Question:medium
Ovarian reserve is best indicated by which of the following?
Ovarian reserve is best indicated by which of the following?
Show Hint
The day 3 gonadotropin that rises as the follicle pool falls.
Updated On: Jun 24, 2026
- LH
- FSH
- LH/FSH ratio
- Estrogen
Show Solution
The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: The question seeks the best biochemical pointer to how many viable eggs an ovary still holds, that is its ovarian reserve, which falls with advancing age.
Step 2: Early follicular phase FSH (drawn on day 2 to 3) is the traditional answer. When the primordial follicle store shrinks, ovarian inhibin B and estradiol drop, releasing the pituitary from negative feedback and pushing FSH upward, so an elevated day 3 FSH marks a low reserve.
Step 3: The clomiphene citrate challenge test refines this by giving clomiphene from day 5 to 9 and rechecking FSH on day 10 to expose borderline cases, while inhibin B and antral follicle counts serve as adjuncts.
Step 4: Estrogen, LH and the LH/FSH ratio do not reliably grade reserve (the ratio is a PCOS clue). Hence, of the given options, FSH best indicates ovarian reserve.
\[\boxed{\text{FSH}}\]
Step 2: Early follicular phase FSH (drawn on day 2 to 3) is the traditional answer. When the primordial follicle store shrinks, ovarian inhibin B and estradiol drop, releasing the pituitary from negative feedback and pushing FSH upward, so an elevated day 3 FSH marks a low reserve.
Step 3: The clomiphene citrate challenge test refines this by giving clomiphene from day 5 to 9 and rechecking FSH on day 10 to expose borderline cases, while inhibin B and antral follicle counts serve as adjuncts.
Step 4: Estrogen, LH and the LH/FSH ratio do not reliably grade reserve (the ratio is a PCOS clue). Hence, of the given options, FSH best indicates ovarian reserve.
\[\boxed{\text{FSH}}\]
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