It is possible that you may have come across the term ‘low ovarian reserve’, but did you ever wonder what it really means? Well, when it comes to the health and fertility of women, sadly, a lot of women tend to ignore glaring signs that point to the fact that something is amiss.

Did you know that every woman is born with a fixed number of eggs? Well, yes, this is true. Also, as years roll by, the count of the number of eggs also goes down. Low ovarian reserve points to a condition when a woman has fewer eggs in her ovaries than what she should have at a certain age. Dr. Jyoti Gupta, senior IVF consultant, Motherhood Fertility & IVF, Gurugram, says low ovarian reserve is a silent threat that impacts a woman’s fertility and overall health.

“A number of factors like genetic predisposition, autoimmune conditions, undergoing medical treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation, certain surgeries, endometriosis, or unhealthy lifestyle habits like smoking can lead to low ovarian reserve,” says Dr. Jyoti.

Women must understand the implications of low ovarian reserve. It can make women face trouble in conceiving a child. This is why it is important to look at the symptoms of low ovarian reserve. Dr. Jyoti has listed some of them below.

- Irregular menstrual cycle

- Difficulty in conceiving even after continuous efforts

- Hot flashes

- Night sweats

- Mood swings

- Vaginal dryness

- Difficulty in sleeping

- Emotional distress

Low ovarian reserve not only makes it difficult for women to get pregnant, but it also invariably ends up taking a toll on a woman’s mental health. Picture this: A woman is hoping to embrace motherhood, but she’s not able to conceive. What will this lead to? Chances are most women in such a case will experience stress, anxiety, overthinking and depression.

Dr. Jyoti says that women with low ovarian reserve allude to the fact that they may be suffering from certain health issues. “Low ovarian reserve may suggest that a woman may have some hormonal imbalance, reproductive health disorder, or she may experience early menopause. It goes without saying that all these issues can severely affect a woman’s physical health and quality of life,” says the doctor, adding that women must not ignore symptoms of low ovarian reserve and as soon as they identify with some of them, they must consult a fertility specialist.

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