Low AMH
A low AMH means fewer eggs are left than expected for your age. It does not mean you cannot get pregnant, but it does mean time matters and the plan needs to fit your reserve.
With Datuk Dr. Navdeep Singh Pannu, FRCOG, at Alpha IVF & Women's Specialists, Kota Damansara
- The test
- A blood test, on any day of the cycle
- What it shows
- Roughly how many eggs are left, not their quality
- Checked with
- A scan to count the small follicles
- Key point
- Your age matters as much as the number
What it is
AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) is made by the small follicles in the ovaries. The level gives an estimate of the egg reserve: how many eggs remain. It is checked together with an antral follicle count on ultrasound.
Low AMH predicts how the ovaries will respond to stimulation, so fewer eggs may be collected in IVF. It says little about egg quality, which depends mostly on age. A young woman with low AMH often has good-quality eggs, just fewer of them.
Who it can help
- A low AMH result from a recent test
- Few eggs collected in a previous IVF cycle
- Previous ovarian surgery, for example for endometriosis cysts
- Chemotherapy or radiotherapy in the past
- A family history of early menopause
- Wanting to understand your options before deciding when to try
How it works
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Confirm the picture
Repeat or review the AMH, add a follicle count and other hormone tests, and check the semen analysis and tubes so nothing else is missed.
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An honest talk
What your results mean at your age, how much time there is, and which options give you the best chance.
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A tailored plan
This may mean moving to IVF sooner, a stimulation protocol suited to a low reserve, or collecting eggs over more than one cycle.
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Treatment
Close monitoring with scans, so the timing of egg collection is right for each follicle.
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Review
After each cycle you go through the results together and decide the next step.
Good to know
Side effects and risks
- Cycles may produce only a few eggs, and occasionally none
- More than one cycle is often needed
- Some add-on treatments are offered widely but have limited evidence; you will be told which have real support
Do not wait too long
If you are trying to conceive, a low AMH is a reason to see a specialist early rather than keep trying for a year.
Not trying yet?
If you are planning for later, egg freezing now may be worth discussing. See egg freezing.
PRP
Platelet-rich plasma is being studied for low ovarian reserve. It is still an emerging treatment; see PRP therapy.
Questions people ask
Can I get pregnant naturally with low AMH?
Yes, many women do, because ovulation needs only one egg a month. Low AMH matters most for how quickly to act and how you will respond to IVF.
Can AMH be increased?
Not in a meaningful way. A healthy lifestyle supports egg quality, but it will not raise the number of eggs left.
Does the pill affect the result?
Hormonal contraception can lower AMH a little, so tell your doctor if you are taking it.
Is low AMH the same as menopause?
No. Many women with low AMH still have regular periods and ovulate every month.
Further reading
This page is general information and does not take your personal circumstances into account. Please speak to your doctor for advice that is right for you. Disclaimers