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For many women, one of the first tests ordered during a fertility evaluation is called the
AMH level. AMH stands for anti-Mullerian hormone. That hormone is a protein produced by the
cells that surround the egg. Those cells are called granulosa cells. High levels are associated
with a lot of granulosa cells which is also indicative of a lot of normal eggs.
The AMH level, therefore, is better to be high than low. A higher level generally means
good egg supply and good quality of eggs. However, the level does not tell the whole
story. There are many cases in which the AMH level is high and women have ovulation disfunction,
polycystic ovarian syndrome, and may have poor quality eggs.
There are also cases, however, in which a woman's AMH level may be low but she has a
good chance to conceive. Sometimes her egg supply is low but the quality of her eggs
are good.
No hormone level by itself should be seen as the sole arbiter of whether a woman will
get pregnant or not. In general, AMH levels typically above two nanograms per milliliter
are associated with a higher chance of pregnancy and successful pregnancy than much lower levels.
Once the AMH level drops below 0.5 nanograms per milliliter the chances of conception become
significantly compromised.