Men can produce countless numbers of sperm. On the other hand, women have a limited quantity of eggs for life. Once a woman has exhausted all her eggs, she becomes infertile.
Every woman should go for the AMH test, also called Anti-Mullerian hormone Test, to keep track of her egg quantity. The Anti-Mullerian hormone test is great for those women planning to conceive.
If you are on the outlook to understand more about how you can reserve your eggs (ovaries), we suggest reading this article till the end.
What is Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH)?
The anti-Mullerian hormone is a protein hormone secreted by follicles. The follicles are also referred to as immature eggs. The AMH follicles are premature, meaning they are not ready to release an egg.
Females are born with 2 million follicles. However, as they age, the number of follicles decreases by 600,000.
One thousand follicles come down to mature as an egg, but only one follicle becomes an egg and ovulates. The other 999 follicles die. This happens in every cycle.
- Low Anti-Mullerian hormone levels indicate there is a lower ovarian reserve. It means you have fewer follicles left for egg fertilisation.
- On the other hand, high levels of AMH show a high fertility possibility.
What is the AMH Test?
The AMH test is a medical sample test to examine a woman’s ovarian reserve (egg quantity.) This medical test can give the woman some helpful insight into her egg count and fertility rate.
This test doesn’t predict fertility. The test shows the number of eggs to determine your chances of conceiving. The Anti-Mullerian hormone test is also done to diagnose health problems like early menopause, infertility, irregular periods, and PCOD.
How is the AMH Test Done?
The Anti-Mullerian hormone test is not a routine test. But, women trying to conceive naturally may have to get an AMH test done.
The process of the Anti-Mullerian hormone test is simple. The test measures the AMH level in your blood. A blood sample from your vein is taken under medical examination.
This test is also helpful for diagnosing some diseases, including ovarian cancer, fallopian tube cancer, ovarian torsion, ovarian cyst, or polycystic ovary syndrome.
When to go for an Anti-Mullerian Hormone Test?
The Anti-Mullerian hormone test is excellent for women. It can be helpful if you are;
- Delaying the pregnancy if you are under the age of 35
- Understanding your chances of getting pregnant
- Trying to conceive for more than six months but aren’t getting pregnant
- Going for IVF or any other pregnancy treatment
- Assessing your options for future fertility if you have a history of ovarian surgery, hormonal therapy, or chemotherapy
- Diagnosing ovarian tumour
- Family history of ovarian cancer, ovarian cyst, autoimmune diseases, etc
Final Words
Most women misunderstand the Anti-Mullerian hormone test for examining the quality of their eggs. This is not true. This test helps measure the egg quantity. Testing for the Anti-Mullerian hormone is one of the most reliable ways to prepare yourself for your fertility journey.