Dr. Gautam Allahbadia shares the importance of AMH testing and how it is used in fertility treatments.
Pregnancy is a beautiful journey and a feeling but for some, this journey is paved with difficulties. The inability to conceive after one year of trying actively could be considered infertility and may require treatment from a Fertility doctor.
One of the first tests that are prescribed by a doctor when dealing with infertility is AMH or Anti-Mullerian Hormone testing. The cells in the growing follicles (tiny sacs) of a woman’s ovaries create the hormone known as anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH). The reference range for AMH value is usually within 3 – 8 ng/mL.
It serves largely as a measure of ovarian reserve or the quantity and caliber of eggs present in a woman’s ovaries. As a woman ages her ovarian reserve depletes making natural conception more difficult. As the AMH decreases with age, both the quantity and quality of eggs deteriorate. Science has no answer to reversing the ageing process. AMH going down is likened to greying of hair.
“A woman’s ovarian reserve and her likelihood of becoming pregnant can be determined from her blood AMH levels. In general, higher levels of AMH suggest a stronger ovarian reserve, whereas lower levels of AMH suggest a lesser ovarian reserve.” Shares Dr. Gautam Allahbadia, an expert in Assisted Reproductive Techniques and a pioneer in minimal stimulation IVF.
Before and during fertility treatments like In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), AMH testing is frequently performed as part of fertility testing. It can help in selecting the most appropriate treatment for the expectant mother. It is done typically if the age of the mother is over 30 and she is facing problems in conception.
AMH testing can be done by a simple blood test. The results are available within a few hours today. The interpretation of the result depends on the age, medical history, and the reason for testing. One thing to be kept in mind is that the AMH levels fluctuate over time. Doctors may prescribe multiple tests to assess ovarian reserve. The likelihood that in-vitro fertilization will result in pregnancy depends on a woman’s ovarian reserve.
“AMH testing is not the only test that determines a woman’s fertility potential. it is used in conjunction with other fertility tests and assessments. Even if the AMH is low, women can still conceive as there are many options available.” shares Dr. Gautam Allahbadia.
One thing to be remembered is the fact that women who have low AMH levels can get pregnant naturally if they are young however with higher age a lower AMH level just adds to fertility issues. A low AMH can be disheartening for women, however, it does not present a complete picture as far as conception is concerned. Therefore, it is important to get expert advice from an IVF specialist so that a special plan of treatment can be chalked out. The treatment of choice with an AMH of less than 1.5 ng/ml is IVF Lite. You can read more about IVF Lite on www.mmcivf.com.