Understanding the Benefits and Limits of AMH (Ovarian Reserve) Testing for Your Fertility
Starting on a fertility journey or thinking about future fertility can be both an exciting and challenging time. Amid the various tools available to understand fertility, assessing ovarian reserve through Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) testing has emerged as a valuable resource for understanding your reproductive health. It’s important to understand both the benefits and limitations surrounding AMH testing to best utilize this tool to gain information about your fertility.
What is AMH testing?
AMH testing is used in reproductive medicine to evaluate a woman's ovarian reserve. Ovarian reserve refers to the quantity of a woman's remaining eggs. AMH is a hormone produced by the small follicles in the ovaries, and its levels can indicate the remaining egg supply.
The test involves a simple blood draw, and the results help fertility specialists and healthcare providers assess a woman's reproductive potential, plan fertility treatments, and screen for potential challenges in achieving pregnancy.
It is important to note that while AMH testing provides valuable information, it is just one factor in the overall fertility evaluation. No single test or lab value alone will tell you if you are or are not able to get pregnant. Fertility is a complex and multifaceted process and other factors such as age, health status, menstrual cycle history and many others are also considered in the assessment.
Benefits of AMH Testing
Assess Baseline Fertility
AMH testing is one of many markers that give you a general sense of your fertility potential. If you are not yet trying to conceive but looking to understand your fertility more, testing AMH can give you a good baseline of your current fertility status.
Assess Potential Fertile Years and Egg Freezing Considerations
Women are born with all the eggs they will have, and egg reserve and AMH levels naturally decline with age. AMH testing should therefore be interpreted in consideration of a woman’s age.
Testing AMH values in correlation with your age can help you understand if levels are high, normal, or low for your age. For women who aren’t sure when or if they want to conceive or are trying to understand if they may be a candidate for egg freezing, AMH testing can help navigate these difficult questions.
Screen for Fertility Issues (PCOS and POI)
In some situations, AMH levels can also help diagnose fertility issues.
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) can be associated with high AMH levels and testing can be used as a part of a comprehensive screen for this condition.
A low AMH level can also indicate conditions such as diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) or premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). These conditions are associated with a fewer number of eggs than expected for a woman’s age and can make fertility more difficult in some women.
Predicting Fertility Treatment Response
Research indicates that AMH levels can predict how your ovaries will respond to fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF).
In general, a higher AMH correlates with a higher number of eggs retrieved through IVF. Alternatively, a lower AMH correlates with a lower number of eggs retrieved through IVF. Understanding your potential response to IVF can help you make informed decisions on treatments and plan financially.
Limitations of AMH Testing
Limitations in Predicting Conception Rates
While AMH is a valuable marker, it's important to recognize that a healthy number doesn't guarantee fertility. A healthy AMH level is one of several fertility markers and many women with a healthy AMH can still struggle with their fertility.
On the flip side, a low AMH also doesn’t guarantee you will struggle with fertility. A woman needs 1 healthy egg to get pregnant so if she is still ovulating, even with a low or very low AMH, pregnancy is still possible.
Variations in AMH Testing Results
Since AMH is a hormone that is produced in the developing follicles within the ovaries the level can vary from one cycle to the next or even within the timing of the cycle. Repeat testing should be considered in those with abnormal testing results to get a fuller reflection of AMH levels. Trends over multiple assessments can provide a more comprehensive understanding.
Understanding the Emotional Impact of Testing
Discovering your ovarian reserve can be an emotional experience. A lower-than-expected AMH level may cause concern, while a higher level may not necessarily guarantee an easy path to conception. It's essential to interpret results within the context of your unique fertility profile. Always consult with a healthcare professional for a thorough interpretation of your AMH results and guidance related to your current and future fertility goals.
Looking For More Fertility Support?
Understanding how to optimize your fertility, reduce miscarriage risk and support yourself for the healthiest pregnancy and postpartum period is incredibly important. Naturopathic medicine has many tools that can support you along your fertility journey. If you're searching for more guidance, in-depth testing and an understanding of how you can optimize your fertility through naturopathic medicine, you can book an appointment with me here.
