What is an OAR?

During your screening process, you will go through an Ovarian Assessment Report. This test, commonly known as the OAR, presents a complete picture of what your results on fertility treatments may look like.

The test is compiled following a simple blood sample. It will check multiple factors, including hormone levels. When compared against your age, these factors will provide an egg retrieval score, which is a grading of your potential ovulatory egg supply.

In general, the blood sample will be collected during your menstrual period, most typically on day 2, 3, or 4. The accuracy of the test is highest during the time of month when your estrogen levels are at their lowest, which is typically within 96 hours of full menstrual flow starting. In some rare cases your estrogen levels may still be too elevated for the test to be accurate. If this happens you may need to have the test completed a second time.

When the results come back they are graded and assigned a category. Your results will be either below normal, normal, or above normal. These designations generally depend upon the number of average eggs that can reasonably be retrieved during a given cycle.

  • Below Normal- These donors are expected to have an average of 9 eggs or fewer available for retrieval during a cycle. These donors are generally not ideal for gay couples using two sperm contributors and are usually only considered appropriate for a one person contribution case.
  • Normal- Or “average” results are given to donors who produce an average of 13 eggs for retrieval.
  • Above Normal- These donors are also coded as “excellent” and generally have an average of 20 eggs retrieved during her process. These donors are considered the gold standard for two contributor cases.

Most often, if a potential donor receives a “Below Normal” result she will be excluded from progressing further into our donor program. Certain forms of birth control can have adverse effects on an OAR test. In rare cases, women on these forms of birth control may be asked to discontinue use of this birth control method, wait (usually two complete menstrual cycles) and then complete the OAR again.
