Anti-Müllerian hormone as a qualitative marker - or just quantity?
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review summarizing literature without systematic review methodology.
PubMed 32205525 · doi:10.1097/GCO.0000000000000623
What was done
This narrative review synthesized published research evaluating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) as an indicator of oocyte quality compared to its established role as a quantitative measure of ovarian reserve in assisted reproductive technology.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or effect sizes. It reports that AMH reliably predicts the number of oocytes retrieved in in-vitro fertilization and shows significant predictive value for premature ovarian insufficiency and time to menopause. While AMH levels associate with fertilization, blastulation, implantation, and clinical pregnancy rates, there is no clear link with live-birth rates or fetal trisomy risk.
Why it matters
This clarifies that AMH is primarily an indicator of ovarian reserve and reproductive timing rather than an actionable qualitative marker of oocyte or embryo competence.
Limits
The review provides no systematic search criteria, sample sizes, or quantitative meta-analytic data in the abstract. Key clinical confounders such as female age and specific assisted reproductive technology protocols are not detailed.
Cited by
- supports Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) testing provides a measure of egg quantity (ovarian reserve) but does not assess egg quality.