AMH, or anti-Müllerian hormone, is considered one of the most reliable biomarkers for assessing ovarian reserve in women. A woman's AMH level can provide insight into her remaining egg supply and proximity to menopause.
As a woman ages, her ovarian reserve declines. This decline accelerates in the years leading up to menopause, as both egg quantity and quality diminish. During this time, AMH levels also fall, making the hormone a useful indicator of reproductive status.
What AMH levels indicate:
- AMH above 1.0 ng/mL is considered normal for a woman in her reproductive years. Levels above this indicate a substantial ovarian reserve.
- AMH between 0.7 - 0.9 ng/mL is low for age and may indicate declining fertility.
- AMH between 0.3 - 0.6 ng/mL is very low for age and indicates a significantly diminished ovarian reserve.
- AMH below 0.3 ng/mL signals an extremely low egg supply and perimenopause. At this point, spontaneous conception is unlikely.
Once
AMH declines to 0.16 ng/mL or below, a woman has essentially reached menopause, with less than 1% of her peak ovarian reserve remaining.
Other key points about AMH testing:
- Levels vary significantly between women of the same age. Testing provides insight into your individual status.
- Levels remain relatively stable across the menstrual cycle, allowing testing any day of the month.
- Birth control and breastfeeding do not impact results.
- Levels decline steadily with age, but the rate of decline varies by individual. Tracking changes over time provides useful insight.
- AMH predicts ovarian response more accurately than FSH or estradiol tests alone when assessing remaining fertility.
Consider testing your AMH levels at Hormone Harmony Clinic. As experts in ovarian reserve testing, Hormone Harmony Clinic provides accurate assessments and personalized guidance to help you understand your current status and future options. Speak with our fertility nurse specialist today to learn more.
Interpreting your AMH test results:
While AMH does not have an absolute threshold indicating the onset of menopause, very low levels signal you are close:
- AMH 0.16 - 0.3 ng/mL - Indicates you likely have 1-3 years until the final menstrual period at natural menopause.
- AMH 0.02 - 0.15 ng/mL - Indicates the onset of menopause in <1 year.
Essentially,
AMH below 0.16 ng/mL indicates your ovaries can no longer reliably produce eggs. With few remaining follicles and extremely low hormone output, menopause is imminent within months to a year.
Factors like genetics, health status, age at first period, prior fertility treatment, surgery exposure, and lifestyle habits like smoking can all impact your individual timeline.
Let the fertility experts at Hormone Harmony Clinic help guide your transition. We offer hormone therapy, genetic testing, nutrition advice, counseling and community support to help ease this change. Contact us today to discuss your needs.
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