This guide explains what an AMH blood test measures, how to interpret AMH levels, what it costs in Australia, and when it is useful to have one.
What is AMH?
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is produced by the small follicles in your ovaries. Each follicle contains an immature egg. The more small follicles you have, the more AMH you release into your bloodstream.
Because of this, your AMH level gives an indication of your ovarian reserve: roughly how many eggs remain in your ovaries at the time of the test. Women are born with all the eggs they will ever have. That supply falls steadily from before birth through to menopause.,Therefore AMH declines with age.
What the AMH blood test involves
The AMH test is a single blood test. You can have it at any point in your menstrual cycle, and you don't need to fast beforehand. Results usually come back within a few days.
If you take biotin (vitamin B7), including in hair, skin and nail supplements, let your doctor know before the test. Biotin can interfere with some AMH assays.
At Life Fertility Sydney, AMH is one of several tests your specialist may recommend as part of a fertility assessment. You don't need to have it done before your first appointment.
How to interpret your AMH result
Broadly, results fall into three bands.
Low AMH
A low result suggests a smaller pool of remaining eggs than is typical for your age. This is often described as diminished ovarian reserve.
What it does mean: you may respond to fertility medication with fewer eggs per cycle, What it doesn't mean: that you’re not fertilieWomen with low AMH levels get pregnant naturally. AMH tells you about quantity, not quality, and you only need one healthy egg to conceive.
Normal AMH
A result in the expected range for your age suggests your ovarian reserve is normalThis is reassuring, but it isn't a guarantee of fertility. Ovulation, tubal health, uterine health, sperm quality and age all matter too.
High AMH
A high result can indicate a larger number of small follicles. This is common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOSPMOS). AMH can now be used in adults as an alternative to an ultrasound to check for polycystic ovaries. On its own, a high AMH is not a diagnosis of PCOS/PMOS, and it doesn't mean you're more fertile.
AMH levels by age
AMH is usually highest in your mid-twenties and falls gradually through your thirties and forties. That's why your result is always compared with women your own age, rather than against one "normal" number.
There's no single AMH-by-age chart that applies everywhere. Each laboratory uses its own testing equipment, and values can differ between them. Most fertility specialists read your result as a percentile for your age, using your lab's own reference data:
Below the 10th percentile: lower ovarian reserve than expected for your age
Between the 10th and 90th percentile: in the expected range for your age
Above the 90th percentile: higher than expected, which can be linked with PCOS
If you'd like to know where your result sits for your age, just ask your specialist. It's one of the most useful questions you can bring to your appointment.
What AMH can't tell you
AMH doesn't measure egg quality. Egg quality is largely determined byfemale age, and it's quality, more than quantity, that drives the chance of a healthy pregnancy. AMH doesn't predict whether you'll conceive naturally. Research consistently shows that AMH is a poor predictor of natural fertility for an individual woman. AMH doesn't reliably predict when you'll reach menopause. It trends downward with age, but it can't give you a date.
In short, no single test gives a complete picture of fertility. AMH is one factor your specialist weighs alongside your age, gynaecological and medical history, ultrasound findings and, if you have a partner, a semen analysis.
Where AMH is useful
Despite its limits, AMH earns its place in a fertility work-up for a few specific reasons.
Planning IVF or egg freezing. AMH helps predict how your ovaries are likely to respond to stimulation. That guides medication dosing, sets realistic expectations about the number of eggs that may be collected, and helps your specialist estimate whether one cycle or more may be needed.
Deciding on egg freezing. If you're considering egg freezing, your AMH result, together with an antral follicle count on ultrasound, gives you a clearer sense of timing. Success rates are higher when eggs are frozen at a younger age, and a lower than expected AMH can be a reason not to wait.
Investigating infertility. When conception hasn't happened after six to twelve months of trying, AMH is part of the standard assessment that may give a clearer picture as to why and shape treatment planning.
Before or after medical treatment. If you're facing chemotherapy, radiotherapy or ovarian surgery, AMH helps assess ovarian reserve before treatment and can guide fertility preservation decisions.
Should you get an AMH test?
An AMH test is worth considering if you:
have been trying to conceive for 12 months, or six months if you're 35 or over, without success
are thinking about egg freezing or delaying pregnancy
have irregular cycles, a diagnosis of endometriosis or PCOS, or a family history of early menopause
have had ovarian surgery or treatment that may affect your ovaries
are planning IVF
How much does an AMH test cost in Australia?
AMH testing isn't covered by Medicare, Depending on the pathology lab, this is typically around $66 to $120. Our team can confirm current costs when you book.
If you live in NSW, you may be eligible for the NSW Government's one-off $250 Pre-IVF Fertility Testing Rebate, which covers AMH and other fertility tests when you've been referred by a GP or specialist.
The rest of your fertility assessment may attract Medicare rebates depending on your circumstances.
What happens after your result
Your fertility specialist will put it alongside your age, medical history and other test results, explain what it means for you specifically, and talk through your options. For many people that's reassurance and a plan to try naturally. For others it's a clearer timeline for fertility treatment.
Our fertility specialists consult in Potts Point and Kogarah. If you'd like your AMH result explained, or you're deciding whether to be tested, book a consultation . Not ready for that yet? You can also book a free nurse consultation to talk it through first.
Frequently asked question’s
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Yes. AMH varies very little across the menstrual cycle.
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Yes, it can. The pill can lower AMH readings by around 20 to 30%, and levels recover after you stop. If you're on hormonal contraception, tell your specialist so your result can be interpreted with that in mind.
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Most results come back within a few days.
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AMH reflects the number of eggs remaining, which cannot be increased. Supplements and lifestyle changes don't raise your AMH. Smoking is linked with a lower AMH,, so quitting is worthwhile. A healthy lifestyle also supports overall reproductive health and egg quality, which matters most.
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No.A Low AMH means a smaller ovarian reserve than expected for your age. It doesn't mean menopause is imminent, and most women with a low AMH continue to ovulate regularly and conceive.
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A high AMH often means more eggs are collected during IVF, but it also raises the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, so your specialist will use a gentler medication protocol.
References
American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Testing and interpreting measures of ovarian reserve.
Steiner AZ et al. (2017). Association between biomarkers of ovarian reserve and infertility among older women of reproductive age. JAMA. Summary.
Birch Petersen K et al. (2015). Ovarian reserve assessment in users of oral contraception. Human Reproduction.
Monash University. International evidence-based guideline for PCOS, 2023 (summary).
Healthdirect Australia. About infertility.
Australasian Menopause Society. Anti-Müllerian hormone test.
