{"id":106219,"date":"2020-11-20T14:10:04","date_gmt":"2020-11-20T12:10:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/?p=106219"},"modified":"2022-04-12T17:35:20","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T15:35:20","slug":"anti-mullerian-hormone-amh","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/blog\/anti-mullerian-hormone-amh\/","title":{"rendered":"What is anti Mullerian hormone?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)<\/strong> plays a vital role in foetal development, as well as having other important functions in the mature adult. At about eight weeks of development, the human foetus features two sets of ducts. One of them has the potential to develop into a male baby, the other carrying the potential for a female. If the foetus has X and Y chromosomes, making it genetically male, it produces the <strong>anti-Mullerian hormone<\/strong>, triggering the disappearance of the female ducts. Mullerian means female, hence the name <strong>anti-Mullerian<\/strong>. Testosterone is produced, causing the survival of the male (Wollfian) ducts which go on to become the male reproductive system. In a genetically female foetus with two X chromosomes, the lack of testosterone causes the disappearance of the Wollfian ducts and the Mullerian ducts develop into the female reproductive system.<\/p>\n<p>So much for the historical-biological context. <strong>Anti-Mullerian hormone levels<\/strong> also play a crucial role in how we can measure fertility in the adult female, in the <strong>anti-Mullerian hormone test<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/blog\/anti-mullerian-hormone-amh\/#What_do_anti-Mullerian_hormone_levels_mean\" title=\"What do anti-Mullerian hormone levels mean?\">What do anti-Mullerian hormone levels mean?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/blog\/anti-mullerian-hormone-amh\/#What_is_the_anti-Mullerian_hormone_test\" title=\"What is the anti-Mullerian hormone test?\">What is the anti-Mullerian hormone test?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/blog\/anti-mullerian-hormone-amh\/#What_are_normal_levels_of_AMH\" title=\"What are normal levels of AMH?\">What are normal levels of AMH?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/blog\/anti-mullerian-hormone-amh\/#Why_should_you_have_an_anti-Mullerian_hormone_test\" title=\"Why should you have an anti-Mullerian hormone test?\">Why should you have an anti-Mullerian hormone test?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/blog\/anti-mullerian-hormone-amh\/#Getting_a_fertility_diagnosis_with_IVI\" title=\"Getting a fertility diagnosis with IVI\">Getting a fertility diagnosis with IVI<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/blog\/anti-mullerian-hormone-amh\/#Contact_IVI\" title=\"Contact IVI\">Contact IVI<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_do_anti-Mullerian_hormone_levels_mean\"><\/span>What do anti-Mullerian hormone levels mean?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Your ovaries at birth contain all the follicles (immature egg sacs) that they will ever have, and the number of these declines gradually with age. This is one of the reasons for the well-known decline in female fertility after the age of around 35. These follicles secrete <strong>anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH)<\/strong> as they develop. The hormone circulates throughout the body in the blood system. It is therefore a relatively simple task to measure the amount of AMH circulating in the body by means of a blood test. The <a href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/blog\/low-amh-levels-fertility\/\">hormone level<\/a> provides a useful indicator (though not an exact count) of the number of eggs remaining in your ovarian reserve.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_the_anti-Mullerian_hormone_test\"><\/span>What is the anti-Mullerian hormone test?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>All follicles produce a certain level of AMH. They start out as primordial follicles which are too small to be seen with the naked eye. However, every month a number of follicles respond to hormonal signals and start to develop, with only one becoming the one which will eventually reach full maturity and be ovulated. One of the stages of development is when the follicles acquire a fluid-filled cavity known as the antrum. These are hence known as antral follicles. The antral follicles excrete even higher levels of AMH. These allow the <strong>anti-Mullerian<\/strong> <strong>hormone <\/strong>blood test to provide a fairly reliable assessment of your overall ovarian reserve.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Further testing for the full fertility picture<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>At this stage of their development, the antral follicles measure between 2\u00a0mm and 10\u00a0mm. They can therefore be seen on an ultrasound scan, providing a further confirmation, along with the <strong>anti-Mullerian hormone <\/strong>test, of the probable ovarian reserve. The ultrasound scan is undertaken by using a transvaginal probe, which means that the fertility specialist can \u2018see\u2019 the developing follicles in your ovaries.