Thinking about getting an AMH test to check your fertility?
New research shows that women who are given factual information about the so called ‘egg-timer’ test (anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) test) and its limitations are less likely to be interested in having the test than women who get information from an online company selling the test direct-to-consumers.
AMH is produced by follicles in the ovaries (little fluid-filled sacs that contain immature eggs) and helps follicles and eggs grow during the menstrual cycle. Because the number of follicles in the ovaries drops with increasing age, the level of AMH also falls.
The AMH level indicates the number of eggs in the ovaries, or ovarian reserve. It’s often used in IVF treatment where the level of AMH suggests the number of eggs a woman may get when her ovaries are stimulated with fertility drugs. But it can’t tell you anything about egg quality. Women with low AMH levels have the same chance of conceiving as women with normal AMH levels.
Despite this, the AMH test is marketed as a way for women to find out about their fertility and chance of having a baby. The problem with having the test for this reason is that a normal or high AMH result might give a false sense of security about delaying pregnancy, when age is the most important factor for female fertility. At the other end of the spectrum, a low result can cause unwarranted anxiety about not being able to conceive and create a sense of urgency and haste towards fertility treatment, such as egg freezing.
To help women make an informed decision about whether to have the AMH test, researchers developed a brochure with all the known facts about the test. They then recruited almost 1000 women and provided half with this brochure and the other half with information taken from the website of a company that markets and sells the test.
After reading the information they received, women were asked questions about the test and this showed that those who were given the factual information had better knowledge about the test, less positive attitudes towards it, and were less likely to be interested in having the test than the women who were given the company information.
So, if you are thinking about having the AMH test to check on your fertility, click here for the facts before you pay for it!
Source:
Copp T, van Nieuwenhoven T, McCaffery K, Hammarberg K, Cvejic E, Doust J, Lensen S, Peate M, Augustine L, van der Mee F, Mol BW, Lieberman D, Jansen J. Women’s interest, knowledge and attitudes relating to anti-Mullerian hormone testing: a randomised controlled trial. Human Reproduction. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1093/humrep/deae147