QuestionHello,
I just recently received my results from my AMH test which was very low at .16 and before my FSH test was 12. Then I had it taken again and it came back at 13.9. I am only 31!!! The nurse at the clinic gave me my results for the AMH test on July 27. I wasn't able to get an appointment till August 5 to speak with the doctor. It is a very long time to wait to find out what my husband and I can do.
I tried to ask the nurse questions, but she said she couldn't answer. I asked what we could do and our options. And she said there may not be anything we can do and donor eggs might need to be discussed!! This made me very upset. There has to be something to do. I will do whatever is needed. I have not been tested to see if my tubes are blocked yet. Could that be causing the low AMH? I have only had blood tests so far. What else can be done? We won't know how my body will react to treatments, and I want to explore all our possible options, before I can even grasp the concept of donor eggs!!!!!
When my husband and I met with the doctor for our first appointment, he said we would have to take extreme measures if my AMH came back low. He then did a sonagram, and everything looked good. I am very confused and scared. I need to know there is hope for my husband and I to get pregnant.
AnswerHello Jenni from Canada,
The AMH and FSH tests are used to measure ovarian function. When they are low in the case of the AMH and high in the case of the FSH, that is an indication that the ovary is slowing down drastically. Considering how young you are, if you ovaries subsequently stopped functioning, we would call that premature ovarian failure i.e. premature menopause. Once that happens, you will not have the opportunity to become pregnant using your own eggs because your ovaries will no longer be working. That is the implication. This does not mean that you do not have good quality eggs left. It only means that if the ovary were stimulated with fertility medications, the ovaries would not respond very well.
With this in mind, I think that you need to pursue a very aggressive treatment course from this point. I would strongly recommend that you consider moving directly to IVF for at least this first pregnancy. There is a risk that this may be the only opportunity to have a genetic child. My biggest worry would be that if you used up time trying lesser treatment options, you will lose the option to become pregnant even with IVF and then have to go to using donor eggs. I know that the system in Canada is complex and inhibitive, but if you have the choice, go to an IVF center. If you can't get it in the Canadian system, then come to the U.S. The bottom line is don't waste your time!
Good Luck,
Dr. Edward J. Ramirez, M.D., FACOG
Executive Medical Director
The Fertility and Gynecology Center
Monterey Bay IVF Program
www.montereybayivf.com
Monterey, California, U.S.A.
for additional information check out my blog at http://womenshealthandfertility.blogspot.com check me out on twitter with me at @montereybayivf and facebook @montereybayivf
