By Dr. Pedro Royo Manero (Gynecologist – License No. 312203918).
The anti-Müllerian hormone AMH is a biomarker of a woman's ovarian reserve. AMH is a glycoprotein which, in women, is produced by the granulosa cells of the ovarian follicles. This hormone has the potent ability to present itself as a biomarker of ovarian reserve, i.e., the number of eggs a woman has at any given time.
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is well known in assisted reproduction processes as one of the main indicators of a woman's ovarian reserve.
Below, we will provide an in-depth understanding of the function of this protein, the mechanisms by which it is measured and the interpretation of its levels in patients seeking pregnancy.
Knowing the levels of anti-Müllerian hormone allows reproductive medicine specialists to have more information about the fertility status of their patients, as well as to predict their response to ovarian stimulation in assisted reproduction treatments.
The ovarian reserve is the number of eggs a woman has and it varies according to her age. This is why ovarian reserve plays a decisive role in female fertility.
A woman's low ovarian reserve can reduce her chances of pregnancy. However, a woman's high ovarian reserve is not the only factor in determining her pregnancy. The quality of the eggs also plays an important role here.
The analysis of the anti-Müllerian hormone AMH - always included in the ovarian reserve tests - is one of the tests that IVF-Life experts recommend to their patients, as it allows a preliminary diagnosis to be made, other relevant tests to be ordered and a course of treatment to be established.
According to the Spanish Fertility Society (SEF), it is important to stress that the values of anti-Müllerian hormone do not indicate the quality of a woman's eggs, but rather an estimate of the number of eggs that would be viable after hormonal stimulation.
Measuring AMH is simple and non-invasive for the patient, as it only requires a blood test. In principle, the test could be taken at any time during the cycle, as the ovarian reserve does not change during the cycle.
However, as the expression of AMH is influenced by other hormones (e.g. FSH), it is always recommended to perform the ovarian reserve test between days 3 and 5 of the cycle, i.e. at the onset of menstruation.
Anti-Müllerian hormone results are generally shown in nanograms per millilitre (ng/ml) and, while each clinic, laboratory or even country is guided by different reference values, they all tend to be fairly similar.
For reasons such as these, it is always essential that, regardless of being aware of the reference values, the results are interpreted by an expert team in assisted reproduction together with other relevant information, such as that obtained by ultrasound in an antral follicle count or in the analysis of other hormones (FSH, LH or oestradiol).
One determinant of ovarian reserve is age. As a woman gets older, the quantity and quality of her eggs decreases, reaching a peak in her mid-thirties and becoming almost depleted as she approaches the menopause. Consequently, AMH levels are also declining.
In this context, it is important to note that there are women who have a low ovarian reserve even though they are still young -biologically speaking-. These cases are usually associated with an unhealthy lifestyle, genetic factors or specific medical reasons, such as chemotherapy treatments, having undergone ovarian surgery or being diagnosed with certain conditions (early menopause, autoimmune diseases, endometriosis, etc.).
It is necessary to emphasise that the experience of IVF-Life's assisted reproduction specialists has made it possible for hundreds of patients with low ovarian reserve to achieve pregnancy.
Even though the prognosis of an in vitro fertilisation treatment for a patient with a low ovarian reserve may be less favourable - due to the subsequent low response to stimulation - our experts in reproductive medicine have specific and personalised protocols to deal with your case in an ideal way.
For example, it should be borne in mind that a low ovarian reserve does not always imply poorer oocyte quality. That is why at IVF-Life we avoid carrying out a massive stimulation that ends up ‘stressing’ those oocytes that could be functional.
Properly calculating the doses of gonadotropins to be administered to each patient is essential when it comes to making your success our priority. So is making the most promising treatments available to you, such as ovarian rejuvenation techniques or oocyte donation.
While many women and couples see egg donation treatments as a last resort, due to the still lingering stigma created around it and the genetic grief that is sometimes experienced, at IVF-Life we encourage you to see it as a powerful decision for patients who, like you, are seeking pregnancy.
Privacy Policy
IVF-LIFE, hereby informs you of its privacy policy applied to personal data. The use of the website does not imply that the user must provide any information regarding their identity, and cannot be associated with a specific user by the company. In the event that personal data is provided, this data will be collected and used in accordance with the limitations and rights set out in the aforementioned regulation.
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DATA CONTROLLER: IVF SPAIN ALICANTE S.L.U (hereinafter IVF-Life)
CIF: B-54973227
Postal Address: Avenida de Ansaldo, no. 13, 03540, Alicante (Alicante)
Contact with the Data Protection Officer: dpo@ivf-life-group.com
DATA CONTROLLER: Instituto Vasco de Fertilidad (hereinafter IVF-Life)
CIF: B95575874
Postal Address: Avenida de Tolosa, 71-73, 20018 Donostia / San Sebastián (Spain)
Contact with the Data Protection Officer: dpo@ivf-life-group.com
DATA CONTROLLER: IVF Spain Madrid (hereinafter IVF-Life)
CIF: B 85138113
Postal Address: C/ de Manuel de Falla, 6-8, 28036 Madrid (Spain)
Contact with the Data Protection Officer: dpo@ivf-life-group.com
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In this way, before clicking on the logos of the SS. RR. present on our website, you can inform yourself and make a redirection with prior knowledge of the processing of your data and on a voluntary basis.
Other technological services:
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- Companies of the "IVF LIFE Group" on the legal basis of consent or legitimate interest: Instituto Vasco de Fertilidad S.L.U., with NIF B95575874 and address at Avda Tolosa, 71-73 Donostia (Gipuzkoa), and IVF Spain Madrid S.L., with NIF B85138113 and address at Calle Manuel de Falla, 6-8, 28036 Madrid.
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CHANGES TO THE PRIVACY POLICY
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