Diminished Ovarian Reserve

Symptoms, testing, and steps to preserve your fertility.

What is Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR)?

Let’s talk about something that can feel really overwhelming when you first hear it: Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR).

If you’ve been told you have DOR, it basically means your ovaries don’t have as many eggs left as expected for your age — or that the quality of those eggs isn’t quite where we want it to be for optimal fertility.

This can happen naturally over time (egg quantity and quality do decline with age), but DOR can also show up in women in their 20s and 30s. And a lot of the time? There are zero obvious signs or symptoms until you start trying to get pregnant or run some lab testing.

But here’s the thing: DOR doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant. It just means your path might need to look a little different — and way more strategic.

Signs You Might Have DOR

DOR doesn’t always come with big, flashy symptoms — which is why it often flies under the radar. But here are a few possible clues:

📉 Your cycles are getting shorter (like less than 26 days)
🧪 Your periods have gotten lighter or more “spotty”
🤷‍♀️ You’ve been trying to get pregnant and it’s just not happening
🧪 Your doctor mentioned low AMH or high FSH on your labs
🥵 You’re noticing perimenopause-type symptoms like poor sleep, hot flashes, or night sweats — way earlier than expected

Still, the only real way to know for sure is through testing (don’t worry, we’ll talk about that next).

Who Gets DOR?

Honestly? More women than you think.

Most of us are told egg quantity only matters in your late 30s or 40s — but DOR can happen much earlier. Genetics, autoimmune conditions, endometriosis, smoking, certain medications, even past surgeries — all of these can impact ovarian reserve.

And sometimes, there’s no clear reason at all.

It’s estimated that about 10% of women have DOR — and for many, it’s only discovered when trying to conceive becomes harder than expected.

How Do You Know If You Have DOR?

Here’s what most doctors will look at to evaluate ovarian reserve:

AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone)

Think of this as a reflection of your egg quantity. Lower numbers (typically below 1.0 ng/mL) may suggest DOR.

FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone)

If this is high (usually tested on day 2-4 of your cycle), it can mean your body is working overtime to try and grow a follicle.

Estradiol (E2)

High levels early in your cycle can actually mask high FSH and signal low reserve.

Antral Follicle Count (AFC)

This is an ultrasound that counts how many small follicles are hanging out in your ovaries at the start of your cycle. Fewer follicles (usually under 6-10 total) can point to DOR.

Quick reminder: Even if your cycles are regular — you could still have DOR. Testing gives you answers.

How Does DOR Impact Fertility?

If you’re here, you probably already know — DOR can make getting pregnant harder. But let me break down why:

🥚 You may have fewer eggs available each month
⚡ Egg quality can be impacted, making fertilization or healthy embryo development more difficult
⏳ It might mean a shorter window of time to conceive naturally

BUT (and this is a big but) — egg quality can be supported and improved. That’s where the magic of functional fertility work comes in.

What You Can Do About It (This is Where I Come In)

If you’ve been told you have DOR, please know: This is not the end of your story.

You’re not doomed. You’re not broken. You can take action. 🤎

Supporting egg quality and preserving fertility with DOR requires a more strategic approach — but it’s possible. I help women with DOR every single day do exactly that.

Here’s where we start:

✔️ Strategic nutrition for egg quality
✔️ Targeted antioxidant support (yes, supplements matter — but which ones and how much really matters)
✔️ Managing stress + supporting sleep (your ovaries love rest)
✔️ Supporting detox pathways to lower inflammation and oxidative stress
✔️ Running the right labs so we know exactly what your body needs

Real Talk: DOR Success Stories

✨ “My AMH was 0.6, my doctor told me IVF was my only shot... now I’m pregnant naturally after 4 months of working with Loren.” — C.B.

✨ “My AFC was only 4, and I thought that was it for me. But with the right support, I’m now pregnant (naturally!) and forever grateful.” — D.F.

✨ “I was told I had less than a 5% chance of conceiving on my own. I'm now 20 weeks pregnant, no IVF, no meds.” — A.S.

Ready for a Plan That’s Actually Built For You?

You don’t have to walk this road alone — and you absolutely deserve better than “let’s just wait and see” advice.

This is what I do inside The Greenhouse every single day. And I’d love to help you, too.

👉 Apply to work with me

Learn More

📰 Your egg quality isn’t finite

📰 3 Foods for improving egg quality

📰 Egg Quality & Quantity Require Egg Energy

📰 Want to improve your egg quality? You need to improve your egg energy!

📰 The Benefits of Royal Jelly

📰 Why your AMH levels aren’t everything. 👇

📰 What does low AMH really mean?

References

Broer, S. L., Broekmans, F. J., Laven, J. S., & Fauser, B. C. (2014). Anti-Müllerian hormone: ovarian reserve testing and its potential clinical implications. Human Reproduction Update, 20(5), 688–701. https://doi.org/10.1093/humupd/dmu020
Nelson, S. M., Anderson, R. A., & Broekmans, F. J. (2020). Antimüllerian hormone: prediction of ovarian response in ovarian hyperstimulation and beyond. Fertility and Sterility, 113(2), 246–264. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.12.017
Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. (2015). Testing and interpreting measures of ovarian reserve: a committee opinion. Fertility and Sterility, 103(3), e9–e17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2014.12.093
Wallace, W. H. B., & Kelsey, T. W. (2010). Human ovarian reserve from conception to the menopause. PLoS ONE, 5(1), e8772. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0008772
Fouany, M. R., & Sharara, F. I. (2013). Is there a role for DHEA supplementation in women with diminished ovarian reserve? Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, 30(9), 1239–1244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-013-0078-2
Tilly, J. L., & Sinclair, D. A. (2013). Germline energetics, aging, and female infertility. Cell Metabolism, 17(6), 838–850. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2013.05.001
Agarwal, A., Gupta, S., & Sharma, R. (2005). Role of oxidative stress in female reproduction. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 3, 28. https://doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-3-28

**Not medical advice. Always consult your doctor before making changes to your health or fertility plan.