The AMH test is a marker checked in the blood for ovarian reserve. The AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) test can be performed at any time during the menstrual cycle.
What is the AMH Test?
AMH is a marker checked in the blood for ovarian reserve. AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) values can be determined at any time during the menstrual cycle. For an accurate evaluation of ovarian capacity, AMH values should be performed together with antral follicle count (AFC), where the number of small follicles in both ovaries is determined by ultrasonography. The AMH test alone is not sufficient for an accurate evaluation of the ovaries.
What Does the AMH Test Mean for Fertility?
Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) is a hormone produced by follicular cells within the ovary. Measuring the AMH level is considered a helpful test in evaluating the ovarian reserve and therefore the fertility potential.
Does the AMH Value Change According to Age?
AMH levels are low in women of advanced age (especially over 40) and high in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome. Although there are lists providing the normal range of AMH values according to age, it is not correct to make a decision based on the AMH result alone; AFC (antral follicle count), in which follicles in the ovaries are counted with ultrasonography, should also be performed together.
What Happens if the AMH Level is Low?
If you have very low AMH levels, natural IVF treatment can be used as the first option. The response to injections used in normal IVF treatments will be low. However, the important factor here is age. If the woman’s age is over 40 and AMH is low, ovaries can be evaluated on the second day of each menstruation with natural IVF treatment, and an attempt can be made to obtain 1-2 eggs every month; thus, a 5-20% chance of pregnancy can be achieved with the embryo pooling method. If the woman’s age is young and AMH is low, there may be a 20-30% chance of pregnancy with normal IVF treatment or natural IVF treatment. Again, the embryo pooling method can be applied by evaluating the ovaries with each menstruation. Since egg quality will be better in young women, there may be a chance of pregnancy at rates up to 30% even with low AMH values.
What Does a High AMH Test Mean?
We generally see high AMH in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. It is beneficial to be careful while stimulating the ovaries with injections in patients with high AMH. There may be an excessive ovarian response called hyperstimulation. When stimulating the ovaries of women with high AMH with injections, using very low doses of medication will be sufficient.
