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Review
. 2016 Jan-Mar;9(4):411-5.
doi: 10.22074/ijfs.2015.4591. Epub 2015 Dec 23.

An Update on Ovarian Aging and Ovarian Reserve Tests

Ramazan Amanvermez  1 , Migraci Tosun  2
Affiliations
Review

An Update on Ovarian Aging and Ovarian Reserve Tests

Ramazan Amanvermez et al. Int J Fertil Steril. 2016 Jan-Mar.

Abstract

Ovaries are the female organs that age more quickly than other tissues such as the uterus, the pituitary gland or pancreas. Different from males, an interesting question is why and how the females lose fertility so rapidly. During the aging process, both the number and quality of the oocytes in the ovaries decrease and reach to a point beyond that no more viable offspring may be produced and the associated cyclic endocrinological activities cease, entering the menopause in females at an average age of 50 years. Females who delayed childbearing with or without their willing until their 30 years or 40 years constitute the largest portion of the total infertility population. Ovarian reserve tests (ORTs) provide an indirect estimate of a female's diminishing ovarian reserve or remaining follicular pool. This article briefly reviews recent progresses in relation to ovarian aging and ORTs.

Keywords: Anti-Mullerian Hormone; Infertility; Menopause; Ovarian Aging; ROC Curve.

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Figures

Fig.1
Fig.1
The number of primordial follicles in the ovaries and the quality of oocytes in relation to female age. Figure was represented by permission from Li et al. (3).
Fig.2
Fig.2
ROC curves of studies reporting on the performance of the AFC, AMH and basal FSH tests to predict poor ovarian response (figure was produced by data of references 1, 2, 17). ROC; Receiver operating characteristic curve, AFC; Antral follicle count, AMH; Anti-mullerian hormone and FSH; Follicle stimulating hormone.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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