Diminished ovarian reserve is a condition that occurs when ovaries stop working at their best earlier than average. People with diminished ovarian reserve can have intermittent ovulation which means they may still release an egg and get pregnant. In fact, around 5% to 10% of those with a diagnosis of diminished ovarian reserve will spontaneously get pregnant without treatment for infertility. It affects about 1% of women between the ages 15 to 44. It's usually seen in women who are older than 30. Diminished ovarian reserve may be found incidentally when a woman takes the AMH test. It’s an important diagnosis to find out early in order to consider fertility at a time earlier than expected and also to consider egg freezing if you’re not ready for babies yet.

The short answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT! It’s a commonly asked fertility question and a common misconception. Within your ovaries you have many many follicles. They may be in a ‘dormant’ state or in the ‘antral’ phase. It takes at least three months for follicles to naturally mature and reach the antral state at which they would be able to create an egg viable for fertilisation. In a natural cycle only one of these follicles would release an egg at the time of ovulation. The other follicles die away naturally and are not longer viable. During an IVF or egg freezing cycle, only follicles in the antral phase are stimulated. These are the follicles that can be seen and counted on a pelvic ultrasound. These follicles are monitored during the cycle and collected at the time of egg pickup. However the follicles that have remained in the dormant state remain in the ovaries and these then slowly mature to become viable follicles for potential ovulation in the future. So whilst IVF or egg freezing does collect all the eggs from the mature follicles available it plays no role in the dormant follicles.

At Celery Health, your results are reviewed by doctors. Your fertility reserve is carefully considered in combination with your age, medical history, blood results and pelvic ultrasound. We make sure you’re receiving accurate and up-to-date information before helping you to the next step of your fertility planning.

Unfortunately not. If only it did! Within your ovaries, you have many many follicles with the potential to create an egg that can be fertilised. They are divided into ‘dormant’ (inactive) and ‘antral’ follicles. The maturation of the follicles occurs over three months and this process is not stopped by being on the OCP. The OCP works to avoid the release of the egg from the most mature follicle, ie. the OCP stops ovulation. During the course of a natural cycle, the remaining antral follicles not released at the time of ovulation simply die away. They can’t be used in the future. If you are considering having a child in the future and you’ve been on the OCP for sometime, it could be a good time to speak to one of the Celery Health team about your fertility options and how to start planning the next step.

At Celery Health, your results are reviewed by doctors. Your fertility reserve is carefully considered in combination with your age, medical history, blood results and pelvic ultrasound. We make sure you’re receiving accurate and up-to-date information before helping you to the next step of your fertility planning.

The short answer is yes! Whilst you can certainly test your AMH whilst still taking the oral contraceptive pill, there is evidence to suggest that for some people taking the OCP, AMH results may be falsely reduced by up to 30%. Depending on the reason you take the OCP, you may consider stopping it for three months prior to testing your AMH. For example, if you’re taking it for contraception or skin reasons you might find alternative methods for three months to ensure the most accurate result. But if you’re needing the OCP to control your severe endometriosis pain, perhaps it’s worth staying on the pill and allowing for the possibility that your AMH results may be falsely reduced by up to 30%.

Ultimately it’s a personal decision depending on your body and situation. Don’t forget, your AMH is part of the picture of your ovarian reserve. At Celery Health, we provide a full fertility assessment including your medical history and personal fertility goals. Your AMH, imaging and other bloods results are carefully considered by doctors and an expert fertility team including nutritional and lifestyle support to create the full picture. We make sure you’re receiving accurate and up-to-date information before helping you to the next step of your fertility planning.

Biotin, or Vitamin B7, is often found in hair, skin and nail supplements. Biotin doses at greater that 5mg per day may have an effect on AMH levels. It is recognised as creating false results in AMH readings so check your supplements and be mindful of their role in your results!

The cost for the AMH test in Australia is between $75-$100. AMH testing is covered by some health funds. You may able to claim the cost of this test back if you go on to see fertility specialist.

To get a really good understanding about your fertility reserve, a thorough fertility assessment gives the most information. Fortunately we live in a time where so much information is available at our fingertips. In order to interpret your history and background to your best advantage, it's best to get a complete picture of your body. This includes blood tests to look at a multitude of areas - all of which may contribute to your fertility and chances of having a baby in the future. This might include looking at AMH, your sex hormones, iron studies, your thryoid function and any background of STI in order to best optimise your body.

The good news is these blood tests generally occur only once at a specific time of your cycle. We help you find a lab near to you and receive the results as soon as they become available.

Unrecognised and untreated STI’s have a big impact on your future fertility, leading to complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) in women and epididymitis in men. In women, PID can lead to scarring and blockage of the fallopian tubes, making it difficult for eggs to reach the uterus and increasing the risk of ectopic pregnancies. In men, epididymitis can lead to sperm duct blockages. The good news is most STI’s can be treated! As part of your fertility assessment with Celery Health, we screen for STIs, making sure you are STI-free and treated before beginning your pregnancy or egg freezing journey. It’s a great way to have some peace of mind before beginning on a fertility path.

Good thyroid function is essential for optimal fertility. The thyroid influences hormone regulation, menstrual regularity, ovulation and the overall ability to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy. Sometimes poor thyroid function is not obvious initially. Thyroid dysfunction can also affect male fertility. As part of your Celery Health fertility assessment, we look closely at your thyroid function amongst the rest of your detailed fertility investigation workup. Even if you’re just beginning to think about your fertility options, it’s always worth making sure your body is in optimum shape for the future.

A pelvic ultrasound is an imaging procedure used to assess the reproductive organs in the pelvic area. ⁠It provides a detailed view of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. It’s also used to look at the Antral Follicle Count (AFC) or the evaluation of maturing follicles within the ovaries. This is useful when correlating to the AMH results in assessment of ovarian reserve. ⁠Pelvic ultrasounds are also used to check for other fertility issues, such as identifying structural abnormalities, cysts, fibroids, or polyps that could affect a person's ability to conceive. By visualising these structures, healthcare providers can make informed decisions about fertility pathways and reproductive health. When you're having a fertility workup, the type of ultrasound procedure is transvaginal. It’s a short procedure and can takes about twenty minutes. There is no radiation exposure and it is a very safe procedure!