AMH test: what it measures and what it can't tell you
Want to know if AMH or other fertility testing makes sense for you?
A licensed clinician reviews your history, orders testing when it is useful, and explains your results. Insurance or $50 self-pay for the visit; lab fees are billed by the lab.
What AMH can help assess
- Ovarian reserve — an estimate of egg quantity
- Likely response to ovarian stimulation in IVF or egg freezing
- Part of the work-up for infertility or missed periods, in clinical context
What AMH cannot reliably tell you
- Whether you can get pregnant naturally, or how quickly
- Egg quality
- The exact age you will reach menopause
- Whether you will have infertility in the future
ASRM describes ovarian reserve tests as an adjunct to evaluation and a poor standalone predictor of natural fertility.
AMH, FSH, and estradiol
AMH can be drawn any day. FSH and estradiol are another way to estimate ovarian reserve but must be timed to days 2–5 of the cycle. Your clinician picks the test that fits your situation.
AMH is not a full fertility evaluation
Trying for 12 months without pregnancy (6 months if 35 or older, sooner if over 40 or with irregular cycles or endometriosis) is a reason for a full evaluation: ovulation, the uterus and tubes, and semen testing for a partner when it applies. See what a fertility evaluation includes.
Common questions
- What does an AMH test measure?
- Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is made by small follicles in the ovaries. The level gives an estimate of ovarian reserve — roughly how many eggs remain. It can be drawn on any day of the cycle.
- Can an AMH test tell me if I can get pregnant?
- No. ASRM notes that AMH is a poor predictor of natural fertility. People with low AMH often conceive on their own, and a normal AMH does not rule out infertility. AMH also does not measure egg quality or tell you exactly when menopause will happen.
- What does low AMH mean?
- Low AMH suggests fewer remaining eggs than average for your age and may mean a lower response to fertility medication in IVF. It is not a diagnosis of infertility by itself. A clinician interprets it with your age, cycles, and history.
- Should I get an AMH test?
- It can help if you are being evaluated for infertility, considering IVF or egg freezing, or have a reason to suspect reduced ovarian reserve. For a healthy person not trying to conceive, it often won't change your plans. A clinician can help you decide.