AMH Myths That You Need To Know
Being told you have low AMH or a low ovarian reserve can make you feel completely helpless. Or even worse being told that the embryos didn't develop because of your AMH/egg quality can make you feel like a complete failure.
What I often see happen is that women are told their AMH level like it’s the test result that holds all the answers and that’s simply not true. So, let’s debunk 10 myths that you must know about AMH if you’re trying to conceive, naturally or with IVF and learn about ways you can try to improve your AMH through lifestyle and naturopathy.
AMH stands for Anti- Mullerian Hormone. It’s produced by the follicles on your ovaries and is measured by a simple blood tests. It’s often used to give an indication of ovarian reserve but really it shouldn’t be look at in isolation at least with an antral follicle count and especially not if a women hasn’t even started trying to conceive yet. Let’s learn why!
Myth #1- Low levels mean you can’t get pregnant
This is one of the biggest myths, that if you have low AMH that you can’t get pregnant. But while these levels might suggest your ovarian reserve is low they don’t tell us about the quality of eggs or your fertility potential.
Myth #2- High AMH levels mean it will be easy to get pregnant
On the flip side to myth #1, high AMH levels do not guarantee it will be easy to get pregnant. A high AMH might suggest there are lots of follicles on the ovaries but it doesn’t translate to better egg quality or a higher chance of a successful pregnancy.
Myth #3- higher AMH levels mean good egg quality
As we’ve said above, higher AMH levels are generally associated with a higher number of follicles, this does not mean that they are going to be good quality eggs. In fact some studies have shown that women with higher AMH levels might have poorer quality eggs. For example, when AMH levels are above 70 pmol/L there is actually a reduced chance of conception because of an increase in inflammation and oxidisation to the ovaries which causes a decrease in the quality of the eggs.
Myth #4- Low AMH levels always mean poor IVF outcomes
While low AMH can indicated a reduced ovarian reserve, that doesn’t always means a poor IVF outcome. Other things such as age, egg quality, hormone levels, and total health can also impact your chance to conceive with IVF. In addition to this IVF is constantly advancing and there are different protocols and techniques that can be used in your IVF cycle to try and good quality eggs once they know you’re AMH and hormone levels.
Myth #5- AMH only moves in one direction
Most people assume that once they are given an AMH level that it can only go down from there. But it is clinically changeable in some people and I have definitely seen it in clinic where it is has gone up in patients.
Myth #6- It doesn’t matter when you get your AMH levels tested
Factors such as pregnancy, breastfeeding and the oral contraceptive pill can all impact your AMH levels. So you cannot have your AMH levels tested while you are on the pill to see what your reserve is. And also with this, it can still impact it for months after you finish so you should wait a minimum of 3 months after stopping the pill to have this test done.
Myth #7- You can use the test to determine your chance of getting pregnant
If you are between 30-44, a level above 4 pmol/L, cannot be used in any reliable way to determine if a women who has never been trying to conceive will be able to conceive or not.
Myth #8- There are no supplements you can take to help with AMH levels
Co Enzyme Q10, Vitmain D and resveratrol are 3 supplements that might be beneficial to help with your AMH levels. Some studies have found that Co Q10 can help improve ovarian function and AMH levels in women who have a decreased ovarian reserve. Women with higher Vitamin D have been found to have higher AMH levels. Resveratrol has been found to increase number of follicles and increase life-cycle of ovaries.
Myth #9 Herbal medicine cannot help you if you have been told you have low AMH levels
Remember that AMH is only piece of the puzzle and it cannot determine your fertility potential. Herbal medicine might be useful to address many areas of your health that are important for your overall fertility and health. But specifically, herbs such as vitex might be useful to help increase your AMH and oestrogen levels. This must be prescribed by myself or another herbalist to make sure it is safe and in the right dose, especially if you are preparing or going through IVF.
Myth #10- Lifestyle changes cannot improve AMH levels
While genetics and age play a big role in your AMH levels, there are lifestyle changes that can help to improve ovarian function and AMH levels:
1. Exercise regularly: studies have shown that regular exercise can improve ovary function and hormone levels, including AMH. I usually suggest aiming for 30 minutes of movement most days of the week. I’d rather see you doing it for just 30 minutes x5 a week, rather than 2 x 1 hr sessions through the week.
2. Maintain a healthy weight- being either underweight or overweight can negatively impact your fertility and hormones.
3. Quit smoking- cigarettes and vaping too. Both have been linked to decreased ovarian function and fertility. When you completely quit these habits in can improve your ovary function, fertility and hormone levels.
4. Manage your stress. Long term stress (remember this is anything over 3 weeks0 can negatively impact your fertility and hormones levels. Make sure your incorporating things like breathing exercises into your daily routine.
5. Eat a healthy diet- When you eat a diet with lots of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins and essential fats it can help to improve your ovary function.
While we’ve looked at 10 myths about AMH I hope that you can see that it isn’t the answer to whether you will have a baby or not. It’s important information, but just 1 piece of the puzzle. And, if you have been told you have low AMH levels don’t feel rushed to make any decisions or to act on an IVF cycle the very next month. Using the months for your Dr to get all the tests done that they might need for IVF is also the perfect time for you to work on your hormones, fertility and health to help maximise your chance of good quality eggs for IVF success.
If you want to learn more about how you can create good quality eggs for your next IVF Cycle then download Egg Quality for IVF Success.
