Anti-Mullerian Hormone

What is the AMH?

AMH, also known as Anti-Mullerian hormone, is a protein that is produced by the testicles and ovaries in males and females. Alternative names are Mullerian inhibiting factor, Mullerian inhibiting substance or MIS. The levels of AMH depend on both gender and age. For unborn babies, AMH is responsible for the development of the sex organs. When a woman gets pregnant, and during the first few weeks, the reproductive organs of the fetus start developing from the already found genes. The baby either has an XY gene or an XX gene.

If the baby has male genes, the body produces high levels of AMH as well as other male hormones. These puts a halt the development of female organs while promoting the male ones. If the body is not producing enough AMH, the female organs (Mullerian ducts) will develop in addition to the male organs. This is referred to as ambiguous genitalia and is characterized by having a male appearance with undescended testes or without any sperm count. This condition, however, is very rare.

If the baby has female genes, low levels of AMH will be produced which will allow the development of the female reproductive organs. After puberty, this protein hormone will start having different roles like being produced by the ovaries. Later on, in life, the AMH will be a great indicator of fertility.

Getting tested for your AMH levels will help you identify menstrual disorders as well as the general health of women who have ovarian cancer. You need to understand that the more eggs a woman has, the higher are her AMH levels. When follicles grow, this hormone’s production starts diminishing until it reaches zero when the follicle ‘s size becomes 8 mm. In other words, AMH are at their peak around puberty until a woman hits menopause.

Why take the AMH test?

Getting tested for AMH is normally a good indicator of a woman ‘s ability to get pregnant. It is used to understand if a woman is capable of producing an egg that can be fertilized. It shows a woman ‘s ovarian reserve since every woman is born with it. They are also great predictors of the beginning of menopause: this normally happens around the age of fifty years. This test can also find out why a woman is having an early menopause. It also helps explain why a girl is missing menstruation, referred to as amenorrhea, which is a common problem faced by teenagers. If a girl did not get her period by the time she turns 15, the AMH test is recommended. From another angle, the test can also help diagnose for a hormonal disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome, which may lead to infertility and women. The test can also be used as a monitor for women will have ovarian cancer.

If you are a woman who is trying to get pregnant but is finding it difficult, you need to test this hormone level to understand your chances for conceiving a baby. Couples, who are seeing fertility specialists, use this hormone to study how effective the treatment will be and how well the woman will respond to it. If you have high levels, this indicates that you will respond well to the fertility treatments and your chances to get pregnant are high. If your levels are low, you may not respond well to the treatment. Women with fertility problem also get the estradiol and FSH hormones tested along the AMH.

Women who are showing signs of polycystic ovary syndrome need to get tested for AMH. The symptoms include having menstrual disorders, acne, growing excess hair on the body and the face, having small breast size, gaining weight abnormally while showing excess abdominal fat, having enlarged ovaries, having skin tags in the neck and armpit, and finally thinning hair.

Women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer need to take the AMH test to understand if the treatment is working well.

For infants, the AMH test is needed to assess the presence of external sex organs that are not clear. It is also used to assess the proper functioning of the baby boy’s testicles when the baby boy’s testicles are absent or hidden.

What can cause abnormal levels of AMH?

The test results are not affected, in any way, by oral contraceptives or pregnancy. A woman produces AMH at a steady rate throughout the month. However, levels may be affected by age, history of hormonal problems, whether a woman has endometriosis, stress, unhealthy diets, and vitamin D deficiencies. Unhealthy diets include those that are high in saturated fats and processed food.

What your AMH results mean?

The AMH is a simple blood test that can be interpreted easily. If you AMH levels are above 3.0 ng/ml; then, you might have polycystic ovary syndrome, otherwise known as PCOs. This condition cannot be cured; however, with the proper medications and lifestyle changes, a woman may be able to manage it.

If the levels of AMH are between 0.7 and 3.0 ng/ml; then, you have a normal ovarian reserve. If you are trying to get pregnant, you will not face problems. In case the levels are normal but you’re not being able to get pregnant, you will have to undergo further examinations or simply have some lifestyle changes such as stress management.

If the levels of AMH are between 0 and 0.6; then, these levels are very low and you will need either FSH stimulation or in-vitro fertilization. If you want to get pregnant, you will need to receive additional treatments to increase your AMH levels as well as your chances to conceiving a baby. For example, a woman can increase her AMH levels by taking vitamin D supplementation, L-arginine supplementation, having abdominal massages to increase the blood circulation to ovaries, stress reduction techniques like yoga and meditation, as well as acupuncture among others.

For male babies, if the AMH levels are low; then, the baby has genetic or hormonal problems. If the AMH levels are within the normal ranges; then, the baby’s testicles are working but they are not located at the right place. In that case, corrective surgery may be needed.

Where can I get a AMH test near me?

Please use our Lab Locator to find find a convenient testing location.

Reviewed By: Dr. Kurt Kloss, MD
Last Reviewed Date: Oct 24, 2019