Does Ovulation Stimulation with Injections and Medications Destroy Ovarian Reserve? The Complete Truth
“Don’t take stimulants… they will deplete your ovarian reserve!”
You’ve probably heard this sentence before. Many people repeat it as if it were a scientific fact. But is this true or false? Do ovulation stimulants really reduce ovarian reserve? And when should we actually worry? Let’s understand the topic in a simple and scientific way.
Dr. Reham El Shal, a specialist in Obstetrics, Gynecology, IVF, and infertility, says: If we truly believed this sentence, then the first logical step would be to completely stop using stimulants. Let’s apply this to real life and take an example: a woman who never took stimulants at all throughout her life. Let’s check her ovarian reserve in her twenties, then measure it again when she reaches her forties. Let’s also see how many times she got pregnant and how many children she had during this period.
The surprising and striking fact is that women who got pregnant only once or twice—or maybe never got pregnant at all—usually show a significant decrease in ovarian reserve as they age. Meanwhile, women who got pregnant 5, 6, or even 7 times during those twenty years tend to have better ovarian reserves, even though they went through more pregnancies.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/O-U7MvHZm_M?si=Ow7Pr4bZk_uwpXfN
This comparison reveals an important fact: ovarian reserve naturally decreases with each menstrual cycle, not because of the stimulants. The body itself consumes eggs that are not fertilized, and this happens whether or not we take stimulants.
So, does this mean that ovulation stimulants do not affect ovarian reserve?
The answer is simply: Yes, that’s correct. Stimulants do not destroy the ovarian reserve. What stimulants do is activate eggs that would have otherwise been lost because they were not responsive. We help the body benefit from them before they are wasted, thus increasing the chances of pregnancy—especially when time becomes a critical factor.
Now, does this mean we defend the use of stimulants and recommend everyone to use them?
Of course not. We do not support taking any medication without a valid reason. Like any treatment, stimulants have their time and place, and they should never be taken without medical supervision. But it is very important to know that they are not the enemy, nor are they the cause of ovarian reserve depletion as commonly said.
In short, not everything you hear should be believed. Ovulation stimulation with injections or medications does not destroy ovarian reserve; on the contrary, it can be a golden opportunity to benefit from eggs that would have otherwise been wasted. Each case is unique, and the doctor is the only person who can determine what is suitable for you.
If you are struggling with infertility, we have gathered here all the topics related to delayed pregnancy in detailed lessons with scientifically documented and organized information to help you achieve the motherhood dream you deserve: