title: Anti-mullerian hormone as a predictor of ovarian reserve and ovarian response in IVF women from Gaza strip.
abstract: Back ground: Careful evaluation of patients and proper treatment with right techniques are essential for successful outcome of assisted reproduction. To obtain satisfactory results, it is necessary to assess ovarian reserve before planning treatment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate anti-mullerian hormone as a predictor of fertility potential in terms of ovarian reserve and ovarian response reflected by antral follicles and mature oocyte counts in response to menotrophin stimulation in in vitro fertilization (IVF) women from Gaza Strip.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective cohort study consisted of 81 women (mean age 28.7 years) attending IVF at Al-Basma Fertility Center in Gaza City. Blood withdrawal for antimullerian hormone measurement was performed in all the patients and the number of oocytes and embryos were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total number of retrieved oocytes was inversely associated with age (12.5±4.5, 11.0±5.4 and 6.9±4.7 at age ≤25, 26-35 and >35 years, respectively (F=4.793 and p=0.011). The ovarian response to Menotrophin (FSH 75IU, LH 75 IU) stimulation was better for younger age. There was a significant positive association between ovarian response in terms of total number of oocytes and antimullerian hormone levels. The maximum level of antimullerian hormone was observed in females who achieved positive pregnancies (4.5±2.5 ng/mL) followed by negative pregnancies (2.9±1.8 ng/mL) with significant differences (F=6.862 and p=0.002). Correlation coefficient revealed that the number of mature oocytes showed strong positive correlation with the antimullerian hormone levels (r=0.469, p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-mullerian hormone can be used in IVF programs as a good predictor of ovarian reserve and ovarian response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, The Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
authors.forename: Maged
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammed Yassin
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, The Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
authors.forename: Fadel
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Akram Sharif
authors.affiliation: Lecture at Faculty of Medicine, The Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marwan Laqqan
keywords: Anti-mullerian hormone; Gaza Strip; In vitro fertilization; Ovarian reserve