The Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) is considered to be a reliable measure of the number of follicles a woman has remaining before she becomes infertile. This diminishing number of follicles is known as ovarian reserve. An AMH blood test is commonly used before an IVF treatment as one the indicators to help predict the chance of a positive outcome.
Women are born with a limited number of follicles. A finite number are dispersed over their reproductive life. In theory, AMH levels must then gradually decrease over time or after each menstrual cycle. However, in clinical practice I have witnessed AMH levels to increase on more than one occasion. In each instance, this was done after intensive acupuncture and Chinese medicine treatment. Given the definition of AMH, this clinical outcome should be impossible. It contradicts the notions of a limited supply of follicles and the constant gradual decrease in follicle numbers.
When assuming the role of the “devil’s advocate”, this raises some interesting questions.
Some of these include:
- Is the test used to measure AMH levels unreliable and prone to inaccurate readings?
- Is the relationship between AMH scores and the status of ovarian reserve yet to be fully understood?
- Is the definition of ovarian reserve incorrect and it may not always diminish over time?
- Does acupuncture and Chinese medicine have the ability to increase ovarian reserve?
