Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a disorder in which a woman's ovaries have fewer eggs than they should for her age, and the eggs that are left may not be as good as they should be. This drop in ovarian function can have a big impact on fertility, making it harder to get pregnant and raising the risk of miscarriage.

DOR can happen naturally as people become older, but it can also happen because of genetics, autoimmune diseases, previous ovarian surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy. Women with DOR frequently encounter irregular menstrual periods, diminished efficacy of fertility medicines, or challenges in establishing pregnancy despite regular ovulation.

Blood tests to check hormone levels, such as anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), are usually part of the diagnosis. An ultrasound is also used to check the antral follicle count. These tests assist in figuring out how many eggs are left in the ovaries and how to schedule treatment.
Different management tactics are needed to reach different reproductive goals. There are many options, such as freezing eggs to preserve viability, using assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilisation (IVF), or using donor eggs in very bad cases. Changes to your lifestyle, such as maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise, and getting help early can also help your reproductive health by improving fertility outcomes and overall well-being.

DOR can be hard to deal with, but early diagnosis and individualised treatment plans give many women the chance to get pregnant and stay in charge of their reproductive health.