The test for egg reserve
Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is a hormone secreted by cells in developing egg sacs (follicles), and the level of AMH in a woman's blood is a good indicator of her ovarian reserve. Although men produce new sperm regularly throughout their adult life, women are born with their lifetime supply of eggs.
The AMH test can provide an insight into the remaining quantity of eggs and number of fertile years a woman has remaining, though it cannot tell us a significant amount about the quality of the eggs. AMH does not change over the course of the menstrual cycle, so it can be tested through a blood sample at any time of the month. It can also be tested while you are using hormonal contraception.
Who is the AMH test for?
The AMH test may be beneficial if:
- you have been trying to conceive for over six months, and would like reassurance that your ovarian reserve is appropriate for your age
- you are considering IVF or other fertility treatments. Low levels of AMH may indicate a potentially poor response and conversely a high level may indicate an exaggerated response to the IVF medication
- you have had chemotherapy or ovarian/endometrial surgery and want to find out if it has affected your egg reserve
- you would like to conceive in the future and would like to understand more about your current fertility.
- it is important to understand that ovarian or egg reserve is not a measure of fertility but an important tool in assessing potential fertility
AMH at Melbourne IVF
If you are not a current Melbourne IVF patient, you can ask your GP for a referral to Melbourne IVF for an AMH test. The test involves you making an appointment for a blood test at one of the Melbourne IVF clinics by calling (03) 9473 4444. Results are usually available within a week, and will be sent to your referring doctor. An AMH level <14 pmol/L is indicative of a lower egg reserve, and you should then consider discussing your situation further with a fertility specialist. Please be aware that it is advisable to discuss the results with a fertility specialist as there is a wide variability between patients.
The test costs $60 and does not attract Medicare benefits.
> Find out more about the effect of age on female fertility
> Contact us for more information
