Every woman dreams of becoming a mother. Particularly responsible couples pass the examination before conceiving a child. The most important thing to do is to check your hormonal background. For this, a hormone test should be taken. These include the anti-muller hormone (AMH). But what to do when a low AMH is noted in the analysis results? Is it possible to get pregnant in this situation? This article will help you find answers to these questions.
Norma AMG
Analysis for AMG helps determine how many eggs can turn into a baby. It shows how many follicles mature in the ovaries of a woman.
Before making conclusions about whether you have low AMH or normal, you need to familiarize yourself with the indicators of the norm. This hormone begins to increase from the moment puberty begins. Therefore, in women of reproductive age, this indicator reaches its maximum mark and ranges from 1 to 2.5 ng / ml.
For a more accurate assessment of the hormone content, analysis should be taken on the 5th day of the menstrual cycle. Deviations from the norm can be caused by various diseases. If they are eliminated, then with low AMH and independent pregnancy may be possible.
In the case of IVF, a slight increase in the hormone will only play into the hands of a woman. After all, this increases the likelihood of a successful resolution of the procedure.
Reasons for a decrease in AMG
An increase in AMH levels can trigger one of the following conditions:
- normogonadotropic anovulatory infertility;
- abnormalities in the functioning of luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors;
- tumor processes in the ovaries;
- the presence of polycystic formations in the ovaries.
Low AMH is observed with:
- a decrease in ovarian reserve (usually associated with aging);
- menopause (not a pathology, because sooner or later it occurs in the life of every woman);
- overweight (obesity in childbearing age, that is, in 20-30 years);
- ovarian dysfunction.
The possibility of pregnancy with reduced AMH
The presence of a reduced concentration of the hormone in the body of a woman almost always indicates the presence of any pathology. Violations in the reproductive system can be of a different nature: from ordinary overweight to tumor formations.
Despite what causes a decrease in hormone levels in the body, pregnancy with low AMH becomes problematic. Since the content of this hormone cannot be artificially increased. The cause of deviations from the norm can be corrected, but an increase in the number of eggs is unlikely. It is possible to influence their quality and maturity.
Statistics indicate that for women with low AMH, consolation may be the only procedure. In addition, donor biological materials are often necessary for her.
But there are also cases when the decrease in AMG is adjusted independently. This suggests that during the analysis the content was affected by some negative factor, which distorted the result of the study.
Therefore, in each case, it is necessary to contact a specialist and develop a specific action plan.
AMG indicator for IVF
In the modern world, for couples who want to conceive a child, but for some reason who are not able to do this naturally, there is a procedure for artificial insemination. In medicine, it is called in vitro fertilization (IVF). This process is quite complex and time-consuming.
Initially, you need to get tested. The most indicative in this case will be an analysis on AMG. The anti-Muller hormone will show the reproductologist how many eggs a woman is suitable for fertilization. That is why there is a framework, that is, a certain indicator of this hormone is needed.
To carry out the artificial insemination procedure, a woman's AMH should be at least 0.8 ng / ml. Otherwise, the procedure will be simply impossible, because there is no necessary number of eggs for fertilization. Even stimulation with low AMH will be difficult.
However, too high an indicator can be a hassle. In preparation for IVF, hormonal stimulation of follicular maturation is carried out. Due to the increased content of AMH in a woman's body, there is a risk of ovarian hyperstimulation.
Low AMG: is IVF possible?
Statistics indicate that IVF with low AMH is possible. But it is very difficult to implement. The hormone indicator does not affect whether the embryo will take root in the body of a woman. But the very fact of fertilization can. After all, with a low AMG score, the number of eggs is very low, and their quality can be even worse. Moreover, in this case, time is not on the side of future parents.
In principle, the procedure of artificial insemination with low AMG is no different from the IVF procedure with a normal hormone index. But here the woman is forced to take more serious hormonal drugs. In addition, a longer period for egg maturation is needed.
Typically, patients are prescribed hormonal drugs in a double dose. This, of course, sounds scary, but there is no reason to worry. A low hormone does not result in ovarian hyperstimulation or any other disease of the reproductive system.
Further actions of specialists depend on how the preparatory stage went. If everything went well and the number of eggs that can be fertilized has increased, then the doctors take a follicle puncture, fertilize the egg and put the embryo into the mother's body. If the hormone indicator has remained at a low level, then drug therapy is subject to revision.
IVF protocols
The AMG score is critical to the IVF procedure. Knowing this indicator, the reproductologist chooses a more suitable plan of action and protocol.
IVF protocols at low AMH can be of two types: long and short.
Longer protocols are enforced one week before the onset of menstruation. Over the next three weeks, ovarian stimulation is performed to increase the number of eggs suitable for fertilization. Then a puncture of a large number of eggs (up to 20 pieces) is taken and they are fertilized. Conceived artificially, three- or five-day-old embryos are planted into a woman. There is a possible complication in this protocol - the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation.
They begin to execute the short protocol on the 2-3rd day of menstruation. Ovum stimulation is performed. To do this, puncture the dominant follicles. However, in this case, complications are possible - the lack of high-quality eggs. In addition, the procedure is only suitable for women with good ovaries.
IVF without hormonal stimulation
With low AMH, fertilization is possible without exposing a woman to shock doses of hormonal drugs. In this case, doctors monitor with ultrasound the natural ovulation of a woman. This way receive no more than 2 mature eggs in one cycle, which significantly reduces the chance of pregnancy.
This method, however, is also very difficult and has its pros and cons. The positive aspects include the fact that in this case you will not receive twins or triplets, and you will not suffer from side effects of hormone therapy. In addition, the cost of such fertilization is much lower.
The disadvantages include the fact that it is highly likely to miss the moment of egg maturation. Moreover, its quality will not be exactly what is necessary for a successful procedure.
Statistics
Low FSH, low AMH and other deviations from normal values are an obstacle to fertilization. According to statistics, with IVF only 20-60% end successfully. The probability of success depends on the age of the woman, the quality of her egg and hormonal state.
However, medicine does not stand still, and every year the diagnosis and fertilization procedures are improved. Thus, from year to year it becomes easier to have a baby.
High FSH and low AMH
Quite often, along with a low level of AMH, a high level of FSH is observed. FSH is a follicle-stimulating hormone that is responsible for the production of follicles in the ovaries. This situation is a rather serious obstacle to an IVF procedure.
Undoubtedly, statistics claim that almost all IVF attempts end in pregnancy. But a high level of FSH can prevent this from happening. In this case, it is recommended to perform the fertilization procedure using donor material.
Nevertheless, there is a chance to use your egg for this, but it is very small. This is only possible if the level of FSH is increased slightly. But with a very high FSH, you should not waste precious time. Ovulation in a woman may never occur, which indicates the advisability of using a donor egg.
Reviews
Any woman, faced with a problem, seeks help and advice from the same non-random women. Reading reviews of low AMH and pregnancy at the same time, she encounters great optimism.
Many women write that, despite the low rate of the hormone, they still managed to get pregnant and give birth to healthy children.
However, most women still indicate that their pregnancy with a low antimuller hormone was accomplished by artificial insemination.
You can also get such advice from the reviews: never stop after taking an analysis in one laboratory, be sure to take an analysis in one or two more diagnostic laboratories. So you can get a more reliable picture of your health. After all, the probability of error is in any case.