<\/p>\n<p>For the statistically-minded, here are some more numbers to show what the antral follicle count (AFC) means for your fertility:<\/p>\n<p>If your antral follicle count is very low, it does not necessarily mean that you are unable to get pregnant. It means that you are unlikely to respond well to fertility treatment such as IVF in which the ovaries are stimulated with hormonal medication to produce multiple eggs. In addition, women with a very low antral follicle count before the age of 40 could be diagnosed with premature ovarian failure, often referred to as premature menopause.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_normal_levels_of_AMH\"><\/span><strong>What are normal levels of AMH?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For those who like to understand what the number signifies, here is an approximate guide to normal levels of AMH. The AMH can be measured in two different units: picomoles per litre (pmol\/L) or nanograms per millilitre (ng\/mL). When measured in ng\/mL, the measure is simple: any level over 1ng\/mL shows a normal level of ovarian reserve. When measured in pmol\/L normal levels are within the following ranges:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Age\u00a020 \u2013 29 years, 13.1 \u2013 53.8<\/li>\n<li>Age\u00a030 \u2013 34 years, 6.8 \u2013 47.8<\/li>\n<li>Age\u00a035 \u2013 39 years, 5.5 \u2013 37.4<\/li>\n<li>Age\u00a040 \u2013 44 years, 0.7 \u2013 21.2<\/li>\n<li>Age\u00a045 \u2013 50 years, 0.3 \u2013 14.7<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>To further put these numbers into context, a level of under 4.9 indicates a level of fertility that is very low or undetectable. Levels of between 4.9 and 16.2 indicate low fertility, and a measure greater than 16.2 shows a normal level of fertility.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_should_you_have_an_anti-Mullerian_hormone_test\"><\/span><strong>Why should you have an anti-Mullerian hormone test? <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Getting an AMH test can be a very useful step for young women thinking about when is the right time to start a family. For those who, like many others, want to get on with consolidating career, financial and emotional stability before embarking on a family, evidence that they have a good ovarian reserve will provide reassurance. On the other hand, an early warning that fertility is declining more rapidly than expected could have an important bearing on future planning.<\/p>\n<p>We all know that fertility declines with age, but it is not possible to predict the rate of this decline for any single individual. Many people assume that since their periods are regular, their fertility will be fine, but this is not always the case. If the results from the test show normal fertility, all well and good. Anyway, it\u2019s wise to have a repeat test each year so that you have an early warning system in place. If your AMH levels are low, it could be time to re-assess your priorities and listen to the ticking of the body clock.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Getting_a_fertility_diagnosis_with_IVI\"><\/span><strong>Getting a fertility diagnosis with IVI<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When you attend a fertility clinic for a <a href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/faqs\/your-first-visit-to-ivi\/\">fertility assessment<\/a>, both methods of checking your ovarian reserve, the blood test and the ultrasound scan, will probably be used to increase the accuracy of diagnosis.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Contact_IVI\"><\/span><strong>Contact IVI <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>For a check on the current status of your fertility, or for any other fertility concerns you may have, you can find <a href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/clinics\/\">your nearest IVI clinic<\/a> through our website which provides full address, telephone and map details. Or you could simply fill in <a href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/ask-for-an-appointment\/\">our online contact form<\/a> and we\u2019ll get right back to you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) plays a vital role in foetal development, as well as having other important functions in the mature adult. At about eight weeks of development, the human foetus features two sets of ducts. One of them has the potential to develop into a male baby, the other carrying the potential for a female&#8230;. <a class=\"view-article\" href=\"https:\/\/ivi-fertility.com\/blog\/anti-mullerian-hormone-amh\/\">View Article<\/a>","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":106221,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[260,262,170,64,261,167],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>All you need to know about Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) plays a vital role in foetal development, as well as having other important functions in the mature adult.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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