Health expert explains the effectiveness of AMH test for women

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During a woman's reproductive years, her ovaries generate numerous eggs, but this production gradually declines with age. The rate of decline and the remaining number of eggs vary among individuals. Although it is generally expected for the number of eggs to decrease after 30, the exact quantity cannot be accurately predicted. The Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) test can assist in estimating the potential egg count by measuring AMH levels.

Dr Ritu Hinduja, Fertility Consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, Mumbai shares relevance insights on the effectiveness of AMH test.

An AMH test serves the purpose of quantifying the anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) concentration in your blood. This test applies to both men and women. However, experts utilise this test in women to evaluate their ovarian reserve. It's worth noting that elevated AMH levels correspond to an increased number of eggs and a more substantial ovarian reserve, whereas diminished AMH levels indicate fewer eggs and a diminished ovarian reserve.

Men have an endless supply of sperm, while women have a finite number of eggs. Once a woman runs out of eggs, she faces challenges in conceiving. Therefore, it is crucial for women to assess their ovarian reserve if they are planning to conceive.

The Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) test is a straightforward blood test that can evaluate a woman's ovarian reserve and detect issues like PCOD, early menopause or low ovarian reserve. This test provides information about the remaining quantity of eggs, but it does not provide any definitive information about the quality of eggs.

Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a protein hormone produced by the cells lining the follicles, which are responsible for holding the eggs. Low levels of AMH indicate a low ovarian reserve. The AMH test is a reliable indicator of a woman's ovarian reserve as it is not significantly affected by factors such as menstrual cycle, pregnancy or oral contraception. Therefore, it can be performed at any time during the month. For accurate results, it is recommended to combine the AMH test with an antral follicle count (AFC) test.

A higher concentration of AMH indicates a larger egg reserve, while a decrease in AMH suggests a diminishing egg supply. In addition to its primary purpose, the AMH test can provide valuable insights in several other areas as well.

It can predict the onset of menopause, uncover reasons for early menopause, explain the reasons behind missed menstrual cycles, diagnose PCOS and monitor specific types of ovarian cancer.

It is also a known fact that despite a low AMH level, a woman can get pregnant and a woman with high AMH levels can have challenges in conceiving as many other factors play a role when it comes to achieving pregnancy.

On a concluding note, the AMH range will reveal the number of viable eggs a woman has left. It can help one to plan the next course of action if a woman is not ready to conceive yet but wants to do so in the near future.

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