If you’ve recently received an in-range AMH result, you may be wondering what this means for your fertility. From telling you how many eggs you have compared to others your age to whether you are at risk of running out of eggs early as well as how you might respond to treatments like egg freezing and IVF, your AMH result gives you valuable insights into your reproductive health. So let’s explore all the things you can learn from your in-range egg count (and some things it doesn’t tell you).
Why is AMH tested?
First let’s recap on why AMH levels are tested. 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 an in-range egg count mean?
If your egg count is in-range, there are a two key takeaways for you:
- You are estimated to have the number of eggs that would be expected for your age
- In any cycle of egg freezing or IVF, you are likely to retrieve the number of eggs that would be expected for your age.
So good news! An in-range AMH result is also reassuring because it indicates that you are unlikely to run out of eggs early (also known as a depleted ovarian reserve).
“...for your age”
An in-range result means that your egg count is estimated to be in the expected range for someone your age. So it’s important to know that the number of eggs you are expected to have changes depending on how old you are.
For example, it's expected that a 28 year old would have a good supply of eggs - so, if you are 28 years old and your AMH result is in-range, this is encouraging as it means that you likely have a good number of eggs remaining in your ovaries. On the other hand, by the time you’re in your late thirties and beyond it's typical to have far fewer eggs than a 28 year old due to the natural decline in egg quantity as you age. So if you are 38 and receive an in-range result, it tells us you have the expected number of eggs for a 38 year old - which is far less than a 28 year old. So you can see that an in-range result needs to be considered in the context of your age.
Navigating your fertility journey
So that you can better understand how your in-range result should be understood, we’ve put together some further information that’s broken down into different age ranges:
If you’re in your mid to late 20s
An in-range result in this age bracket is encouraging as you probably have a very good supply of eggs. More positive news is that your eggs are also likely to be of good quality.
If you're in your late 20s to early 30s
Getting an in-range result at this age is positive as it suggests that you likely have a good egg supply. If you are not planning for a family in the near future, now is also a good time to consider egg or embryo freezing. Freezing your eggs or embryos while your count is in-range can help reduce the number of treatments needed to collect the target number of eggs - and the eggs will probably also be of good quality. We suggest you discuss this with your Medical Practitioner.
For those in their mid-30s and beyond
Even though you have an in-range result, it’s important to now consider your family planning goals. As we age, an in-range result becomes less reassuring of a good number of eggs being available and egg quality is also now a real consideration too. If you're thinking of conceiving and have a partner, you might start trying. However, if the timing isn't right or you don't have a partner, we recommend you discuss your family planning goals with your Medical Practitioner.
And remember, AMH declines throughout the reproductive years. So while your result may be in-range now, you’ll need to keep regularly tracking your egg count over time so you can stay ahead of any unexpected changes.
DISCLAIMER
If you have any questions or concerns about your health, it is important to discuss them with your healthcare provider. It is important to note that our articles are not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
