Age-specific FSH levels as a tool for appropriate patient counselling in assisted reproduction.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess whether, even within a normal FSH range (< or =10 mU/ml), age-specific FSH levels are predictive of ovarian reserve.

Methods: Between January 1998 and December 2001, 535 women, undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation with 225 IU of recombinant (rec) FSH and 75 IU of recLH, were included in this retrospective cohort study. Criteria for enrolment were: age 25-40 years, basal FSH (b-FSH) < or =10 mU/ml and basal LH < or =12 mU/ml.