Understanding your Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels can provide important insights into your ovarian reserve and fertility potential. Whether you’re thinking about natural conception, looking into IVF, or considering egg freezing for the future, knowing your AMH levels can guide your decisions.
Let’s explore what AMH is, how it affects pregnancy, and its significant role in fertility treatments.
What is the anti-mullerian hormone?
Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is a protein hormone produced by the granulosa cells in ovarian follicles in women and by Sertoli cells in men.
In women, AMH is important to identify the ovarian reserve, which indicates the number of eggs left in the ovaries.
In men, it plays a role in the development of male reproductive organs during their young age.
How can you Identify AMH Levels?
AMH levels can be measured with a blood test and can be done at any point in the menstrual cycle.
Normal AMH Levels for a woman are 1.0–4.0 ng/mL.
If it is below 1.0 ng/mL, then it is low and when it is above 4.0 ng/mL, it is high levels of AMH.
What if AMH Levels Are High?
High AMH levels, which are above 4.0 ng/mL may indicate PCOS.
Polycystic ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition characterized by irregular ovulation and an abundance of ovarian follicles. An increased ovarian reserve also happens because of the PCOS condition but doesn’t always mean that a woman will have enhanced fertility outcomes.
What Does It Mean if AMH is Low?
Low AMH levels are commonly associated with these three conditions,
- Diminished ovarian reserve
- Age-related decline in fertility
- Challenges in conceiving naturally
However, low AMH does not automatically imply infertility. Pregnancy is still possible, though it may require assisted reproductive techniques.
How pregnancy and AMH levels are interconnected?
High AMH Levels: This suggests a greater number of eggs are available, which is generally favourable for fertility. However, excessively high levels may indicate conditions like PCOS, leading to irregular ovulation.
Low AMH Levels: This indicates a reduced egg count, often associated with ageing. While pregnancy is still achievable, it may require more time or medical assistance.
Egg Quality: AMH does not provide information about the health of the eggs. Healthy eggs are essential for a successful pregnancy, regardless of AMH levels.
Regular Periods: Low AMH may be linked to irregular menstrual cycles or early menopause, which can complicate natural conception.
Family Planning: Testing AMH levels can aid in family planning decisions. Women with low AMH may need to consider having children sooner, while those with high AMH might have more time but should be aware of potential issues like PCOS.
AMH Levels and IVF Treatments
High AMH Levels: Doctors typically prescribe lower medication doses to prevent overstimulation of the ovaries.
Low AMH Levels: Higher doses may be necessary to encourage the production of more eggs.
Egg Prediction: AMH levels provide insight into the expected number of eggs a woman may produce during IVF, helping to set realistic expectations.
Other Options: For those with very low AMH, doctors might recommend using donor eggs to enhance the likelihood of pregnancy.
Egg Freezing: Women with favourable AMH levels have the option to freeze their eggs for future use, allowing for greater flexibility in family planning.
Consulting a fertility expert becomes highly important if you can’t get pregnant because of either low or high AMH levels. Here is a table that indicates the pregnancy outcomes through IVF according to the AMH levels.
| AMH Levels | IVF Pregnancy Outcomes |
|---|---|
|
AMH < 0.5 |
Difficulty in growing more than three follicles reduces the chance of pregnancy with IVF. |
|
AMH <1.0 |
Means limited egg supply.
A short window of opportunity to conceive.
|
|
AMH > 1.0 ng/ml but <3.5 ng/ml |
Good and better response to IVF stimulation. |
|
AMH > 3.5 ng/ml |
You have a good egg supply, which also indicates you need to be cautious to avoid ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) |
Tips to increase AMH levels
A nutrient-rich diet helps increase AMH levels and crucial for improving overall reproductive health. Here are some important dietary components and lifestyle practices to consider.
Essential Nutritional
1. Vitamin D
Essential for reproductive health, vitamin D can be obtained from Fatty fish (like salmon), fortified dairy products, and egg yolks.
2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids
These healthy fats, which aid in hormone regulation, can be found in flaxseeds, walnuts, and Oily fish.
3. Antioxidant-rich foods
Foods like berries, leafy greens, and nuts help reduce oxidative stress, potentially improving egg quality.
4. Folate and B Vitamins
Dark leafy greens, such as spinach and kale, are vital for cell growth and egg health. Zinc in chickpeas and pumpkin seeds assists in hormone regulation.
Lifestyle Changes
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight through regular exercise and a balanced diet can enhance ovarian function. Chronic stress can negatively impact fertility. Practices like meditation, yoga, deep-breathing exercises, and acupuncture can help improve hormonal balance.
Smoking and excessive alcohol intake can harm ovarian health. Quitting smoking and moderating alcohol consumption can support healthier ovarian function.
Consider Supplements
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA): May improve ovarian function and increase pregnancy chances in women with reduced ovarian reserve.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): Research suggests it may help delay ovarian reserve depletion.
Vitamin D: Adequate levels are thought to play a role in regulating AMH levels.
Consult a Fertility Specialist
If there are concerns about AMH levels or fertility, it’s wise to seek advice from a fertility specialist who can offer personalized guidance and treatment options based on individual needs.
Last few words
AMH levels indeed play an important role in the overall fertility journey. Particularly, if it is in vitro fertilization treatment, the increased AMH levels can give the patients optimal pregnancy outcomes.
So, if you experience any infertility issues, it is necessary to check the Anti-Mullerian Hormone Levels. Consult your doctor to find out the best way to boost the AMH levels and witness optimal results through any ARTs.
People also ask
The Anti-Mullerian Hormone levels test is to measure the amount of AMH in your blood samples. This test is important for making decisions to treat the problems of infertility, particularly in females. Because this test determines how many eggs are left in the ovaries.
Several factors influence the anti-mullerian hormone levels in the human body. Lifestyle factors such as exercise, caffeine intake, drugs, and smoking can affect AMH, and other factors like a family history of early menopause, age, and body mass index BMI.
The most favourable level of AMH to get a healthy pregnancy is from 1.0 to 3.5 ng/mL. In addition, young women have high ovarian reserve, so trying for conception at a young age can increase the chances of optimal pregnancy outcomes.
Some popular supplements to increase AMH levels are melatonin, vitamin D, CoQ10, and DHEA Dehydroepiandrosterone. These are common recommendations to improve anti-mullerian hormone levels, but proper doctor consultation is mandatory before consuming the supplements.
