Anti-Müllerian hormone and inhibin B variability during normal menstrual cycles.
OBJECTIVE
To describe anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) variation across normal menstrual cycles.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Academic environment.


METHODS
Twenty regularly menstruating women.


METHODS
Serum AMH and inhibin B assayed daily during one normal menstrual cycle.


METHODS
Intracycle variability of AMH and inhibin B.


RESULTS
Data were classified into quartiles of AMH area-under-the-curve (AUCs). Mean AMH AUC was 15.7 ng/mL for quartile 1 versus 43.5, 80.9 and 144.9 ng/mL for quartiles 2, 3, and 4. Mean AMH levels (ng/mL) were 0.67, 1.71, 3.02, and 5.33, respectively. There was no variation in quartile 1 AMH rate of change from stochastic modeling, but in quartiles 2 to 4, there were increased rates of change in days 2 to 7. Women in quartile 1 had the lowest mean inhibin B (24.2 pg/mL vs. 44.3, 43.2, and 42.2 pg/mL), and had shorter menstrual cycles (24.6 days) than women in quartiles 3 and 4 (28.2 and 28.4 days).


CONCLUSIONS
There were two menstrual cycle patterns of AMH. The "aging ovary" pattern included low AMH levels with little variation, lower inhibin B, and shorter cycle lengths. The "younger ovary" pattern included higher AMH levels with significant variation days 2 to 7, suggesting that for women with AMH>1 ng/mL, the interpretation of AMH levels is contingent upon the day of the menstrual cycle on which the specimen is obtained.
Sowers
MaryFran
M
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Electronic address: mfsowers@umich.edu.
McConnell
Daniel
D
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Gast
Katherine
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Zheng
Huiyong
H
Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Nan
Bin
B
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
McCarthy
Jenifer D
JD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Randolph
John F
JF
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006262:Health; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000097:blood*; D015588:Observer Variation; D010053:Ovary / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013997:Time Factors
C422364:inhibin B; D007265:Inhibins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone