovarian Reserve?
Let’s start with knowing what the issue is first before we discuss anything else. In simple terms, it refers to a condition where your ovaries lose their normal reproductive potential. What this means is that you have fewer eggs available, and when you have this condition, the qualities of eggs are often reduced to some extent. While we do admit that as you age, the aspect that we mentioned occurs naturally if you have DOR, the quantity and quality of eggs diminish before you reach the said age.
It is important to remember that every woman is born with a set number of eggs. The exact quantity of eggs varies from person to person, but they are finite. As time goes by, the freshness and quality of those eggs decline. When this decrease happens more rapidly than anticipated or at an earlier age, you receive a diagnosis of DOR. While it is a significant concern, it does not necessarily imply that pregnancy is unfeasible if you are experiencing this issue. This simply indicates that achieving natural conception can become significantly harder.
Keep in mind that while DOR may appear similar to menopause, it is still possible to experience regular menstruation and ovulation. The likelihood of conceiving naturally decreases.
Causes of DOR: Beyond Aging
Advancing age is a natural element contributing to the decrease in fertility. Nonetheless, a Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) may also result in reduced fertility, impacting younger women too. This problem may arise from several medical, environmental, and lifestyle influences, resulting in a decreased quantity or quality of eggs. Therefore, understanding the causes can help in choosing the right fertility treatment.
- Genetic predisposition such as early menopause in close family members
- Fragile X premutation affecting ovarian function
- Turner syndrome is a hereditary condition that affects growth and development.
- Autoimmune diseases like lupus or thyroid disorders
- Endometriosis damages ovarian tissue
- Operations on the pelvis or ovaries that affect blood circulation or necessitate tissue excision.
- Chemotherapy or radiation harming ovarian cells
- Smoking reduces egg quality and quantity
- Contact with environmental pollutants such as BPA or pesticides
- Chronic stress disrupting hormonal balance
- Being significantly underweight or overweight
- Severe pelvic infections like pelvic inflammatory disease
- Poor ovarian blood flow affecting egg development
- Ovarian cysts or tumors interfering with function
- Hormonal imbalances such as high FSH or low AMH
- Use of certain medications that may impact ovarian reserve
- Causes that are unknown where no specific explanation is identified.
These factors may reduce your chances of conceiving naturally, but with timely medical support, including IVF, you can still achieve pregnancy even if you have DOR.
DOR Symptoms and Diagnosis
When it comes to understanding DOR, just knowing the causes is not enough, you should also know about the common symptoms and general diagnosis methods. Knowing the symptoms and diagnosis can help you take the right step in getting fertility treatment at the right time. Here are some important signs and diagnosis criteria for DOR.
Common Symptoms of DOR
There are many symptoms of DOR, and although some of these symptoms are rather common, they can indicate that you are being affected by DOR. Some of these common symptoms include:
- Trouble getting pregnant despite regular unprotected sex
- Shorter-than-usual menstrual cycles (often under 26 days)
- Light or irregular periods
- Occasionally missed periods
- Hot flashes or night sweats
- Vaginal dryness or discomfort
- Mood changes or irritability
- Decreased sexual desire
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeling tired or low on energy
Now do note that while these symptoms do indicate that you can have DOR, it does not always translate to you having this issue. Therefore, you should consult with an expert if you see the symptoms that we mentioned here.
Diagnostic Methods for DOR
Although knowing the symptoms can help you identify DOR, it is not a sure way to know if you have DOR or not. However, the good news here is that there are many ways to diagnose if you have this issue or not. Some of the common diagnostic methods for DOR include:
- Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) test to check egg reserve
- The FSH (Follicle-Stimulating Hormone) test is usually performed on the cycle's third day.
- Antral Follicle Count (AFC) using transvaginal ultrasound
- Estradiol test to assess hormone balance
- Transvaginal ultrasound for assessing ovarian dimensions and follicles.
- Ovulation tracking to detect irregular ovulation patterns
Why Does DOR Affect Natural Conception?
Decreased Ovarian Reserve (DOR) renders natural conception harder because it affects the quantity as well as the quality of eggs. Even if you continue ovulating, there is a lesser probability of your receiving a healthy egg release and getting pregnant. Apart from this, some of the most significant explanations of why or how DOR affects natural conceptions are:
- Fewer available eggs mean fewer chances of successful ovulation on a monthly basis.
