An AMH fertility test is a relatively accurate hormonal test in a fertility journey. For many, resolving infertility remains a frustrating and prolonged journey. Understanding AMH fertility testing can help patients consider it to resolve ovarian factors. It can also help them identify other hormonal disorders.
AMH Levels: Numbers That Define Fertility
AMH tests measure anti-mullerian hormone levels. For conception to occur, it begins with the right quality and quantity of eggs. Part of fertility treatment involves this test for someone having difficulty getting pregnant. It is a blood test that evaluates the amount of AMH released. The levels of AMH released reflect the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries.
AMH testing measures ovarian reserves. The reserves exist because the ovaries do not generate eggs during a woman’s lifetime. She goes through life with the eggs she was born with. The eggs’ reserve decreases over time due to her advancement in age. The drop in the egg reserve corresponds to a drop in AMH levels.
The levels remain stable throughout the cycle. Thus, the doctor can conduct the test anytime. Results of the estimates of AMH levels appear in nanograms per millilitre. The lower limits are about 3.0ng/mL for a 25-year-old woman and 0.05ng/mL for one aged 45 years. Test results and cut-off limits depend on individual testing labs. Levels below 0.04ng/mL are too low and could signify infertility.
FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) screening is another test related to ovarian reserves. It checks the quality of the eggs. AMH and FSH screening often go together. FSH stimulates the development of the eggs in the ovary. The growth of eggs raises oestrogen and progesterone levels. High FSH levels and low AMH levels show low ovarian reserve.
Benefits Of AMH Testing
AMH screening helps in the diagnosis of problems that affect female reproductive health. They also influence pregnancy. Both factors play out as follows:
- AMH and In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF)
As a woman ages, the chances of her eggs developing chromosomal disorders increase. Women who wish to have children later in life choose egg freezing to preserve their good eggs. They visit fertility facilities that harvest eggs from women in their prime. The facilities store the eggs for use in IVF years later. Low AMH levels often lead to lower egg yield during harvesting. They also increase the chances of abnormal fertilisation during IVF.
- AMH Levels as a Symptom
AMH levels are a pointer on hormonal disorders. High AMH levels sometimes show polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS causes infertility and other complications associated with hormonal imbalance. Some experts also suggest that AMH levels signal menopause which causes infertility. Doctors can use AMH to estimate the final menstruation period.
- AMH Levels and the baby’s gender
AMH during pregnancy can reveal a baby’s gender. Foetuses of different gender affect the production of different AMH levels during gestation. However, there is no evidence that AMH levels determine the sexual identity of the baby.
- AMH Levels versus Good Eggs
Although high AMH levels signify many eggs, having high levels and few good eggs is possible. It also happens that someone can have low AMH levels and many good eggs. Such a scenario means that AMH levels alone cannot dictate fertility in a woman. Successful pregnancy and healthy babies result from good eggs. The number of eggs in the ovarian reserve is a secondary factor.
AMH Testing and Fertility Success
Many factors besides hormonal levels cause infertility. AMH testing hastens the identification of the causes of infertility. Research findings on the effects of AMH levels, though, remain inconclusive. Hormonal tests help in the diagnosis and management of female reproductive issues. They ease the fertility journey.
