Ovarian Reserve: Understanding Your Ovaries and Egg Count From Birth to Menopause

Double board certified OBGYN and REI, Dr. Natalie Crawford, explains the development and depletion of eggs in the ovaries. She discusses the role of hormones and the brain-ovary-adrenal gland axis during puberty. Dr. Crawford also covers how hormonal contraception, pregnancy, and breastfeeding impact egg loss, as well as the changes seen in the menstrual cycle as women approach menopause, including shorter cycles and irregular periods. Lastly, she explains ovarian reserve testing and what the results mean about your fertility.

Questions Answered:

How many eggs are you born with?

How fast does your egg count decrease?

What can cause your egg count to decrease?

What is puberty?

What role does the brain play?

When do you start ovulating?

What is ovulation?

What is the corpus luteum?

What happens to your eggs on birth control?

How does your menstrual cycle change when you get closer to menopause?

How will your labs change?

How do you test your ovarian reserve?

How does AMH testing work?

What is normal for your age?

Does egg freezing or IVF hurt your egg count?