Although a woman is born with a lifetime supply of eggs in her ovaries, with age, these eggs gradually decrease in both quantity and quality.
The Ovarian Reserve Test is performed to determine how much eggs a woman has left. This is done by measuring the levels of Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH), a hormone which is being secreted by follicular cells. However, this test does not determine the quality of the eggs.
This test is done if a woman has been trying to have a baby for six months or more, and would want to know if their store of eggs is appropriate to their age. It is also important to perform this test prior to fertility treatments since low AMH levels is an indication that IVF may not work. Other indications for Ovarian Reserve Test include women who have undergone chemotherapy or ovarian surgery and those who want to have a child at a later age.