What is Egg Reserve?
💡 Egg reserve = remaining egg pool in the ovaries (lay term for ovarian reserve). Non-renewable: ~1–2M at birth, ~400 ovulated in a lifetime. Measured by AMH and AFC. Low reserve = fewer eggs for IVF, not necessarily poor quality. A young woman with low AMH can still achieve IVF success.
Egg reserve is the patient-friendly term for ovarian reserve — the remaining pool of eggs stored in a woman's ovaries. It declines continuously throughout life and cannot be replenished. Low egg reserve reduces IVF egg yield but is distinct from egg quality, which is primarily determined by age.
🇮🇳 India Context: Egg Reserve is widely assessed and treated across major Indian fertility centres including Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, and Hyderabad.
What are the key characteristics of Egg Reserve?
- Lay equivalent of "ovarian reserve" — the clinical term used in investigations and reports
- Non-renewable: at birth ~1–2 million; puberty ~300,000–400,000; age 37 ~25,000; menopause <1,000
- Only ~400 eggs ovulated in a lifetime — the vast majority are lost through atresia (natural cell death)
- Unlike sperm, eggs are never newly produced — the supply set at birth is all a woman ever has
- Measured by: AMH blood test (most reliable) and antral follicle count (AFC) on Day 2–3 TVS
- Low egg reserve = reduced IVF egg yield (fewer eggs retrieved per stimulation cycle)
- Crucially distinct from egg quality: a 29-year-old with low AMH has few eggs but they are likely chromosomally normal
- A 43-year-old with normal AMH may have adequate quantity but predominantly aneuploid (poor quality) eggs
How does Egg Reserve work?
Why does Egg Reserve matter in fertility?
The most important clinical message about egg reserve: low quantity ≠ low quality — especially in younger women. A 30-year-old diagnosed with low AMH should not be told "your eggs are bad"; they should be told "you have fewer eggs, so act now before the reserve declines further." Quality is primarily determined by age, not reserve level. This distinction prevents both over-treatment (aggressive donor egg recommendation in young women with low AMH) and under-treatment (reassuring a 42-year-old with normal AMH that time is not urgent). In India, AMH testing (₹800–₹2,500) should be standard in any fertility workup.
What are related terms to Egg Reserve?
Ovarian Reserve
Ovarian reserve refers to the quantity and functional potential of remaining ooc…
AMH Test (Anti-Müllerian Hormone)
The AMH Test is a simple blood test that measures the level of Anti-Müllerian Ho…
Antral Follicle Count (AFC)
Antral Follicle Count (AFC) is a transvaginal ultrasound test. It is done early …
Low Ovarian Reserve (Diminished Ovarian Reserve)
Low Ovarian Reserve means a woman has fewer eggs than expected for her age. It i…
Egg Quality
Egg quality refers to the developmental competence and chromosomal normality of …
FAQs about Egg Reserve
How do I know if my egg reserve is low?
Egg reserve is assessed by: (1) AMH blood test — can be done any day of the cycle; low: <1.0 ng/mL; (2) Antral follicle count (AFC) — TVS ultrasound on Day 2–3; low: <5–6 follicles; (3) Day 3 FSH — elevated (>10 IU/L) suggests reduced reserve. Most fertility clinics in India offer this workup for ₹3,000–6,000 combined.
Does low egg reserve mean I cannot get pregnant?
No — especially if you are under 38. Low egg reserve means fewer eggs per IVF cycle, not zero fertility. Many women with low AMH achieve pregnancy with IVF using modified protocols. The key distinction: low reserve (quantity) ≠ poor quality. Young women with low AMH typically have chromosomally normal eggs.
Can egg reserve be increased?
No — egg reserve cannot be increased. The supply is fixed at birth and declines continuously. No supplement, treatment, or medication increases the primordial follicle pool. DHEA supplementation may improve IVF response in some poor responders but does not increase reserve. The correct response to low reserve is to act promptly, not to wait.
At what AMH level should I consider IVF?
AMH <1.0 ng/mL in a woman over 35 warrants prompt IVF referral — further decline is likely. AMH <0.5 ng/mL at any age is an urgent indication to begin fertility treatment or banking. AMH 1.0–1.5 ng/mL (borderline): IUI may still be reasonable in younger women, but IVF is more efficient given the limited egg pool.
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