Ovarian reserve testing
What does an AMH test actually tell me?
What AMH can reveal about ovarian reserve, what a high or low result means, and why age and context still matter.
AMH has become one of the best-known fertility blood tests. Unfortunately, it is also one of the most easily misunderstood. Women are sometimes told that their AMH is their “egg count”, their “fertility level” or even an indication of how long they have left to have a baby. None of those descriptions is quite right.
AMH stands for anti-Müllerian hormone. It is produced by cells surrounding small follicles within the ovaries. The amount detected in the blood broadly reflects the population of these follicles and therefore gives us information about ovarian reserve. In simple terms, ovarian reserve means the quantity of eggs remaining in the ovaries. But AMH doesn't count every egg, and it certainly doesn't inspect their quality.
A woman only needs one egg to ovulate in a particular month to have the possibility of natural conception. Low AMH suggests a reduced ovarian reserve. It may be particularly important when considering fertility treatment because it can help predict how the ovaries might respond to stimulation.
But it does not mean that you cannot conceive naturally.
Similarly, a high AMH doesn't guarantee pregnancy. Natural fertility depends on many things: ovulation, age and egg quality, sperm, the fallopian tubes and other reproductive factors.
AMH can help us:
- assess ovarian reserve;
- anticipate how the ovaries may respond to fertility medicines;
- identify women who may produce relatively few or many eggs during ovarian stimulation;
- interpret the ovarian picture alongside age and ultrasound findings.
It may also contribute to discussions about future reproductive choices.
But it should be interpreted in context, rather than treated as a fertility score.
A relatively high AMH often means there are more small follicles within the ovaries. That can be reassuring in terms of ovarian reserve, but high AMH is also commonly seen in women with polycystic ovaries or PCOS. In fertility treatment, very high ovarian reserve can also mean that the ovaries respond strongly to stimulation, which may require careful management. So AMH isn't an exam in which the highest score wins.
Not reliably. Suppose a woman in her late 30s has a relatively high AMH. That tells us something useful about the quantity of eggs remaining. It doesn't make those eggs biologically younger. Conversely, a younger woman with low AMH may still have good-quality eggs despite having fewer remaining. So decisions about delaying pregnancy shouldn't be based on AMH alone.
On ultrasound, we can count the small follicles visible in the ovaries — called the antral follicle count (AFC). AMH and AFC both provide information about ovarian reserve and are often interpreted alongside one another. An ultrasound can also provide information about the uterus and ovaries that an AMH blood test obviously cannot. But whether you actually need either test depends on the question you're trying to answer.
Femnee currently offers AMH testing and pelvic ultrasound at subsidised prices, with the results explained by a doctor.
Sources and further reading
- NICE fertility guidance
- HFEA fertility information
- NHS information on fertility testing
Medical review
Medically reviewed by Dr Mahadeo Bhide, MD, MRCOG
Last medically reviewed: September 2026