Like store-bought eggs have an expiration date, the eggs in your ovaries also carry an expiration date known as “shelf life.”
Most women are unaware of how many eggs they are left with. As a result, it becomes difficult for them to get pregnant or undergo any other fertility treatment.
Knowing your ovarian reserve allows you to take necessary and careful steps to utilise the eggs you are left with. Read this guide to understand how an AMH blood test can help you maintain a healthy female reproductive system.
The Role of Anti-Mullerian Hormone
The AMH (anti-mullerian hormone) is a glycoprotein hormone. Follicles produce this hormone. A follicle is a small fluid sac inside the ovaries that produce immature eggs. A woman gets her set of lifetime eggs when she starts puberty.
The set of eggs ranges from approximately 400,000. Each month, 1,000 eggs go into fertilisation; only one manages to mature and ovulate; the other dies. This is how the ovarian reserve in women depletes until menopause.
The anti-mullerian hormone is helpful for females undergoing natural pregnancy or any other fertility treatment. It acts as the earliest and most reliable indicator of immature eggs.
What is the Anti-Mullerian Hormone Test?
With countless advances in biotechnology and science, you can get a snapshot of your egg supply (ovarian reserve) through a medical test called “AMH Blood Test.”
As a woman ages, the amount of immature eggs in her ovaries decreases. The anti-mullerian hormone test is a medical exam where your blood sample is examined to check your ability to produce mature eggs for pregnancy.
The amount of immature eggs revealed through the AMH test report is called “Ovarian Reserve.”
When to go for an AMH Blood Test?
The AMH test is helpful for females seeking information about their ovarian reserve. It can assist in planning for pregnancy or any other fertility treatment.
You should consider the anti-mullerian hormone test if you;
- Trying to get pregnant for more than six months.
- Considering other fertility treatment options.
- Have a medical history of chemotherapy, cancer, or endometrial surgery.
- Planning to conceive in future
- Diagnosing for any fertility issues and tumours
Why go for the AMH Blood Test?
The AMH blood test is an excellent medical test for women. It is not a routine test, but getting this test can help you understand your chances of pregnancy. The test indicates two levels; low and high.
- The low level of AMH shows a low quantity of eggs in your ovaries. Hence, a lower ovarian reserve.
- A high level of AMH shows you have enough ovarian reserve to conceive. But a very high level of AMH can be a sign of PCOS or cancer. It means you may face some difficulties and complications in fertility treatment. Your doctor will suggest the best plan accordingly.
Final Words
The anti-mullerian hormone is a reliable way to seek assurance about your ability to achieve natural pregnancy or other fertility options.
