When we talk about female fertility, it is common to find information about anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and ovarian reserve. It is important to differentiate between these two concepts: knowing AMH levels is not the same as knowing a woman’s fertility.
AMH is a useful marker that provides information about ovarian reserve, but the ability to achieve a pregnancy depends on many other factors. Therefore, an AMH result, whether high or low, should not be interpreted in isolation.
Understanding what information this hormone provides and what its limitations are is essential for correctly interpreting the results.
Ovarian reserve and fertility: two aspectes of reproductive health
Ovarian reserve refers to the number of follicles available in the ovaries. These follicles contain the oocytes that may mature throughout reproductive life.
Fertility, on the other hand, is a broader concept that refers to the ability to achieve a pregnancy.
Therefore, although ovarian reserve is part of reproductive health, it does not by itself represent a woman’s ability to conceive.
A woman may have a certain ovarian reserve while, at the same time, other factors may influence her chances of achieving a pregnancy.
What is anti-Müllerian hormone?
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is one of the main markers used to assess ovarian reserve, as its levels are related to the number of available ovarian follicles.
It can be measured at different times during the menstrual cycle and provides information that should be interpreted together with age, medical history and other parameters of ovarian function.
What does having low AMH mean?
A low AMH concentration may indicate a lower ovarian reserve, meaning a lower number of available follicles.
However, this result does not necessarily mean that there is difficulty in achieving a pregnancy. AMH is a marker of ovarian reserve and not a test that can, on its own, diagnose infertility.
Therefore, a low result should be interpreted as information about ovarian reserve, avoiding turning it into an individual prediction of reproductive potential.
And what does having high AMH mean?
A high AMH concentration should not automatically be interpreted as an indicator of greater fertility.
High levels may be found in certain clinical situations, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), in which there may be a greater number of developing ovarian follicles.
For this reason, high AMH should not simply be classified as a “better” result, but should be interpreted according to the clinical context and the corresponding reference values.
In summary
- Low AMH → may indicate a lower ovarian reserve.
- High AMH → may reflect a greater number of follicles and may occur in certain clinical situations.
- Neither result, on its own, can determine fertility.
Why can it be useful to know your ovarian reserve?
Knowing your ovarian reserve provides objective information about the state of ovarian function at a given point in time.
This information may be of interest to women who want to better understand their reproductive health, especially when there is a relevant medical history, changes in the menstrual cycle or circumstances that may justify an assessment of ovarian function.
In addition, having this information can help identify certain situations that require a more detailed clinical assessment. Interpreting AMH levels can provide complementary information to identify possible alterations in ovarian function and determine, when necessary, whether further tests should be performed.
Therefore, the value of AMH does not lie in providing an absolute answer about fertility, but in providing information that can help better understand ovarian function and guide an individualised assessment.
What can't AMH tell us on its own?
Knowing your AMH level provides information about ovarian reserve, but its results have limitations that are important to understand.
An AMH test cannot, on its own, predict:
- Whether a woman will achieve a pregnancy naturally.
- When she will achieve a pregnancy.
- The quality of her oocytes.
- Exactly how much time she has to become a mother.
- Her future fertility on an individual basis.
This is because, among other reasons, AMH is primarily a marker of the quantity of follicles and does not directly assess aspects such as oocyte quality.
The importance of the clinical cohntext
AMH results should be interpreted taking into account each woman’s individual characteristics. Age, medical and reproductive history, menstrual cycle characteristics and other analytical parameters can provide additional information to understand the result.
Therefore, a particular AMH concentration should not be interpreted in isolation or as a diagnosis of fertility or infertility.
AMH provides information about one specific aspect of ovarian function, but it cannot by itself explain overall reproductive potential.
Would you like to know your ovarian reserve?
At Laboratorio Echevarne, you can take the Female Fertility Test - Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) to determine your anti-Müllerian hormone levels through a blood test.
Find out more about the test and get information about your ovarian reserve.
👉Access the test now in our eShop: