Learn why your antral follicle count matters
Our Louisiana fertility center doctors find that testing a woman’s antral follicle count is an essential step in determining her fertility health. This count is important because viewing the number of antral follicles – small, unstimulated eggs – allows our specialists to estimate the amount of eggs a woman still has in her ovaries.
As women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have. Women release eggs each month after they reach puberty and have a depleted ovarian reserve when they reach menopause. By determining a woman’s antral follicle count we can predict where she is on this timeline.
How we test a woman’s count
The process of testing an intended mother’s antral follicle count is simple. It consists of one of our fertility specialists performing a transvaginal ultrasound on day three of the woman’s menstrual cycle. This ultrasound gives us an estimate of her antral follicles. A high follicle count often means a woman has good fertility potential.
In addition to the ultrasound, our team will administer other tests to get a complete view of an intended mother’s fertility health.
- Blood test. A blood test is an essential step in determining a woman’s fertility potential. It provides additional information about her ovarian reserve and levels of hormones like estradiol, prolactin, follicle-stimulating hormone, anti-Mullerian hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone.
- Preconception genetic screening. In addition to the antral follicle count and blood work, a genetic test is an important evaluation when determining a woman’s fertility potential. It allows us to discover whether she has any inheritable genetic conditions. If she does, certain testing might be recommended for her future embryos.
We encourage women who are interested in discovering their follicle count and overall fertility potential, to schedule an appointment at our Louisiana fertility center.
What a low antral follicle count means
During the initial ultrasound, we hope to see eight or more follicles. But if the count is low, there are still many ways we can support an intended mother in developing a healthy pregnancy.
- Low acount. A count of three to six follicles is low. This may prompt our Louisiana fertility center doctors to recommend higher doses of ovarian stimulation medications during fertility treatments.
- Very low count. If an ultrasound reveals an extremely low antral follicle count, this could be a sign that the intended mother is a candidate for donor eggs.
Our compassionate and knowledgeable team helps intended parents discover and understand their fertility health. For those in need of additional support, we will create a customized treatment plan that provides the best possible chance of fulfilling the dream of parenthood.
Contact us for more information about your antral follicle count.
