Seeing the negative effects of delayed diagnosis and treatment in our patients, CHR has developed a fertility tip sheet for young women with possible diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).

Many women under 35 with DOR spend months or years without the correct diagnosis, resulting in significant delays in appropriate fertility treatments.

“Detecting DOR is not difficult,” says Dr. Gleicher, Medical Director and Chief Scientist of CHR. “Ovarian reserve can be easily measured by simple blood tests, like follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). High FSH and/or low AMH suggest a diagnosis of DOR.”

However, many fertility centers often overlook this condition, especially in young women.

As women age, it is normal for FSH levels to increase and AMH levels to decrease. Assessing ovarian reserve by the same standards in younger and older women would, therefore, overlook prematurely abnormal levels in younger women because these levels would be considered within normal range. Using the same values for women of all ages, consequently, does not allow for a timely diagnosis of DOR in younger women.

Young women with DOR usually experience no typical symptoms other than difficulty conceiving. However, blood testing will reveal elevated FSH and/or abnormally low AMH levels for the age of affected patients.

Once diagnosed, it is difficult to predict how rapidly DOR will progress. Though rapid progression is rare, CHR has seen women go into full menopause within months from diagnosis.

To help aid in early diagnosis and treatment of DOR, CHR’s tip sheet aims to spread awareness about this often overlooked infertility diagnosis in young women.