AMH: why it is so useful

AMH is the best test that we have for understanding your ovarian reserve. There are other tests available (FSH levels, and ultrasound) but they are not as accurate.

AMH is the hormone that is made by the cells surrounding each of your resting eggs. This means that the more eggs that you have, the higher your AMH level will be.

The corollary is true too: if your AMH is low, you don’t have a large reserve of eggs.

Your ovarian reserve is not the same thing as your egg quality. However, egg quality is much more difficult to measure. As an inexpensive and simple screening test, your AMH level in combination with your age can be our best single predictor of your fertility success.

AMH can help set your expectations, particularly if you are hoping that a fertility clinic would be able increase your chances for success over trying naturally at home.

Why Is AMH Useful?

AMH is extraordinarily useful for patients who are contemplating fertility treatments, because it predicts how many eggs you may mature in response to fertility medications.

The basis of fertility treatments is often the maturation of more than one egg at a time. With more eggs available, we have a greater chance of a higher-quality embryo forming, and therefore a higher chance for pregnancy.

Does AMH Tell Me If I Still Have Good Eggs?

No, AMH does not tell you if you have good-quality eggs. It simply tells you how many eggs you have.

Nonetheless, the number of eggs you have in combination with your age (which itself is actually quite a good predictor of quality), will let you know how successful fertility treatments may be if you are not conceiving on your own.

Does AMH Help Me Decide About My Fertility?

Yes, AMH is helpful in making your fertility choices. This is because fertility clinics rely on a good ovarian reserve. If you have a good ovarian reserve, as defined by a good AMH level, then your success rates will be at the highest level for your age bracket. Unfortunately, the corollary is true, too. If your AMH levels are low, the range of choices and expectations from treatments may be low. AMH may help guide your choices.

My Doctor Gave Me My AMH Number. What Now?

You might want to research your AMH values further. Online, you will quickly discover that AMH might be described in ng/ml, but if you multiply that value by 7.1, you will have your value in pmol/L. This is important if you are comparing your numbers against those of others.

Do you want help deciding if you should do active treatments in a fertility clinic? We use AMH and age as a guide to potential success. View the IVF table according to age and AMH. Bottom line: the higher the AMH the higher the chances for success in any age group.

AMH is not destiny! These odds may not reflect your chances at your clinic.  But I think they can be helpful to provide direction.

If you are not sure what to do with your AMH level, get it repeated, get a second opinion if you need to, and speak with a counsellor if you don’t know how to move forwards. AMH doesn’t lead to a single best solution for everyone, but it can provide guidance as you make the decisions that fit with your larger goals for you and your family.

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