Is There a Treatment for Poor Ovarian Reserve?

Many women reach us after repeated unsuccessful IVF cycles and a diagnosis of poor ovarian reserve or poor ovarian response. Their AMH level is often very low, and they are frequently advised to attempt another IVF or ICSI cycle as early as possible. It is a frightening diagnosis, but understanding it helps in choosing the next step. This page explains what poor ovarian reserve is, its causes, the tests, the conventional options and how Welling Homeopathy approaches it.

Written by Dr. Sourabh Welling, founder of Welling Homeopathy, who has over 25 years of experience treating patients. Last updated 21 October 2026. This article is for general information and does not replace a medical assessment.

What is poor ovarian reserve?

Ovarian reserve describes the number and quality of the eggs left in the ovaries. Poor ovarian reserve, also called diminished ovarian reserve, is a condition of low fertility characterised by a low number of remaining oocytes and possibly impaired egg development. It is usually accompanied by a high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level.

It is one of the most frustrating problems in IVF today. Pregnancy rates in IVF depend on the quality and number of embryos available for transfer, and the more eggs a woman grows, the better the embryos that can be selected. This is why women with a good ovarian response have higher pregnancy rates than women with a poor response.

Reserve normally falls with age, and the ovarian response begins to decline naturally as age increases, but a woman’s reserve can also be lower in her thirties or even earlier.

Symptoms of poor ovarian reserve

Common symptoms include:

• Usually no symptoms: it is found on blood tests or an ultrasound scan
• Periods that become shorter, lighter or irregular, or stop (amenorrhea)
• Not conceiving after trying for several months
• A poor response to stimulation in IVF, with few eggs retrieved
• Repeatedly cancelled or failed IVF cycles
• Hot flushes and early menopause symptoms in some women

Causes and risk factors of poor ovarian reserve

Common causes and risk factors include:

• Age, the commonest cause: most women see ovarian function decline from the mid-thirties
• Unknown (idiopathic) in many women
• Chromosomal and gene conditions, such as Turner syndrome and fragile X premutation
• Autoimmune disorders and adrenal gland impairment
• Medical treatment: radiation, chemotherapy or ovarian surgery, including laser surgery for endometriosis and excessive laparoscopic ovarian drilling
• Endometriosis, and smoking, which brings forward ovarian ageing

How poor ovarian reserve is diagnosed

Several tests measure ovarian reserve:

• Basal (day-3) FSH: a high level suggests poor reserve; a very high level (above about 20 mIU/mL, though it varies from lab to lab) is strongly suggestive
• Clomiphene citrate challenge test (CCCT): FSH on day 3 and day 10 after clomiphene on days 5 to 9; a high value points to poor ovarian function
• FSH:LH ratio and estradiol (E2) on day 3: a high E2 can artificially suppress FSH to normal
• Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH): produced by the small follicles, it can be tested on any day of the cycle and low levels suggest poor reserve
• Antral follicle count (AFC): a vaginal ultrasound on day 3 counts small follicles of 2-8 mm; a count below about 6 predicts a poor response

Warning signs: when to get urgent help

Please see a doctor promptly, and go to the nearest hospital emergency department if there is:

• Sudden severe pelvic pain, especially with fainting, which may mean an ectopic pregnancy
• Heavy vaginal bleeding with dizziness
• No periods for more than three months, when not pregnant
• Trying to conceive for six months or more if you are over 35 or have a low AMH, or sooner

Conventional treatment options

Conventional options depend on age and your goals:

• Trying to conceive naturally with accurate ovulation timing, if there is no other obstacle
• IVF with a protocol adapted for low response, such as mild stimulation or antagonist protocols
• Egg or embryo freezing if you are not ready now
• Donor eggs when reserve is very low
• Correcting deficiencies of vitamin D and thyroid, stopping smoking and managing weight and stress

Homeopathic medicines commonly considered for poor ovarian reserve

These medicines are commonly considered in homeopathy for poor ovarian reserve, with the symptom picture traditionally associated with each. They are listed for general information, not as a prescription.

Sepia: irregular periods with a dragging feeling in the pelvis and tiredness.

Pulsatilla: scanty or delayed periods in mild and weepy women.

Natrum muriaticum: irregular periods after grief or emotional hurt.

Calcarea carbonica: early or heavy periods with chilliness.

Lachesis: irregular periods with hot flushes around the menopause.

The right medicine is chosen only after detailed case-taking by an experienced doctor.

Homeopathic treatment of poor ovarian reserve at Welling Homeopathy

A detailed consultation covers your age, cycles, AMH, FSH and scan reports, your history of IVF cycles and surgery, your emotional state and your plans for pregnancy, so that treatment is custom-made for you. Homeopathic treatment is non-hormonal.

Because age and time matter, please do not delay: start early, bring all your reports, and continue any treatment your fertility doctor has advised unless they tell you otherwise.

Homeopathy is offered here as individualised, supportive care alongside your current treatment. Please do not stop, skip or change any prescribed medicine on your own; any change should be discussed with the doctor who prescribed it and with our specialists.

Dr. Sourabh Welling and the Welling Homeopathy team have over 25 years of experience treating patients, in our Mumbai clinics and online. The earlier you meet our specialists, the sooner your treatment can be planned around you.

Self-care and lifestyle tips

These measures support general health and may ease symptoms, but they do not replace treatment when it is needed.

