If you’ve received a low result, it’s important to remember one very important thing:
A low egg count does not predict your ability to fall pregnant.
People with high, in-range and low egg counts all have the same chances of becoming pregnant as long as they are releasing an egg every month (all other things being equal). So while it doesn’t tell you if you’ll be able to conceive, finding out your egg count does give you valuable insights into your reproductive health. So let’s explore all the things you can learn from your low egg count result (and some things it doesn’t tell you).
Why is AMH tested?
First let’s recap on why AMH levels are tested in the first place. AMH testing is one of the best ways to estimate the number of eggs in the ovaries at a point in time - also known as ovarian reserve or egg count.
It’s important to remember that your egg count is just one aspect to consider when evaluating your overall fertility - a fertility specialist will also want to consider your age, medical history and many other factors.
What does a low egg count mean?
If your egg count is low, there are three key takeaways for you:
- You are estimated to have a lower number of eggs than expected for your age.
- You may have a shorter reproductive window and run out of eggs earlier than expected.
- In any cycle of egg freezing or IVF, you are likely to retrieve fewer eggs than would be expected for your age. This means it could take more cycles to retrieve the target number of eggs.
It’s important to emphasise again that a low egg count does not mean that you can’t become pregnant, but it is important fertility knowledge that you can use to support the timing of your family planning goals. So you need to remember to use contraception if you don’t want to become pregnant. Finally, if you decided to test your AMH while using (or recently after having stopped) hormonal contraception, there’s a chance that your result could be artificially lowered. This means that if you retested again while not affected by hormonal contraception, your result could come back higher. You can read more about that here.
Next steps
You should make an appointment to see your GP so they can review your medical history and see if there are any factors that could have contributed to your low AMH result. They may also order a follow-up test called an antral follicle count (AFC) - it's a pelvic ultrasound that's used to confirm your AMH result. If you tested whilst on hormonal contraception (or within 3 months of stopping use) your GP might also suggest retesting to confirm if your result could have been artificially lowered. Finally, you should talk about if it's appropriate to get a referral to speak with a fertility specialist to discuss your family planning goals further.
The key thing to remember here is not to jump to any conclusions. By finding this out earlier rather than later, you’ve put yourself in a much better position to achieve your family planning goals - just make sure to see your doctor for further discussion.
Exploring egg freezing
If you have family planning goals and don’t want to conceive in the near future, now would be a good time to consider egg or embryo freezing. Freezing your eggs or embryos allows you to preserve your fertility by storing them for future use. A fertility specialist aims to retrieve a target number of eggs to give you a good chance of a successful future pregnancy. As your egg count continues to drop, it becomes harder and harder to retrieve that target number which can result in more treatment cycles being required. And if your egg count drops low enough, it might not be possible to retrieve that target number of eggs at all.
A low AMH result doesn’t tell us anything about the quality of those eggs, which is also a really important part of your fertility picture. So one positive is that if you have a low egg count and are in your late 20s or early 30s, your egg quality is most likely good - this makes a big difference to your chances of success in the future.
If you are considering egg or embryo freezing, you’ll need to ask your GP for a referral to see a fertility specialist. Doing this sooner can result in fewer treatment cycles and a greater chance of a successful outcome.
Navigating your fertility journey
It’s a really important message so we’re going to repeat it one last time - a low egg count doesn't mean that you can’t conceive naturally. Our Co-Chief Medical Advisors will tell you that they have seen many of their patients who have a low AMH conceive naturally. But now that you know, you should consider your family planning goals more seriously and understand the options that are available to you - timing is important. By finding this out sooner rather than later, you have put yourself in the best position to support your family planning goals.
The next step for everyone with a low egg count is to continue the conversation with their GP and consider asking for a referral to see a fertility specialist.
Disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to be medical advice and is not a substitute for medical advice. You should speak with a medical professional if you wish to assess your fertility and before making any decisions about healthcare, including contraception.
