AMH: Key hormones in female fertility
AMH: Key hormones in female fertility
If you are in the process of finding a pregnancy or simply thinking about having a child, you must have heard of antimüllerian hormone or AMH. We will explain how it plays an important role in female fertility and can help you achieve your goal of becoming pregnant.
Discovered in 1950, AMH is a glycoprotein hormone produced in the ovaries and testicles. Its role is to suppress the development of the Müller ducts to develop the fallopian tubes and uterus in women. AMH is also a factor contributing to the differential regulation of gonadotropins (LH and FSH). Indeed, LH causes ovulation in women and FSH controls the menstrual cycle and egg production, and are essential for normal growth, sexual development and reproduction. AMH therefore controls the production of ovarian follicles and can provide information about fertility or help detect certain hormonal diseases.
What is a good ovarian reserve?
In order to know your ovarian reserve, an AMH test (or ovarian reserve test) seems to be the best solution. This test allows you to evaluate your fertility potential and is important information for your parental project. However, one should not confuse oocyte quality with quantity. This test is an indicator of the quantity of oocytes available in the ovarian follicles but does not take into account the quality, although these two factors may be correlated.
A high AMH level may mean that you have a better chance of getting pregnant and that you can wait a little longer before trying to get pregnant. But too high a level can also mean that you have diseases (PCOS) or abnormalities. In fact, the AMH concentration is 2 to 3 times higher in women with PCOS than in women with a normal number of follicles in their ovaries.
A very low AMH level can mean that you are having difficulty getting pregnant and usually indicates that you are in the early stages of the menopause. During the transition to menopause, LH and FSH levels fall, whereas in a young girl they will start to rise during puberty. The increased concentration of circulating AMH in the prepubertal period is a marker of ovarian follicle growth. It is therefore normal in young girls and in women after the menopause to have low AMH levels.
AMH values at different ages
A normal AMH level is between approximately 0.7 and 6 ng/ml. However, these figures differ according to age and other conditions. The older we get, the lower the level and the less likely we are to have a good ovarian reserve.
Between the ages of 20 and 25 the values are between 3.30 and 4.20 ng/ml, between 30 and 39 it is around 1.5 to 2.4 ng/ml and between 40 and 44 it is estimated to be around 0.52 to 0.88 ng/ml. During childhood and adolescence the average values are very high ranging from 4.69 to 14.17 ng/ml.
How does an AMH test work?
It is very easy to do an AMH test. The test is conducted by a health professional who will take a blood sample. He or she will take a sample of blood from one of your veins with the help of a small needle and collect it in a small vial. This procedure takes about five minutes.
If you want to know more about your egg supply and your ovarian age, an AMH test is recommended. This test helps you to find out more about your fertility and is useful as part of a pregnancy plan. To find out more about your fertility, it is recommended that you do other tests.
