What is AMH and What Can It Really Tell You?

What is AMH?

The dream of having your own family is one that more than one person shares together. Unfortunately, not all couples have it as easy as others. Infertility can be a devastating experience for couples looking to start their own family and having issues. According to the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), around 10 percent of American women within the age of 15 to 44 have trouble getting or staying pregnant. This condition affects both men and women. Fortunately, there is now something called an AMH test which can help infertile couples in more ways than one.

Although an AMH test sounds like a complete solution to questions about female infertility, it is essential to do your research. Fertility clinics like Coastal Fertility have a team of qualified doctors who have been treating infertility for years. Their professionalism and knowledge genuinely make a massive difference in the lives of their patients and their success. In this article, we will look at what an AMH test can tell you, the reason why this test during fertility treatments is important, as well as different factors that can affect AMH test results.

Why Go For an AMH Test?

It is the granulosa cells of the ovarian follicles that produce the Anti-Mullerian hormone or AMH. This occurs during the earlier stages of follicle development. This hormone usually indicates that the follicles in the ovaries are actively growing. It is for this reason that an AMH test should be recommended for people struggling to get pregnant or conceive.

Although it does not provide any information about the quality of the follicles, an AMH test allows doctors to know the total quantity of active follicles within the ovaries. Fertility doctors often carry out an AMH test to find out whether the infertility treatment implemented is working or not. The results of this test can indicate how the egg follicles are responding to the ovarian medication. If necessary, the dosage or type of fertility drug can get adjustments to help raise a woman’s chances of getting pregnant. An AMH test also has other functions. According to researchers, the results of an AMH test can provide more information about the ability of a woman to conceive and causes of other female infertility.

For instance, a study found that the use of an AMH test plays a significant role in the detection and treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS for short, is a hormonal disorder that affects women of reproductive age. Another study says that an AMH test can give valuable information when it comes to the diagnosis of granulosa cell tumors, also known as follicular.

Do the Levels of AMH Affect Fertility?

AMH test results give doctors a complete overview of the follicles that are developing in the ovaries. Since follicles only produce these hormones in the early developmental stages, an AMH test has become a standard test for female fertility assurance and infertility issues. Doctors carry out this test to know the pool of developing follicles in the ovaries. Studies have found that the number of active follicles present at a given time is affected by the primordial follicles left within the ovaries. In essence, this means that an AMH test can help provide an overview of the ovarian reserve. Ovarian reserve refers to the number of eggs that are remaining in the ovaries.

The results of an AMH blood test can be classified into five categories: very low, low, low normal, normal, and high. These are interpreted as follows:

• When the AMH levels fall below 0.3 ng/ml, then it is very low.
• A low AMH range is between 0.3 ng/ml and 0.6 ng/ml.
• AMH is considered “low normal” when the level falls between 0.7 ng/ml and 0.9 ng/ml.
• When AMH levels are between 1.0 ng/ml and 2.9 ng/ml, then it is normal.
• AMH is classified as “high” when the level is above 3.0ng/ml. High levels of AMH have been associated with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

The information above explains how the levels of AMH affect female fertility and associated with infertility. Therefore, you need to have your AMH level checked by a qualified professional when trying to get pregnant. When working with Coastal Fertility, you can rest easy knowing that we have a team of experienced fertility doctors that will administer the AMH test correctly. They will be sure to explain everything thoroughly to you.

What is FSH?

The pituitary gland produces the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, also known as FSH, every month. It helps promote the growth of eggs and follicles in the ovaries, allowing them to become mature. FSH remains under close monitoring during fertility treatment. When the level of FSH is high, it means that the body is encouraging the ovaries to produce egg follicles. Women with a high level of FHS usually have a low level of AMH. This may be due to the reduction in the number of follicles within the ovaries. When this happens, the pituitary gland will stimulate the body to produce more FSH to cause more follicles to develop in the ovaries.

Factors That Can Affect AMH Levels

Various factors can affect the level of AMH in a woman’s body. One of these factors is age. The AMH tends to be significantly lower in older women than in younger women. Particularly those women who are close to the end of their fertility window. Aside from age, some factors in a woman’s everyday life can also affect the levels of the anti-Mullerian hormone. A 2015 study found that exposure to pyrethroids, a chemical found in paint can reduce the levels of AMH by up to 25%. Additionally, alcohol can also have a negative impact on AMH levels.

Conclusion

An AMH test is a good indicator of fertility in women. It helps us to know whether the fertility treatments carried out are proving to be successful or not. This hormone test reveals the exact number of active follicles in a woman’s ovaries. Other tests may also need to know the quality of the follicles. The medical team at Coastal Fertility is passionate about the success of their patients in parenthood. If you have any questions regarding treatment options, or you would like more information about an AMH test or other infertility treatment option to reach out to us at coastalfertility.com or call us at 949-726-0600.