Test Instructions
🎯 Primary Reasons for the AMH Test
1. To Assess Ovarian Reserve (Egg Quantity)
Purpose: This is the most common reason. The AMH level in your blood is directly related to the number of small follicles (sacs containing immature eggs) remaining in your ovaries. It gives a snapshot of your remaining egg supply.
Benefit: It helps a woman and her doctor understand if her egg count is appropriate for her age or if it’s declining faster than average.
2. To Guide Fertility Treatment (IVF)
Purpose: If a woman is undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or egg freezing, the AMH level is crucial for planning the treatment.
Benefit:
Predicting Response: It helps the doctor predict how the ovaries will respond to the stimulating medications.
Dosage: A higher AMH level might indicate a good response, allowing the doctor to use a lower dose of medication to reduce the risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). A lower AMH might indicate a diminished response, suggesting the need for a higher medication dose.
3. To Help Diagnose Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Purpose: PCOS is a hormonal disorder that often involves a large number of small, undeveloped follicles in the ovaries.
Benefit: Women with PCOS often have significantly high AMH levels due to this increased number of follicles, which helps the doctor confirm the diagnosis alongside other symptoms and tests.
👩⚕️ Other Important Uses
Evaluating Early Menopause: If a woman under the age of 40 is experiencing irregular or absent periods, an extremely low or undetectable AMH level can help diagnose Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) or early menopause.
Postponing Motherhood/Egg Freezing: Women considering delaying pregnancy may use the AMH test to assess their current ovarian reserve and make an informed decision about egg freezing as a proactive step.
Monitoring Ovarian Tumors: In rare cases, the test is used as a tumor marker. Certain types of ovarian cancers (granulosa cell tumors) produce AMH, so the test can be used to monitor the tumor’s size or check for recurrence after treatment.
In short, the AMH test is a valuable, non-invasive blood test that gives your doctor essential information about the quantity of your reproductive potential at the time of testing.
🎯 AMH Tests
1. To Assess Ovarian Reserve (Egg Quantity)
Purpose: This is the most common reason. The AMH level in your blood is directly related to the number of small follicles (sacs containing immature eggs) remaining in your ovaries. It gives a snapshot of your remaining egg supply.
Benefit: It helps a woman and her doctor understand if her egg count is appropriate for her age or if it’s declining faster than average.
2. To Guide Fertility Treatment (IVF)
Purpose: If a woman is undergoing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or egg freezing, the AMH level is crucial for planning the treatment.
Benefit:
Predicting Response: It helps the doctor predict how the ovaries will respond to the stimulating medications.
Dosage: A higher AMH level might indicate a good response, allowing the doctor to use a lower dose of medication to reduce the risk of Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS). A lower AMH might indicate a diminished response, suggesting the need for a higher medication dose.
3. To Help Diagnose Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
Purpose: PCOS is a hormonal disorder that often involves a large number of small, undeveloped follicles in the ovaries.
Benefit: Women with PCOS often have significantly high AMH levels due to this increased number of follicles, which helps the doctor confirm the diagnosis alongside other symptoms and tests.
👩⚕️ Other Important Uses
Evaluating Early Menopause: If a woman under the age of 40 is experiencing irregular or absent periods, an extremely low or undetectable AMH level can help diagnose Premature Ovarian Insufficiency (POI) or early menopause.
Postponing Motherhood/Egg Freezing: Women considering delaying pregnancy may use the AMH test to assess their current ovarian reserve and make an informed decision about egg freezing as a proactive step.
Monitoring Ovarian Tumors: In rare cases, the test is used as a tumor marker. Certain types of ovarian cancers (granulosa cell tumors) produce AMH, so the test can be used to monitor the tumor’s size or check for recurrence after treatment.
In short, the AMH test is a valuable, non-invasive blood test that gives your doctor essential information about the quantity of your reproductive potential at the time of testing.