Low AMH & Ovarian Reserve: What Your Numbers Really Mean
Low AMH signals reduced egg quantity — not necessarily egg quality. Understand testing, IVF strategies, embryo banking, and when donor egg IVF may be discussed.
Understanding AMH and ovarian reserve
Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is produced by ovarian follicles and reflects ovarian reserve — the number of remaining eggs. Low AMH indicates a reduced egg supply. Many women have no symptoms until fertility becomes a concern; possible signs include difficulty conceiving, poor IVF response, and shorter menstrual cycles.
Causes & diagnosis
Causes include aging, genetics, endometriosis, ovarian surgery, and chemotherapy. Diagnostic workup includes AMH blood test, Antral Follicle Count (AFC) on ultrasound, and FSH/Estradiol testing on day 2–3 of your cycle.
Low ovarian reserve reduces eggs available for fertilization and may decrease IVF success rates — but it does not mean pregnancy is impossible.
Treatment strategies
- IVF — maximizes egg retrieval opportunities; 25–45% success (₹1.5L–3L)
- ICSI — improves fertilization efficiency; 40–60% (₹1.8L–3.2L)
- Embryo banking — accumulates embryos over multiple cycles (₹2L–5L)
- Donor egg IVF — best option for severe reserve depletion; 60–75% (₹2.5L–5L)
- Egg freezing — preserves remaining potential; best before age 35 (₹1L–2.5L)
Key takeaways
Low AMH is a quantity marker, not a definitive verdict on your fertility future. Early fertility treatment significantly improves outcomes. IVF is often recommended sooner than in other infertility conditions. Discuss personalized timelines with a reproductive endocrinologist.