WHAT IS AMH TEST?

AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) is a predictive marker for ovarian reserve. AMH test can be performed at any time during the menstrual cycle. In order to evaluate the ovarian capacity accurately, the AMH test should be performed together with the antral follicle count (AFC) determined by ultrasonography for the number of small follicles in both ovaries. The AMH test alone is not sufficient in evaluating the ovarian capacity properly.

 WHAT DOES THE AMH TEST MEAN FOR FERTILITY?

AMH is a hormone produced by follicular cells in the ovary. Measurement of the AMH level is considered as a test to help assess the ovarian reserve and thus fertility potential.

DOES AMH CHANGE ACCORDING TO AGE?

AMH levels are low in older women (especially over 40 years) and high in patients with polycystic ovaries. There are lists showing normal AMH ranges in each age group. However, it is not reliable to make a decision according to the AMH test result alone, AFC (antral follicle count) should be done together which is the ultrasonographic evaluation of all the follicles within the ovaries.

WHAT IF YOU HAVE LOW AMH LEVELS?

If you have very low AMH levels, natural IVF treatment may be the first choice. The injections for ovarian stimulation used in normal IVF treatments will be less responsive. But the important factor here is age. If the woman’s age is over 40 and the AMH test is low, natural cycle can be initiated by evaluating the ovaries on the second day of each cycle in order to obtain 1-2 eggs each month so that a pregnancy chance of 5-20% can be obtained with the embryo pooling method.

If the female age is young and AMH is low, 20-30% chance of pregnancy may be possible with conventional IVF/ICSI treatment or natural IVF/ICSI treatment. Embryo pooling method can be applied also by evaluating the ovaries with each menstrual cycle. Younger women may have a better chance of becoming pregnant at a rate of up to 30% even if they have low AMH values because the quality of eggs will be better.

WHAT DOES HIGH AMH TEST MEAN?

We often see high AMH values in women with polycystic ovarian disease. AMH alerts the physician to be careful when stimulating the ovaries in high-responder patients. Hyperstimulation might ocur which is an undesired extreme ovarian response. Very low doses of injections will be needed while stimulating the ovaries in women with high AMH levels