Simple test for ovarian reserve introduced

It provides an indicator of ovarian reserves, which is useful information for women either planning pregnancy or struggling with infertility.
A woman’s AMH or Anti-Mullerian Hormone levels provide an important indicator of her ovarian reserves. The AMH test is a simple blood test that measures a woman’s AMH level with blood levels of the AMH hormone used to indicate a woman’s ovarian reserve
Globally, infertility affects approximately between 50 and 80 million people, and around 15 per cent of women of reproductive age face fertility issues In developing countries, this impact is greater, with one in four couples found to be affected by infertility.
Previously women have had to undergo a trans-vaginal ultrasound, which is invasive and as a manual test, potentially subject to variations in results. Now, women have the choice of a non-invasive test and may request it with their physician at any time during their menstrual cycle.
 “Women have about two million eggs in their ovaries – their entire supply of eggs for a lifetime,” explains Dr Giang Huynh Nhu, an IVF specialist from My Duc General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
“The supply of eggs viable for pregnancy decreases over time as women age. The AMH test is, therefore, an important tool that enables doctors to predict a woman’s remaining fertile years and thus provide better counsel to women and couples who are making decisions about parenthood – the right time to get pregnant naturally or to consider treatment to assist pregnancy.”
The AMH test can also be used to predict a woman’s response to ovarian stimulation, a technique used to induce ovulation by multiple ovarian follicles – the first step towards personalised infertility management. Testing blood levels of AMH before initiating IVF is a useful indicator of ovarian reserve and a woman’s potential response to IVF treatment. If AMH levels are within the normal range, the ovaries are likely to react more positively to stimulating drugs and more eggs are likely to be retrieved, often resulting in a higher IVF success rate.
The first IVF baby was born in 1978 and since then, more than 5.4 million babies have been born through assisted reproductive technology. In Thailand, the IVF testing and treatment trend is growing. There are more than 60 fertility centres offering IVF treatments.
Assistant Professor Porntip Sirayapiwat from the Reproductive Medicine Division, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chulalongkorn Hospital says that the AMH test can help enhance IVF, is a treatment widely adopted by Thai couples. For women who have concerns about getting married at a later age, thereby having fewer chances of pregnancy, and those younger women who are facing fertility issues or unsuccessful ovarian stimulation, the AMH test is an ideal option that empowers them to make well-informed family planning decisions. The simple blood test does not require fasting and can be done any day, as it is not directly related to the menstrual cycle. A single AMH test is enough to identify the remaining supply of eggs in her ovaries. Additionally, the result is an important for women who are considering egg freezing before the age of 35 or during their fertile years.
Infertility can place significant impacts on the couples’ emotional and financial stability as well as put them under pressure from people around them. Accurate and reliable information is extremely crucial for infertile couples making plans for their pregnancy. The AMH test helps infertile couples predict their remaining fertile years and use this valuable information to decide on how they should approach pregnancy.