AMH explained — what your result means and what it doesn't

AMH is one of the first blood tests most people have when beginning the IVF process. It's also one of the results that causes the most anxiety — because it arrives as a number without context, and clinics don't always have time to explain what it means.

What AMH actually measures

Anti-Müllerian Hormone is produced by follicles in the ovaries. The more follicles you have, the higher your AMH tends to be. It is therefore used as a proxy for ovarian reserve — essentially, an estimate of how many eggs you have remaining.

"AMH tells your clinic something about quantity. It tells you nothing about quality. And quality is what determines whether an egg becomes a healthy embryo."

What a low AMH does and doesn't mean

A low AMH result means your clinic may expect a lower response to stimulation drugs — fewer eggs collected per cycle. It does not mean those eggs are of poor quality. It does not mean IVF won't work. It means the approach to your treatment will be tailored accordingly, and that your clinic may recommend a higher dose of stimulation medication or discuss the implications for how many cycles you may need.

Why AMH alone isn't the whole story

Clinics use AMH alongside the antral follicle count (AFC) — an ultrasound count of visible follicles — and your age, to build a fuller picture of how you're likely to respond. These factors together are far more meaningful than any single number in isolation.