Low AMH, High Anxiety: Let's Talk About Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) - Part 1

Getting told you have “low AMH” or diminished ovarian reserve can feel devastating, especially when you’re young, still getting regular periods, and suddenly being told your biological clock is “running out.” For many women, it spirals into panic, shame, obsessive Googling, and the terrifying feeling that your body is somehow failing you. In part one of this series, Dr. Lucky Sekhon and Dr. Alicia Robbins break down what diminished ovarian reserve actually means, what fertility markers like AMH and FSH can — and cannot — tell you, and why context matters so much more than a single lab result. They explain the critical difference between egg quantity and egg quality, why low AMH does not automatically mean infertility, and how ovarian reserve changes over time. The conversation explores the emotional weight of fertility diagnoses, what IVF can realistically look like with DOR, the many factors that may influence ovarian reserve and why so many women internalize blame for something that is often far beyond their control. They also unpack the growing fertility wellness industry and the social media marketing targeting vulnerable women desperate for answers. Tune in next week for part two to dive into patient questions around DOR and IVF, early menopause, and making a plan that is right for you and your family.   IF YOU’RE TEXTING YOUR FRIENDS LIKE... You: Wait… my AMH is HOW low??? Also You: Does this mean I’m running out of eggs already?? 3AM You: Okay but why did my doctor make it sound like I’m basically infertile now??? IF YOUR GOOGLE SEARCH HISTORY LOOKS LIKE THIS… What is diminished ovarian reserve? What does low AMH actually mean? Can you get pregnant naturally with low AMH? Does low AMH mean poor egg quality? Can stress cause diminished ovarian reserve? Can endometriosis lower AMH? Should I freeze my eggs if I have DOR? Does DOR mean early menopause? Can ovarian reserve improve? YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE! In today’s chat we cover: [01:00] Burnout & trying to “do it all” [03:00] How girls are socialized to tolerate discomfort [06:15] What diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) actually means [07:05] Why low AMH is NOT a fertility sentence [07:40] Dr. Lucky opens up about her own fertility journey & IVF experience [11:30] Defining ovarian reserve, AMH & antral follicle count (AFC) [13:00] Why AMH has to be interpreted based on age [15:30] FSH explained: what elevated levels actually mean [17:00] Egg quantity vs. egg quality [18:00] How fertility doctors evaluate embryo quality [19:00] Why ovarian aging is not linear [20:00] Menopause, follicle depletion & the biology of ovarian aging [21:00] Genetics, viral triggers & possible causes of DOR [22:00] Longevity science, accelerated aging & ovarian decline [23:00] Irregular cycles, ovulation & fertility warning signs [24:00] Idiopathic DOR: when there’s no clear explanation [25:00] Why blaming stress or childhood trauma for DOR can feel harmful [27:00] Age, genetics & family history of early menopause [29:00] BRCA mutations & ovarian reserve [30:00] Endometriosis, ovarian surgery & fertility preservation [31:00] Fragile X, Turner mosaicism & autoimmune testing [32:00] Plastics, BPA, pesticides & environmental toxin concerns [33:00] Chemotherapy, radiation & fertility preservation [34:00] Mold exposure & fertility myths online [35:00] Smoking, vaping & ovarian aging [36:00] Fertility wellness scams & the truth about “fixing” DOR [37:00] Why timing & treatment strategy matter most [38:00] CoQ10: the evidence, dosing & who may benefit [39:30] Lifestyle medicine, inflammation & fertility health [41:00] DHEA supplements: hype vs. evidence [43:00] Ovarian PRP explained & why it remains experimental [45:00] Supplement stacks, fertility marketing & social media misinformation [46:00] Rapamycin, longevity science & ovarian aging research [48:00] Why more research is still needed on ovarian longevity treatments [49:00] Part one recap & what’s coming in next week’s episode [50:00] Dr. Lucky’s message for anyone newly dia