Short answer
An AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) test gives an estimate of how many eggs remain in the ovaries, often called ovarian reserve. It is useful for predicting how many eggs are likely to be collected in IVF or egg freezing. It does not measure egg quality, and on its own it does not predict whether you can get pregnant naturally. What a result means depends on your age, your plans and the other tests done alongside it.
Key points
- AMH is made by small follicles (fluid-filled sacs containing immature eggs) in the ovaries.
- It predicts the likely response to IVF stimulation drugs reasonably well.
- It is a poor predictor of natural conception.
- Levels fall with age and can be lowered by hormonal contraception.
- A very low result should not by itself be used to refuse IVF.
What AMH measures
AMH is produced by cells in the small, growing follicles of the ovary. The more of these follicles there are, the higher the level tends to be, so the blood test is used as a marker of the remaining follicle pool.13
AMH stays fairly steady through the menstrual cycle, so it can usually be tested on any day.13 Levels rise through adolescence, peak in the mid-twenties and then decline naturally with age.3
AMH is often interpreted alongside an antral follicle count (AFC), in which an internal ultrasound scan counts small follicles in both ovaries. FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) is another blood test; a raised level points to reduced reserve, but a normal level does not rule it out, and it varies more between cycles.1
What it can and cannot tell you
| Question | Can AMH answer it? |
|---|---|
| How many eggs might IVF or egg freezing collect? | Reasonably well; this is its main use1 |
| Are my eggs good quality? | No; it is a weak predictor of egg quality1 |
| Can I get pregnant naturally now? | No; it is a poor predictor of natural conception12 |
| Will IVF result in a baby? | Only weakly predictive1 |
| When will I reach menopause? | No3 |
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) states that AMH and AFC predict egg yield and response to ovarian stimulation, which has been well demonstrated. For pregnancy and live birth after IVF, however, AMH is only weakly predictive at best.1 The evidence for its use in planning IVF stimulation is therefore Strong, while the evidence for using it to forecast a baby is Limited.
Why AMH does not predict natural fertility
One likely explanation is that natural conception needs only one egg each month, so a smaller reserve does not necessarily lower the monthly chance of pregnancy. A 2017 study in the journal JAMA followed 750 women aged 30 to 44 who were trying to conceive without treatment.2
Women with low AMH had about a 65% chance of conceiving within 6 cycles, compared with about 62% for women with normal AMH, a difference that was not statistically significant. The authors concluded that women should be cautioned against using AMH levels to assess their current fertility.2 This was a single study of women recruited from the community in one US region, so it cannot settle every situation.
Other factors matter as much or more for natural conception, including ovulation, the fallopian tubes, conditions such as endometriosis, and the partner’s sperm.3 A normal AMH does not rule these out.
How AMH is used in fertility treatment
Before IVF or egg freezing, clinicians use AMH and AFC to choose a stimulation dose and to set expectations about how many eggs may be collected.13 The HFEA notes that most patients under 38 have around 7 to 14 eggs collected per cycle, but this is not always possible with low ovarian reserve.4
A very low AMH can be used to counsel someone that their response is likely to be poor, but ASRM says it should not be used to refuse treatment.1 A higher AMH is not always better either: it can be raised in some hormonal conditions affecting the ovaries.3
What can affect the result
- Age: the main factor; levels decline from the mid-twenties.3
- Hormonal contraception: current use may lower AMH, so results should be interpreted with caution.1
Common questions
Should I take an AMH test to decide when to try for a baby?
It is not a reliable guide for that, because it does not predict natural conception.2 Age remains the more important factor.
Does a low AMH mean I cannot have IVF?
No; it suggests fewer eggs may be collected, but ASRM advises against using it alone to refuse treatment.1 See how age affects IVF success.
Is AMH useful before egg freezing?
Yes, for estimating how many eggs one cycle may yield, though age at freezing still matters most; see what to know about egg freezing.
Does AMH change from month to month?
Only a little; it is relatively consistent within and between cycles.1
Bottom line
AMH is a good guide to egg quantity and likely response to IVF drugs, not to egg quality or natural fertility. It is most useful when interpreted by a clinician alongside age, a scan and the wider fertility picture.
Related reading
- Fertility treatment overview
- What should you know about egg freezing?
- How does age affect IVF success?
- What does a semen analysis show?
- What is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)?
Sources
- Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Testing and interpreting measures of ovarian reserve: a committee opinion. Fertility and Sterility; 2020;114:1151–7. https://asrm.org/practice-guidance/practice-committee-documents/testing-and-interpreting-measures-of-ovarian-reserve-a-committee-opinion-2020. Accessed 5 November 2026.
- Steiner AZ, Pritchard D, Stanczyk FZ, et al. Association between biomarkers of ovarian reserve and infertility among older women of reproductive age. JAMA; 2017;318(14):1367–1376. doi:10.1001/jama.2017.14588. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2656811
- Cleveland Clinic. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) test. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diagnostics/22681-anti-mullerian-hormone-test. Accessed 5 November 2026.
- Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority. Egg freezing. HFEA. https://www.hfea.gov.uk/treatments/fertility-preservation/egg-freezing/. Accessed 5 November 2026.
Article history
- — First published.