What Is An AMH Test And Is It 100% Reliable?

Fertility doctors often recommend women to take the AMH test to determine their fertility. Women below the age of 30 are known to be more fertile, with a much higher AMH reading than women older than 30. This is because, as you grow older, your AMH value starts decreasing. Since the AMH test is a significant indicator of a woman’s fertility health, you ought to wonder how reliable is the AMH test anyway? 

Continue reading this article to get your answer and also to know more about AMH and the AMH test.

What Is AMH?

AMH or anti-mullerian is a protein secreted by the egg follicles inside your ovaries. The AMH level in your bloodstream is directly related to the number of egg follicles inside your ovaries. The AMH level, determined by a fertility test known as the AMH test, gives your fertility a clear indication of your fertility health at the time of testing. 

How Does The AMH Test Work?

The AMH test is done via a blood test. A sample of your blood is examined in a pathology laboratory to check for the presence and concentration of the AMH protein. The amount of AMH in your bloodstream is directly related to the number of egg follicles present in your ovaries. A higher AMH level indicates good fertility health, and a decreasing AMH value indicates deteriorating fertility health. It is always recommended that you consult a fertility doctor and specialist to understand your AMH test reports. 

Is The AMH Test 100% Reliable?

Though there is always a looming doubt regarding the accuracy of most fertility tests, the AMH test is a highly reliable one. It can give a very accurate and reliable understanding of your fertility health at the time of testing. 

Like in the case of most tests, AMH values could vary slightly or a lot across different laboratories. This could be because different laboratories may use different conditions, parameters, and calculations to arrive at the AMH values. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you always get an expert to check your AMH test reports and let them help determine the most appropriate future course of action. Although AMH is a reliable tool, your fertility specialist will want to relate it with your Antral Follicle count (AFC) on the second day of your menstrual cycle.  

Why Is An AMH Test Done?

An AMH test, as mentioned earlier, is done to understand the female’s current fertility health and egg reserves. As women grow older than 35, the AMH levels start decreasing significantly. Your fertility specialist will ask you to get an AMH test done if:

You do not plan to conceive anytime soon but would like to preserve your healthy eggs through egg freezing. Your fertility specialist will check your AMH levels to determine the approximate quantity of eggs currently available. 

You opt for an assisted reproductive treatment like IUI or IVF. Your AMH levels not only indicate the number of eggs that can be expected in the treatment but also help your doctor understand what could be the possible outcome of the treatment. 

Things You Should Know About Your AMH Test

The AMH test is widely used by fertility specialists to determine a female’s fertility health. However, you must know that your fertility health depends on several factors and the AMH test is just one piece of the entire puzzle. Though the test can give you a rough understanding of your ovarian egg reserve, it does not account for other factors that could be affecting your fertility health. 

The AMH test is predominantly reliable in assessing the egg-producing capacity of your ovaries. However, it cannot help determine the quality of the eggs that are produced. 

The AMH test does not account for other factors like the health of your fallopian tubes, uterus, cervix, etc. 

Several other factors like lifestyles, hormonal conditions, underlying issues like diabetes, thyroid, etc. could be negatively affecting your fertility health despite high AMH levels in your body. 

Having a low AMH value or egg reserve does not mean that you will never become pregnant, and a high AMH value does not guarantee that you will become pregnant. 

In conclusion, the AMH test is a highly reliable fertility test to check the amount of AMH protein present in your bloodstream and the number of eggs your ovaries can produce but it should be correlated to AFC (Antral follicle count) to get the most accurate results regarding your ovarian reserve. Also, it is not the only factor responsible for your overall fertility health. 

Whether you are planning for a conception now or in the future, it is always better to get your AMH test done to know what your ovarian reserves look like. Your fertility specialist will advise on the most appropriate course of action given your situation. 

For any fertility-related test and consultation, you can visit Archish IVF, one of the most trusted and reliable IVF centers in Bangalore and India. Our fertility diagnosis and treatments vary from fertility checkups, consultation, medical advice, to assisted reproductive treatments like IUI, IVF, surrogacy, etc. If you’re new to Archish IVF, your first consultation with us is free!