The primary function of the female ovary is the production of a mature and viable oocyte capable of fertilization and subsequent embryo development and implantation. At birth, the ovary contains a finite number of oocytes available for folliculogenesis. This finite number of available oocytes is termed "the ovarian reserve". The determination of ovarian reserve is important in the assessment an...

Cancer is not uncommon and no longer considered to be an incurable disorder. 10% of cancer cases occur under the age of 45. There is a remarkable improvement in treatment and survival rates. Today women have been delaying initiation of childbearing because the incidence of most cancers increases with age. Delayed childbearing results in more female cancer survivors. As a consequence there is an...

The ovarian reserve (OR) gradually decreases throughout the female fertile life. This continuous depletion in OR is irreversible. This occurs through a programmed cell death known apoptosis. Some factors hasten such depletion such as chemo- and radiotherapy. Others have been investigated in trials to preserve the OR including gonadotropins, cytokines, growth hormones, nitric oxide and reorganiz...