We are all very well familiar with the fact that a woman’s fertility declines with age. The ovarian reserve decreases, meaning, the number of oocytes in women is getting lower gradually with age.
The AMH, or Anti-Mullerian Hormone laboratory test is used to evaluate female fertility. The Anti-Mullerian Hormone is produced by the follicle’s cells in woman’s ovaries and the levels of this hormone can tell a lot about woman fertility.
This test is crucially important for every IVF cycle, thus part of the fertility evaluation for females. Combined with transvaginal ultrasound, the AMH test helps us to adapt the fertility treatment to your personal needs.
What can the AMH test tell you about your fertility?
AMH test is used as an indicator of a woman’s overall egg count. If the AMH value is more than 1.2, your fertility is still not at risk. If the AMH level is less than 1.2, that is more concerning. The interpretation of this test depends also on the woman’s age. If the woman is in her 30s and with a low AMH (<1.2) that can be very worrying. Low AMH levels are more common for women in their 40s.
The AMH test can only give us a full picture of your CURRENT situation. As hormone levels can vary very often, this test is not a definite indicator of infertility. Meaning, it will show the actual levels of this substance in your body.
If the test shows a lower level of AMH, that doesn’t mean that you can not get pregnant naturally, or with the help of some fertility treatment.
In terms of IVF treatment, this test, together with the antral follicle scan can help us to create the most suitable ovarian stimulation protocol for you. The AMH test also helps us, as your fertility team to set more realistic expectations about the number of eggs to be retrieved during your cycle.
What this test DOESN’T tell about your fertility?
As mentioned above, the AMH test shows only your current hormone levels. This test can’t be used as a predictor of your chances to get pregnant naturally in the future. You should always take into consideration that the hormone levels in our body are very fragile and can easily change.
How do I know if I should test my Anti-Mullerian hormone levels?
Women have very sensitive fertility. Thus, as a fertility team, we would strongly recommend every single one of you to make fertility check-ups often. This applies especially to those who are at an age when they start to think about getting pregnant. Women should be fully aware of the status of their fertility and don’t avoid regular checkups.
The AMH test will provide information about the current ovarian reserve and gives the woman a chance to be aware of her fertility levels. So, every woman can do these tests no matter what the circumstances are.
How can AMH levels affect your IVF cycle?
Firstly, the AMH levels can affect the woman’s response to the ovarian stimulation protocol. Therefore, to get the most preferable results, the fertility doctors are performing this test before preparing the ovarian stimulation protocol.
Women with higher AMH values are considered to respond better to ovarian stimulation. That means a higher quantity of eggs would be expected to be retrieved. Usually, more retrieved eggs mean higher chances of successful IVF fertilization. Women with lower AMH have lower antral follicle counts and produce a lower number of oocytes (eggs).
Low AMH means that you have a low ovarian reserve, but it doesn’t mean that you are not able to conceive naturally. Unfortunately, there are no proven ways to increase your Anti-Mullerian hormone levels, but some research has shown that Vitamin D and DHEA may help increase AMH levels.
Which fertility treatments that EuroCARE offers can help you get pregnant with low Anti-Mullerian hormone levels?
EuroCARE offers both IVF treatments with your own reproductive material and IVF treatments with Egg Donor’s material. Depending on your AMH levels, our fertility team would suggest the most reasonable treatment options.
Our success rates show our quality and efficiency. The best fertility doctors in Cyprus are within our team and their mission is to help with treating each specific case.
So, if you are curious about which treatment might be better for you, or you would just want to consult your specific situation, book a free consultation with our team!