• Do not delay: with low reserve, time matters more than any single number.
• Quit smoking, which speeds up ovarian ageing.
• Eat a balanced diet with vegetables, fruit, nuts, pulses and protein, and keep a healthy weight.
• Exercise regularly and manage stress and sleep.
• Take folic acid and any supplements your doctor advises, and correct vitamin D and thyroid levels.
• Keep all your AMH, FSH and scan reports together and repeat tests as your doctor advises.

Poor ovarian reserve treatment in Mumbai at Welling Homeopathy

If you are looking for poor ovarian reserve treatment in Mumbai, you can consult Dr. Sourabh Welling, M.D., and the senior specialists of Welling Homeopathy at our Mumbai clinics, or consult online from anywhere in India and abroad. Our doctors begin with a detailed case-taking so that your treatment is custom-made for you. See the Contact page for current clinic addresses and hours, or call +91 8080 850 950.

Frequently asked questions about poor ovarian reserve

1. Is there a treatment for poor ovarian reserve?

Yes. Options include trying naturally with accurate ovulation timing, IVF with a protocol adapted for low response, and donor eggs. At Welling Homeopathy we offer custom-made, non-hormonal treatment under our HART protocol to support natural conception.

2. What is poor ovarian reserve?

Also called diminished ovarian reserve, it is a low number of remaining eggs in the ovaries, usually with a high FSH and a low AMH.

3. How is poor ovarian reserve diagnosed?

With blood tests for AMH, day-3 FSH and estradiol, sometimes the clomiphene challenge test, and an antral follicle count on a vaginal ultrasound.

4. Can I get pregnant naturally with poor ovarian reserve?

Many women with a low reserve still ovulate and some conceive naturally, but because the reserve may be falling, an early assessment and a plan are advised.

5. What is a high FSH level in poor ovarian reserve?

A day-3 FSH above about 10-12 mIU/mL is considered raised and above about 20 is very high, though values vary from lab to lab.

6. Can I consult Welling Homeopathy online for poor ovarian reserve?

Yes. You can share your AMH, FSH and scan reports and consult our specialists online from anywhere. We have been consulting patients online for 25 years.

7. Which is the best homeopathic medicine for poor ovarian reserve?

There is no single best homeopathic medicine for poor ovarian reserve. Sepia, Pulsatilla, Natrum muriaticum, Calcarea carbonica and Lachesis are among the medicines traditionally considered, but the right medicine depends on your symptoms, what brings them on or eases them, your general health and your personality. At Welling Homeopathy our specialists choose it after a detailed case-taking, so please consult them rather than choosing a medicine yourself.

8. How long does homeopathic treatment for poor ovarian reserve take?

The duration depends on how long you have had poor ovarian reserve, how severe it is, what treatment you have already taken and your general health. Some people notice a change in their symptoms within weeks, while others need several months of regular follow-up. Your specialist will explain what to expect at your first consultation and review your progress at each follow-up.

9. Is it safe to take homeopathic medicines along with my current medicines for poor ovarian reserve?

Homeopathic medicines are highly diluted and are not known to interfere with other medicines, but you should always tell your doctor and our specialists about everything you take. Please do not stop, skip or change any prescribed medicine on your own; any change should be discussed with the doctor who prescribed it.

10. What are the early signs of poor ovarian reserve?

There are usually no symptoms; poor reserve is found on AMH, FSH and scan tests, sometimes with shorter or irregular periods, difficulty in conceiving or a poor response in an IVF cycle.

11. What should I eat or avoid if I have poor ovarian reserve?

Eat a balanced diet with vegetables, fruit, nuts, pulses and protein, keep a healthy weight, quit smoking and limit alcohol.

12. What is the difference between conventional and homeopathic treatment of poor ovarian reserve?

Conventional treatment uses trying early, IVF with a protocol adapted for low response, egg or embryo freezing, and donor eggs when reserve is very low. Homeopathic treatment, in contrast, is individualised: the medicine is chosen for you as a whole person, after detailed case-taking, and is offered alongside the conventional care that your doctor advises.

13. Who is the best homeopathy doctor for poor ovarian reserve in Mumbai?

Dr. Sourabh Welling, M.D., founder of Welling Homeopathy, Mumbai, who has over 25 years of experience, treats poor ovarian reserve with individualised homeopathic care, together with a team of senior specialists. You can consult him and the team at our Mumbai clinics or online.

14. Where can I get poor ovarian reserve treatment in Mumbai, or consult online from outside India?

You can consult Welling Homeopathy at our clinics in Mumbai, or online by video or phone from anywhere in India and from other countries, where customised medicines are shipped where applicable and permitted. Call +91 8080 850 950 or book through our website.

Related Reading

• What Causes Very Low AMH? Causes, Tests and Homeopathy Treatment
• Getting Pregnant With Hormonal Problems
• Female Infertility Treatment
• Homeopathy Infertility Treatment: HART, a Proven Way to Conceive Naturally

More on ovarian reserve and female fertility

• What Causes Very Low AMH? Causes, Tests and Homeopathy Treatment
• Getting Pregnant With Hormonal Problems
• Homeopathy Treatment of PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)
• Female Infertility Treatment: Causes, Tests and Homeopathy Care
• Homeopathy Infertility Treatment: HART, a Proven Way to Conceive Naturally

To consult Welling Homeopathy experts, call +91 80 80 850 950.

Disclaimer: this page is for information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Results vary from person to person.