Antimullerian hormone (AMH) is a glycoprotein hormone that is produced by the granulosa cells in the ovaries. Its main function is to suppress the development of the Mullerian ducts in males during fetal development.

In females, AMH levels gradually increase during childhood until puberty, after which they gradually decline with age.

What is AMH?

AMH is produced by the granulosa cells of the developing follicles in the ovaries. It acts to suppress the development of the other follicles, allowing the dominant follicle to continue to mature and ovulate.

AMH levels have been shown to be directly correlated with the number of antral follicles in the ovary, which gives a good indication of a woman’s ovarian reserve.

The Role of AMH in Infertility

A woman’s ovarian reserve is the number of follicles she has remaining in her ovaries. This is an important factor in determining her fertility.

Women with a low ovarian reserve have a harder time getting pregnant and are more likely to experience infertility. Women with high AMH levels tend to have more antral follicles and therefore a better ovarian reserve, which can increase their chances of getting pregnant.

AMH has also been shown to be a predictor of ovarian response to infertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Women with high AMH levels tend to respond better to these treatments, producing more eggs and resulting in higher pregnancy rates.

How is AMH Measured?

AMH levels can be measured through a simple blood test. This test is usually done on the third day of a woman’s menstrual cycle and can be used to predict her ovarian reserve and likelihood of getting pregnant.

The test is particularly useful for women who are considering fertility treatments such as IVF. It can help doctors determine the optimal dosage of ovarian stimulation drugs and predict the woman’s response to these drugs.

This can help increase the chances of a successful IVF cycle and reduce the risk of overstimulation.

Limitations and Controversies

Although AMH is a useful marker for predicting a woman’s ovarian reserve and likelihood of getting pregnant, it has its limitations. For example, AMH levels can vary significantly between different laboratories and test kits.

This can make it difficult to compare results from different tests and laboratories.

There is also controversy over the use of AMH as a fertility marker. Some researchers argue that it is not a reliable marker of fertility, as there is still a lot that is not known about the relationship between AMH and fertility.

Others point out that the test is expensive and may not provide significant benefits over other markers of fertility.

The Future of AMH as a Fertility Marker

Despite these limitations and controversies, the use of AMH as a fertility marker is likely to continue to grow in popularity.

As researchers continue to study the relationship between AMH and fertility, they may discover even more applications for this hormone as a predictor of fertility.

In the future, it is possible that AMH could be used to develop more personalized infertility treatments, tailoring dosage and timing of medications to each individual woman’s ovarian reserve and response.

This could increase the success rates of these treatments and reduce the number of high-risk pregnancies.

Conclusion

Antimullerian hormone is a useful marker for predicting a woman’s ovarian reserve and likelihood of getting pregnant.

Although there are limitations and controversies surrounding its use, it is likely to continue to be used as a predictor of fertility and response to infertility treatments in the future.