Just as no two leaves are identical, every person is unique—including their ovaries. Women with higher ovarian reserves, such as younger individuals or those with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), typically have more antral (small) follicles in their ovarian reserve. After stimulation, these follicles grow into mature eggs, resulting in a higher number of retrieved eggs. Conversely, women who are older or have diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) tend to have fewer antral follicles, leading to fewer mature eggs being retrieved during ovarian stimulation.
This can be likened to fishing: if the pond has plenty of fish, it’s easier to catch more, but if the pond has fewer fish, it becomes more challenging to catch many. The number of eggs retrieved is ultimately determined by the number of follicles in your ovarian reserve.
Factors Affecting Egg Retrieval:
- High Sensitivity to Medications:
Some women, about 3%, are extremely sensitive to ovarian stimulation medications, leading to the retrieval of over 20 eggs. In such cases, patients can request their doctor to adjust the dosage to retrieve fewer eggs. - Low Ovarian Reserve:
If a patient has very few antral follicles, it’s not possible to retrieve many eggs, no matter the dose of medication. Women nearing menopause or in menopause have no antral follicles, making egg retrieval impossible, much like trying to fish in a pond with no fish.
It’s important to remember that the quantity of eggs doesn’t determine success—egg quality matters most. A single high-quality egg is enough for successful conception. Many success stories involve retrieving just 1 or 2 eggs, resulting in pregnancy after one embryo transfer, sometimes even with twins.
Focus on egg quality rather than quantity, as quality is the true foundation for achieving a healthy pregnancy.
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