AMH is one of the most talked-about hormones in fertility care, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. Many people assume AMH levels can tell them exactly how fertile they are or whether they’ll be able to have a baby in the future. In reality, levels are only one piece of the fertility puzzle.
While AMH can provide useful information about ovarian reserve, it does not tell the whole story about your ability to conceive. In this blog, we explain what AMH is, how it relates to fertility, what low AMH means, and when you should consider fertility treatments such as IVF or donor eggs.
What is AMH?
AMH stands for Anti-Müllerian Hormone. It is a hormone produced by small follicles in the ovaries, which contain immature eggs. An AMH blood test is commonly used to help assess ovarian reserve, which refers to the number of eggs remaining in the ovaries.
AMH levels naturally decline with age as the number of remaining eggs decreases. Because of this, AMH testing is often used as part of fertility investigations and IVF planning.
However, it’s important to understand that AMH levels do not directly measure egg quality, and they can’t predict whether you’ll get pregnant. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), AMH is most useful for predicting how the ovaries may respond to fertility medication during IVF treatment, rather than predicting your ability to conceive.
In other words, AMH and fertility are connected, but AMH alone cannot determine your future chances of becoming pregnant.
Read: What you need to know about having a low ovarian reserve.
How is AMH tested?
Testing AMH levels is relatively simple. A doctor or fertility specialist can order an AMH blood test, which can be done at any point during the menstrual cycle.
Fertility specialists often combine AMH testing with other assessments, including:
- Ultrasound scans to count antral follicles (antral follicle count or AFC).
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) testing.
- A review of menstrual history and overall reproductive health.
What do AMH levels mean?
AMH levels are generally grouped into low, average, or high ranges. However, it’s important to remember that results can vary between laboratories and should always be interpreted by a fertility specialist.
Low AMH
A low AMH result may indicate that your egg supply is lower than expected. This can sometimes mean the ovaries may respond less strongly to fertility medications during IVF, potentially resulting in fewer eggs being collected.
Hearing you have low AMH can be upsetting, but low AMH does not automatically mean infertility. Many people with low AMH still conceive naturally or achieve pregnancy through fertility treatment. Research published by the National Institutes of Health also shows that younger women with low AMH may still go on to have successful IVF pregnancies if healthy embryos are available.
Average AMH
Average AMH levels generally suggest ovarian reserve is within the expected range for a person’s age. However, normal AMH levels do not guarantee pregnancy, as many other factors, including age, egg quality, sperm health, and overall reproductive health, influence fertility.
High AMH
High AMH levels can sometimes be associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). People with PCOS often have a higher number of follicles in the ovaries, which can result in elevated AMH levels.
Higher AMH may indicate a stronger response to fertility medication during IVF treatment. However, fertility specialists still carefully create treatment plans to minimise the risk of complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS).
Read: Can I get pregnant with PCOS?
Factors that can affect AMH levels
Several factors can influence AMH levels, including:
- Age.
- Endometriosis.
- PCOS.
- Previous ovarian surgery.
- Chemotherapy or other medical treatments.
- Smoking and lifestyle factors.
Age remains one of the most significant influences on ovarian reserve. As people get older, AMH levels typically decline alongside the number of remaining eggs.
Read: Poor egg quality: what you need to know.
Can you get pregnant with low AMH?
Yes! Having low AMH does not mean pregnancy is impossible. AMH levels are only one factor involved in fertility. Age often plays an even more significant role, particularly because egg quality naturally declines over time. A younger person with low AMH may still have healthy eggs capable of creating viable embryos.
Research suggests that AMH has only a weak association with natural conception. A study published in Fertility and Sterility found that while low AMH may slightly reduce the chances of conception, many people with low AMH still successfully become pregnant.
For people trying to conceive naturally, low AMH is only one part of the picture. It can help guide further fertility investigations and treatment decisions, but it doesn’t provide all the answers.
AMH, IVF, and fertility treatment
AMH testing is often used during IVF planning to help fertility specialists understand how the ovaries may respond to fertility medication.
During IVF, medications called gonadotropins are commonly used to stimulate the ovaries to produce multiple mature eggs. People with lower AMH levels may require adjusted medication protocols or may produce fewer eggs during a stimulation cycle.
While fewer eggs can sometimes reduce the number of embryos available for transfer, successful pregnancies can still happen. Fertility specialists create IVF treatment plans based on each individual’s AMH levels, age, medical history, and fertility goals.
If you have had a severely diminished ovarian reserve, repeated unsuccessful IVF cycles, or poor egg quality, you may want to consider using donor eggs. Donor egg IVF is associated with high success rates worldwide, with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) reporting live birth rates above 50% per embryo transfer in many cases, depending on individual circumstances and clinic factors.
Receiving AMH test results can feel overwhelming, but it’s important to remember that AMH levels are only one part of a much bigger picture. Fertility is complex, and many people with low AMH still go on to achieve successful pregnancies naturally or through fertility treatment.
We understand that every fertility journey is unique. Whether you are exploring donor egg treatment now or simply learning more about your options, we’re here to help. Contact us for a free consultation.
