Dr. Aruna Ashok MBBS, MS OG, DNB OG
- Clinical Director
Aruna Ashok | 07 Oct 2024
Fertility is a key concern for many women, especially as they grow older or face challenges in conceiving. One of the most important indicators of a woman’s reproductive health is the AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone) level. But how exactly can AMH levels predict your fertility future? And what do they tell you about your chances of getting pregnant? In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about AMH, its role in fertility, and how it can help predict your reproductive future.
Anti-Müllerian Hormone is shortform for AMH. It is secreted by cells in your ovaries. It is extremely crucial to the development of the follicles-those are the little egg sacs. AMH is typically regarded as an ovarian reserve marker-that is, the number and quality of eggs in a woman's ovaries. The more eggs a woman has, the likely her AMH levels will be the higher.
AMH is produced by the small follicles in the ovaries, even before they have matured.
AMH helps regulate follicular development, which is crucial for ovarian health and fertility.
Unlike other hormones, AMH doesn't fluctuate during the cycle, making it a more reliable and less confusing indicator of fertility compared to hormones like FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone).
Because AMH does not change during the menstrual cycle, it's less confusing and more dependable when trying to determine possible fertility compared with another hormone, like FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone).
When it comes to pregnancy, AMH levels can provide a rough estimate of how easy or difficult it may be to conceive. Still, AMH by itself is not capable of predicting the outcome of the pregnancy; in most cases, it's a good indicator doctors use when evaluating a woman's fertility.
High AMH: This means there are more eggs, thus potentially better chances of getting pregnant.
Low AMH: This might mean fewer eggs, thus one would need to undergo treatments like IVF.
Even when AMH levels are low, often the same woman is still able to conceive either naturally or with some type of medical intervention. AMH can serve as a guide, but overall health status also plays a role.
AMH testing is commonly used by fertility specialists to evaluate ovarian reserve and predict a woman’s fertility potential. The test involves a simple blood sample, and it’s typically done on day 2 or day 3 of your menstrual cycle. The results can provide useful insights into the number of eggs left in your ovaries.
You'd like to prepare for late or delayed conception and want to assess your fertility.
You've been trying for some time and have so far not conceived.
You have a personal history of premature menopause or other fertility problems.
Testing may direct fertility treatments either through egg freezing or IVF. Indeed, this test will be useful to any woman who fears her current and future infertility or delay of pregnancy.
Among these factors, age is a critical one that affects fertility. AMH levels are proportionally related to age because the ovarian reserve decreases with age, which will further influence the AMH level of women. Women in their early and mid-30s usually possess higher levels of AMH, while those on the advanced end of their 30s into the 40s often see a drop in their AMH levels.
In young women, AMH levels are quite high as they have large numbers of eggs in their ovaries.
With age, AMH levels are decreased simply because the number of eggs reduces in the body. The drop accelerates after age 35 years.
This would imply that fertility decreases naturally with age since ovulation can still occur on a regular basis. In case of high AMH levels among younger women, this indicates that there is a good likelihood of getting pregnant in the near future. However, as time progresses and a woman grows older, even when levels are relatively higher, the quality of the eggs may also be factored into consideration.
Low levels of AMH are also related to fewer eggs remaining within the ovaries, making conception more challenging for women. In this case, a low AMH level does not directly mean you can't get pregnant; instead, it would indicate that you might face much greater difficulties in becoming pregnant without medical intervention.
Reduced number of eggs: That means you may have fewer eggs set aside to be released for fertilization.
Increased infertility: It can be concluded that a woman with low AMH levels cannot conceive easily due to natural conception.
Possibility of fertility treatments: Such women may have to undergo assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF for conception.
Low AMH levels don't necessarily mean the road is over for a woman; in fact, most women will still conceive naturally - just perhaps with a longer wait time or through some help. To put it bluntly, low AMH is merely part of the fertility puzzle—not a guarantee of infertility.
Unfortunately, there is no proven way to increase AMH levels naturally. AMH levels are largely determined by your age and the number of eggs remaining in your ovaries. However, that doesn't mean there’s nothing you can do to improve your fertility.
Healthy lifestyle: Healthy diet, exercise, and managing stress promote your general fertility health.
Supplements: Some evidence now suggests that some vitamins, for example, Vitamin D and CoQ10 may contribute to the health of the eggs. More studies are, however, needed to see if they enhance AMH levels.
Fertility treatment: Even with low AMH, you are still allowed to have a chance for conception if you opt for egg freezing or IVF.
Although changes in lifestyle may not actually raise the levels of AMH, it improves overall well-being and positively influences fertility.
AMH levels are crucial in order to know your fertility potential. It gives the clue as to how many eggs are in your ovaries and their ability to forecast your chances of conceiving. The low levels of AMH may be a sign for fertility complications, but it does not mean that pregnancy cannot occur; there are many factors that affect how fertile a person is, and AMH is one of them.
If you need any more information about your AMH level or fertility, then you need to speak to a fertility specialist. At A4 Fertility Centre, our team of experienced fertility experts is here to guide you. With the best fertility experts to assess and treat the most comprehensive range of fertility issues, we ensure that you get the best support in attaining your fertility goals.
Being clear about your AMH levels is part of what your journey to infertility is about, and with appropriate support, you can make informed choices about your future.
