Anti-Müllerian hormone measurement on any day of the menstrual cycle strongly predicts ovarian response in assisted reproductive technology.
BACKGROUND
Recently, a new marker, the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), has been evaluated as a marker of ovarian response. Serum AMH levels have been measured at frequent time-points during the menstrual cycle, suggesting the complete absence of fluctuation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether serum AMH measurement on any day of the menstrual cycle could predict ovarian response in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART).


METHODS
This study included 48 women attending the IVF/ICSI programme. Blood withdrawal for AMH measurement was performed in all the patients independently of the day of the menstrual cycle.


RESULTS
Women in the lowest AMH quartile (<0.4 ng/ml) were older and required a higher dose of recombinant FSH than women in the highest quartile (>7 ng/ml). All the cancelled cycles due to absent response were in the group of the lowest AMH quartile, whereas the cancelled cycles due to risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) were in the group of the highest AMH quartile. This study demonstrated a strong correlation between serum AMH levels and ovarian response to gonadotrophin stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, clinicians may have a reliable serum marker of ovarian response that can be measured independently of the day of the menstrual cycle.
La Marca
A
A
Mother-Infant Department, Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. antlamarca@libero.it
Giulini
S
S
Tirelli
A
A
Bertucci
E
E
Marsella
T
T
Xella
S
S
Volpe
A
A
D000328:Adult; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood*; D018587:Oocyte Donation; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011379:Prognosis; D027724:Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000097:blood*
D006023:Glycoproteins; D013735:Testicular Hormones; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone