An Update on Ovarian Aging and Ovarian Reserve Tests

AMANVERMEZ R., TOSUN M.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FERTILITY & STERILITY, vol.9, no.4, pp.411-415, 2016 (ESCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Review
  • Volume: 9 Issue: 4
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Journal Name: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FERTILITY & STERILITY
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.411-415
  • Keywords: Ovarian Aging, Infertility, Menopause, ROC Curve, Anti-Mullerian Hormone, WOMEN, MECHANISMS
  • Ondokuz Mayıs University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Ovaries are the female organs that age more quickly than other tissues such as the uterus, the pituitary gland or pancreas. Different from males, an interesting question is why and how the females lose fertility so rapidly. During the aging process, both the number and quality of the oocytes in the ovaries decrease and reach to a point beyond that no more viable offspring may be produced and the associated cyclic endocrinological activities cease, entering the menopause in females at an average age of 50 years. Females who delayed childbearing with or without their willing until their 30 years or 40 years constitute the largest portion of the total infertility population. Ovarian reserve tests (ORTs) provide an indirect estimate of a female's diminishing ovarian reserve or remaining follicular pool. This article briefly reviews recent progresses in relation to ovarian aging and ORTs.