Which laboratory markers assess ovarian reserve commonly used in infertility evaluation?

• A. FSH and LH only
• B. Prolactin and TSH
• C. Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) level and antral follicle count (AFC).
• D. Estradiol alone

Answer: (C)

Ovarian reserve reflects the quantity and quality of remaining eggs and is important for predicting response to fertility treatment. The best markers are Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) level and the antral follicle count (AFC) because AMH is produced by small growing follicles and correlates with the pool of recruitable follicles, while AFC provides a direct ultrasound count of visible antral follicles in both ovaries. Together, they give a reliable snapshot of how many eggs remain and how likely the ovaries are to respond to stimulation. Estradiol alone is not a reliable reserve marker, and prolactin or TSH largely assess other aspects of endocrine function that can influence fertility but not the ovarian reserve itself. FSH can be informative but is more variable and less specific when used alone, making AMH plus AFC the most consistent and commonly used combination.