Fertility Testing: AMH + AFC
Thinking about freezing your eggs so you can “snooze” your biological clock? Fertility preservation for millennials has never been easier as a result of a new movement: AMH and AFC testing for women in their early- to mid-30s.
Just like the celebrated Kindbody mobiles, NCFMC is excited to offer AMH and AFC tests for millennial women interested in taking stock of their fertility stats now to craft a smarter, long-term fertility plan. Of course, no test can predict the future with certainty, but these two tests are very good and the best that technology has to offer in 2019.
AMH & AFC Tests Provide Essential Fertility Information for Women
Young women are smart to think about their fertility health – and future – sooner rather than later – one of the reasons “don’t wait to get pregnant,” is one of the most important fertility tips we can give someone who’d rather avoid the fertility treatment path. However, that’s unrealistic for the modern woman who is just as interested in living a full life and advancing in her career before starting a family. That being said, age isn’t the only reason to consider the early AMH and AFC testing trend; while it’s true women 35-years and older have an increasingly difficult time getting pregnant, it’s also true that roughly 1 in 8 couples struggle with infertility, regardless of how old or young they are. If lower ovarian reserve, hormone imbalance and other latent infertility factors are in the works – earlier identification and diagnosis gives you the power to find the right fertility specialist and make better choices for your future family.Empower Yourself by Learning About Your Fertility Potential
In addition to reviewing your personal and family medical histories and learning more about your reproductive health, NCFMC offers two fertility tests that tell us important information about your fertility hormones and your eggs:Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) test
Anti-müllerian hormone levels are an indicator of ovarian reserves (OR), meaning the number of potentially viable eggs remaining in your ovaries. AMH levels can be tested at any point in your menstrual cycle. AMH > 2 ng/mL is Good. AMH = 1 – 2 ng/mL is OK. AMH = 0.3 – 1 ng/mL is Concerning (your biological clock is ticking fast). AMH < 0.3 ng/mL is Poor and means there are very few eggs remaining (it may be too late).- Normal results: If you test in the normal range, you’re a great candidate for egg freezing and, should you ever need IVF to get pregnant later on, your success rates will be in the same range as the age your eggs are when we retrieve them.
- Low-level AMH. If AMH levels are lower than normal, there’s a chance you have diminished ovarian reserve. In other words, your egg stores are decreasing more rapidly than normal. If that’s the case, you’ll be able to learn more about your fertility options and make an informed decision.
- High-level AMH. Women with high-AMH levels may have a condition called PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). It’s one of the most common causes of female infertility and often goes undiagnosed. The sooner you know you have it, the sooner you treat it via lifestyle changes and other options.
Antral Follicle Count (AFC) test
The second part of the Millennial Fertility Testing package is the AFC count. We use a transvaginal ultrasound to get a clearer look at your ovaries. Antral follicles are small, fluid-filled sacs that house immature eggs until they’re released into the fallopian tube. We like to see an AFC > 10 follicles, and, usually, more is better.- Low AFC count. A low AFC count often confirms low-AMH results, indicating you have diminished ovarian reserve. Egg freezing is an option if we’re able to retrieve enough eggs, or we may also talk about the possibility of using an egg donor when you’re ready to start a family.
- High AFC count. A normal to high AFC count means you have plenty of eggs available for retrieval. This increases your chance of fertility success if there aren’t other infertility factors in place; high-AFC counts also increase your chances of IVF success if you freeze your eggs and pursue IVF later on.
