There are two main reasons that someone would want to test their egg reserve, firstly to test their fertility status and secondly to test their response to fertility medication.
How to test egg reserve
The commonly used test for this is the Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) blood test. The AMH hormone is produced by the small follicles in the ovary which have not yet begun to develop into mature eggs or ova. These early-developing follicles are called antral and pre-antral follicles.
What is AHM test
The AMH blood test can be performed at any time throughout the menstrual cycle.
It may be performed in conjunction with an antral follicle count (simple ultrasound) as a predictor of ovarian reserve.
An AMH test is a good snapshot of the current ovarian reserve. However, it is recommended to treat ‘normal results’ with caution and ongoing monitoring is wise as AMH levels decline at predictable rates. Patients must also remember that egg reserve levels are only one of the many factors that can impact fertility.
It is therefore essential for this test to be ordered by gynecologists and fertility specialists who are trained to interpret the results and explain them in detail to the woman involved. It is important to note that many women who have low AMH levels still fall pregnant.
What does AHM test for?
The level of AMH is a measure of eggs in the ovaries (or the ovarian reserve). Interestingly, the amount of AMH in the blood usually remains constant until the age of 25 then begins to decline. A steady decline of AMH occurs from the age of 35 until it becomes unmeasurable at menopause.
AMH levels for fertility
Your doctor may request an AHM fertility test if you:
Want to delay childbirth and are under 35 years old;
Have ongoing trouble falling pregnant;
Concerned about conditions that may have an impact on your fertility like a family history of premature menopause, multiple operations on the ovaries, chemotherapy, endometriosis, or PCOS.
Understanding the AMH test for Fertility Treatment
If you are undergoing fertility treatment your specialist may choose to do an AMH test to predict ovarian response to fertility medication and helps in deciding the dose of medication to be used.
AMH test results
A low ovarian reserve result may indicate:
It is better not to delay starting a family
Depending on the situation and age, further assisted fertility methods should be considered
If already undergoing treatment may call for a larger dose of fertility medication.
A high ovarian reserve level may indicate Polycystic ovaries.
This Expert Article was written by our Fertility and IVF Expert Dr Wilkinson from City Fertility. To learn more about trying to conceive a book into our FREE Ready To Conceive Masterclass.