- Reduced egg quality decreases the likelihood of successful fertilization and proper embryo development.
- Inconsistent ovulation can complicate the timing of intercourse needed to achieve pregnancy.
- Hormonal imbalance can affect the uterine lining, as well as carrying a pregnancy.
- The shortness of the menstrual cycle may not give enough time to completely mature eggs.
- Higher likelihood of miscarriage linked to chromosomal issues in low-quality eggs.
- Less response to natural fertility cues, which may make conception uncertain
While DOR is difficult, it does not necessarily mean that pregnancy is impossible. With proper medical care and fertility interventions, including IVF, most women with DOR are still able to have successful pregnancies.
Management of Reduced Ovarian Reserve through IVF: Options and Developments
DOR is a medical illness and one of those medical illnesses that have many remedies. IVF is a highly efficient choice for treating DOR. Although DOR does have unique challenges, you have many various IVF based treatment alternatives from which to choose. Some of the most significant IVF treatment alternatives include:
- Individualized stimulation protocols to stimulate the ovaries mildly rather than overmedicating
- Minimal or mild stimulation IVF is used quite often in order to prioritize the quality of eggs rather than the quantity
- Natural cycle IVF is a good choice for women who have very few eggs per cycle only
- Dual stimulation (DuoStim), if available in some advanced IVF centers, allows two egg retrievals during one menstrual cycle
- Usage of fertility supplements like CoQ10 and DHEA in an effort to enhance the quality of the eggs before undergoing IVF
- Oocyte and embryo pooling across multiple cycles, commonly practiced in top IVF clinics in Nepal, helps accumulate viable eggs or embryos for a better chance at success.
- Programs for egg donation for women with very low ovarian reserve or those who have experienced multiple IVF failures.
- Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT), provided in a few IVF clinics, to choose chromosomally normal embryos
- High-tech embryo culture laboratories, such as in the best fertility clinics in Kathmandu, maximize embryo development
- Frozen embryo transfer (FET) allows the body to recover before implantation
- Low-cost IVF packages, through which repeat cycles or combined protocols become easily affordable for Nepali couples
- Emotional care and counseling, provided by most reputable IVF centers to avoid emotional trauma during the process of treatment
With advancements in IVF technology and expertise in Nepal, many women - including you with DOR, can realistically aspire to access paths to parenthood.
Choosing the Right IVF Centre in Nepal: Why Hardik IVF Stands Out
While one goes through the medical and psychological ordeal of Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR), there is another choice as important as the treatment itself, and that is choosing the fertility clinic. Hardik IVF has built a strong reputation for its expertise in treating low ovarian reserve patients with the finest care, accuracy, and innovation.
Hardik has a personalized approach to IVF protocols, especially for IVF protocols with low AMH and complex fertility cases. We offer access to upscale lab facilities, experienced fertility specialists, and compassionate counseling services, all under one roof. If you are looking for a fertility partner who understands the emotional weight of DOR and offers practical solutions based on medical expertise, Hardik IVF is somewhere you can count on.
FAQs About IVF for Women With Diminished Ovarian Reserve
Can IVF correct low AMH?
Certainly, IVF can help women with low AMH levels, but it might require customized protocols and increased monitoring. Egg quality is critical to success over quantity, and the majority of women conceive with the correct treatment protocol.
How do I fix my diminished ovarian reserve?
Although you cannot increase your egg quantity, you can preserve egg quality through healthy living, supplements like CoQ10, and early medical intervention. You need to make an early consultation with a fertility specialist to optimize your chances.
What is the optimal IVF protocol for reduced ovarian reserve?
Mild stimulation, natural cycle, or double stimulation (DuoStim) protocols are usually preferred in low ovarian reserve. The best protocol depends on individual hormone levels, ovarian response, and overall health.
Is IVF successful with low ovarian reserve?
Success can be compromised with diminished ovarian reserve, but IVF is still an acceptable means to conceive. Outcomes are much improved with early intervention, tailored treatment, and advanced laboratory techniques.
