IVF Spring > Fertility Conditions > Low AMH IVF Treatment
Low AMH IVF Treatment
AMH (expands to Anti-Mullerian Hormone) is the name of the hormone that is released by follicles during their development. Follicles are the sacs that contain immature eggs. A blood test done to determine AMH can reveal the current status of the egg reserve and the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries. This number gives an idea as to whether the treatment is to be provided at all and the urgency with which the treatment is to be provided. The test also gives an idea as to what the response from the patient would be to the low AMH treatment.
AMH production is known to decrease with age when the ovaries become depleted of eggs. A majority of women above the age of 40 exhibits low AMH levels. An AMH value of 21.98 pmol/l or greater can be taken as ‘satisfactory’. Age and specific circumstances are also factored in to get the most accurate reading.
Causes of Low AMH Levels
AMH levels are directly proportional to the number of follicles that are currently developing in the woman’s ovaries. One of the most crucial factors that determine this number is the age of the woman. As the number of eggs declines from the mid-thirties for a woman, the AMH levels are generally seen to be low for a woman in her 40s.
Age is not the only factor that determines AMH levels. Whereas some of the women tend to have high AMH levels even in their 40s, there are other women in their 20s and 30s that have low AMH levels. Hereditary factors and external determinants such as cancer treatment are also seen to play a role. The menopause age in the family is also a good indicator of the rate of fertility decline.
Fertility and Low AMH Levels
It is important to understand that whereas a low AMH level is not a cause for infertility, it is an indicator of the egg reserve in the ovaries. If the number of developing follicles in the ovaries decreases, then the chances of release and fertilization of a mature egg also decreases. If AMH levels are low because of advancing age, the quality of the eggs is also questionable because they tend to become mutated over time. In such cases, it is seen that the chances of miscarriage or abnormal fertilization are increased.
Low AMH Levels: symptoms & diagnosis
Low AMH levels do not cause the patient to present with any obvious symptoms. However, some women may experience irregular menstruation or absence of periods (amenorrhea).
Only a blood test can help to reveal the correct levels of AMH in the woman’s body.
Who all can take the AMH test?
- If you have not been able to conceive for the past six months and want to determine if the ovarian reserve is correct for your age
- If you are a candidate for IVF treatment or other fertility treatments. Low levels of AMH may elicit a poor response to such treatments. A high level of AMH, on the other hand, can give rise to an exaggerated response
- If you have undergone chemotherapy or an ovarian surgery and want to determine your current ovarian status and its fertility levels.
- If you suspect that you have an ovarian tumour.
- If you want to get pregnant in the future and are desirous of knowing the current status of your ovaries.
- If you have not been able to conceive for the past six months and want to determine if the ovarian reserve is correct for your age
- If you are a candidate for IVF treatment or other fertility treatments. Low levels of AMH may elicit a poor response to such treatments. A high level of AMH, on the other hand, can give rise to an exaggerated response
- If you have undergone chemotherapy or an ovarian surgery and want to determine your current ovarian status and its fertility levels.
- If you suspect that you have an ovarian tumour.
- If you want to get pregnant in the future and are desirous of knowing the current status of your ovaries.
High FSH Levels: What It Means?
It has been observed that low AMH levels and high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels co-exist and is an indicator of low egg reserve in the ovaries. FSH is released by the brain and works to stimulate the growth of developing follicles in the ovaries. Oestrogen released by developing follicles work to inhibit FSH and this indicates the presence of healthy follicles that are maturing into eggs. Consequently, when the egg reserve is low, the oestrogen levels will also be low. The signal to the brain indicating that there are not many developing follicles cause it to release higher amounts of FSH. Women with a low reserve generally exhibit high FSH levels on day 3 of the menstrual cycle. Till some time ago, though FSH test was the most common one to determine the condition of the ovarian egg reserve, now AMH test results are considered more accurate because FSH levels tend to vary widely every month.
Why choose IVF Spring Fertility Center?
AMH is a test that is being currently used to determine ovarian reserve in women. The results are indicative of both the quality and quantity of eggs that remain in the ovaries. This gives an idea as to how the patient will respond to superovulation treatment to combat infertility. The results are more accurate than the FSH test results.
Though AMH test results are more dependable, they cannot be called as 100% accurate. The results have to be interpreted by a skilled doctor in the correct clinical context for the best outcomes.
Patients should take heart of the fact that low AMH levels do not mean the end of the road in IVF treatment. Low AMH IVF treatment at IVF Spring is provided for every woman desiring a baby. There is no cut off levels for either FSH or AMH.