ABSTRACT
With the postponement of childbearing in Western societies, rates of subfertility related to advanced female age have increased considerably (1). A higher proportion of couples therefore depends on assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs) to achieve a pregnancy. e increase of subfertility with advanced female age is mainly based on changes in ovarian function referred to as decreased or diminished ovarian reserve. Ovarian reserve can be dened as the quantity as well as the quality of the remaining oocytes in both ovaries at a given age. Declines in follicle numbers dictate the occurrence of irregular cycles and ultimately the cessation of menstrual bleeding (i.e., menopause), while oocyte quality decay results in decreasing fertility, dened as the capacity to conceive and give birth to a child (Figure 38.1) (2).
