Ovulatory Dysfunction and Infertility

The physicians at Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology are highly experienced and skilled at treating menstrual irregularities and ovulatory dysfunction related to infertility.

Ovulation is the releasing of the egg from the ovary so that the egg can be fertilized by the sperm. Ovulatory dysfunction is one of the leading causes of infertility. Ovulatory dysfunction is a term that describes a group of disorders in which ovulation fails to occur, or occurs on an infrequent or irregular basis.

Anovulation (no ovulation) is a disorder in which eggs do not develop properly, or are not released from the follicles of the ovaries. Women who have this disorder may not menstruate for several months. Others may menstruate even though they are not ovulating. Although anovulation may result from hormonal imbalances, eating disorders, and other medical disorders, the cause is often unknown. Women athletes who exercise excessively may also stop ovulating.

Oligo-ovulation is a disorder in which ovulation doesn’t occur on a regular basis, and your menstrual cycle may be longer than the normal cycle of 21 to 35 days.

How ovulatory dysfunction is diagnosed

Your medical history is useful in diagnosing ovulatory dysfunction. However, other tests may be required to confirm the diagnosis. You may need one or more of the following tests:

• FSH blood level – a blood test that measures the amount of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in your blood to see if fertility is declining or if you are approaching menopause.
• Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) blood level – a hormone blood test that is one of the most accurate tests we currently have to evaluate the status of the ovaries and oocytes (eggs). A low AMH level suggests diminished ovarian reserve and a lower chance of pregnancy.
• Progesterone blood level – a blood test that measures the amount of progesterone in your blood to diagnose if ovulation has occurred.
• Ultrasound – a scan that uses high frequency sound waves to see if follicles in your ovaries are developing; also used to evaluate ovarian function – for example, small ovaries with a few small follicles may be a sign of poor ovarian reserve and a lower chance of fertility success.