Serum anti-mullerian hormone levels in healthy females: a nomogram ranging from infancy to adulthood

Abstract

Context: Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) is an accurate marker of ovarian reserve. However, sufficiently large sets of normative data from infancy to the end of reproductive life are scarce. Objective: This study was an assessment of serum AMH levels in healthy females. Subjects: In 804 healthy females ranging from infancy until the end of the reproductive period, serum AMH levels were measured with an enzyme-linked immunometric assay. All adults had regular menstrual cycles. The majority was proven fertile and none of them had used oral contraceptive pills prior to study inclusion. Results: In the total cohort, AMH was inversely correlated with age (r = -0.24; P < 0.001). The age at which the maximum AMH value was attained was at 15.8 yr. In girls younger than 15.8 yr, serum AMH and age were positively correlated (r = +0.18; P = 0.007). Thereafter AMH levels remained stable (r = -0.33; P = 0.66), whereas from the age of 25.0 yr onward, an inverse correlation between AMH and age (r = -0.47; P < 0.001) was observed. At any given age, considerable interindividual differences in serum AMH levels were observed. Conclusion: During infancy AMH levels increase, whereas during adolescence, a plateau until the age of 25 yr was observed. From the age of 25 yr onward, serum AMH levels correlate inversely with age, implying that AMH is applicable as a marker of ovarian reserve only in women of 25 yr old and older. Our nomogram may facilitate counseling women on their reproductive potential.