There is a blood test called AMH that can measure a woman’s fertility, which should be of significant interest for women contemplating starting a family. AMH, or anti-mullerian hormone, is a hormone released by follicles in the ovaries. It can be done at anytime during your cycle and it doesn’t matter if you are on the pill or not.
For $225 or less, women can undergo this fertility test by getting a blood test that can be performed at a private clinic or lab. It reveals the level of AMH, which corresponds to the number of eggs she has left, or her “ovarian reserve.” This does decline with age, but not every woman is born with the same number of eggs or loses them at the same rate. A woman’s ovarian reserve depends on many factors such as genetics, lifestyle and medical conditions, and will vary from woman to woman.
AMH could prove useful in educating women about their personal fertility status earlier than has historically been done. AMH is used mostly on women in their 30s who’ve had difficulty conceiving. All doctors agree that, in theory, any woman could choose to have their level measured to help them plan their future. Sometimes it’s a wake-up call for women that if they wish to start a family, they should probably do it sooner rather than later. Many women do not realize that their fertility drops quickly after the age of 30 and are surprised to find out the startling statistics. The public perception that it is only the over-35 career women that are struggling from infertility is a myth. Infertility affects women at all ages. So if you plan to have a family one day, this test is highly recommended.
