Home Test - €129

As a laya healthcare member you may be entitled to claim some or all of the cost of your home test kits (subject to your outpatient excess). Simply log onto your dedicated Member Area on layahealthcare.ie and check under everyday medical expenses.

AMH, or the Anti-Mullerian Hormone, is a biological substance in a woman’s body that is directly associated with her ovarian reserve. This can be used to track her fertility level and can be easily measured through an AMH test done at home. Conveniently, the AMH test can be undertaken at any time during the menstrual cycle.

• An AMH test may help a woman better understand her fertility, allowing her to make informed decisions about conceiving in the future should she so wish.
• The AMH test can be used to fine tune the proposed type and dose of treatments when used in an assisted reproductive technology setting.

Request an AMH home test right now by clicking the "Let's Start" button and filling out the following form. Your results will be assessed by a doctor through your online account.

Fertility varies over a woman’s lifetime. From when periods begin (menarche), fertility gradually declines as each decade of life passes. In particular, AMH levels are lower after the age of 40. However, that is not to say that a woman this age cannot conceive. Remember that this decline in fertility is relative and not absolute. A woman may ovulate and produce an egg every other month in her 40s - versus, for instance, every month in her 30s - but she may still be able to conceive.

What is an AMH test?

It is a blood test that measures the Anti-Mullerian Hormone, a specific hormone produced by the ovaries. This gives an indication of a woman’s fertility status. As the AMH test can be done at home, there is no need to visit your GP or hospital. A small sample of blood is collected via a simple finger prick and sent off to the accredited laboratory used by careoncall.ie.

What is the AMH test used for?

AMH is usually the earliest indicator of a diminished ovarian reserve, and reduced AMH levels can indicate a problem before other biological indicators begin to show any change. Since the Anti-Mullerian Hormone is one of the better predictors of ovarian reserve, AMH tests can be used to determine if egg freezing is a viable option and how a woman might respond to fertility treatments.

Can I use the AMH test if I am on contraceptive hormones? 

Several contraceptive hormones work to ‘close down’ ovarian activity, which is why they work as a contraceptive. Although the AMH test can be done, it would be difficult to interpret the results with any degree of certainty. The best medical advice would be to wait until you have no need for contraception and allow the ovaries to ‘wake up’ before using the AMH test. 

However, you should be aware that in different women, the ovarian awakening can occur over different time frames. It can take anywhere between 1 and 10 months for women’s ovaries to return to normal function. Because of this, it is best to take the AMH test when you have been off all hormones for several months, provided that you no longer require contraception.

Do any medical conditions affect AMH levels?

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have a higher number of follicles (eggs), resulting in higher baseline AMH levels. If your AMH test results are elevated, suggesting PCOS is present, then further tests (blood and ultrasound scans) may help clarify if PCOS is present. If this is the case, then specialist assessment for advice on maximising your fertility in the future may be the next step.

Are there any other factors that affect AMH levels?

1. There is clear evidence that smoking may directly accelerate ovarian follicular depletion, thereby reducing the age at which menopause occurs. Moreover, smoking has been shown to alter the metabolic path for several reproductive hormones. However, it appears that the AMH level is not directly affected by smoking.

2. Research indicates that in black and Hispanic women, serum AMH levels can be 25% lower than those found in Caucasian women of a similar age. Furthermore, an unexpectedly high number of black women have undetectable AMH levels despite relatively young age and regular menstrual cycles. Therefore, this indicates a potential discrepancy between actual ovarian reserve and what is indicated by AMH measurement in these populations. More research on this finding is needed. Consequently, care must be taken when using AMH reference values across different ethnicities.

Does it matter where I am in my menstrual cycle?

The level of AMH is fairly constant throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle. Therefore, the AMH test can be conveniently undertaken at any time during the month.

What happens next?

When the laboratory issues your AMH test results, they are then uploaded to your private medical file for you to consult.

How is the result reported?

The AMH test results are reported on the basis of your age and will be explained by your doctor through your online account.

What if my AMH test report indicates a potential problem with my fertility?

It may be necessary to repeat the AMH test, along with other blood tests or ultrasound scans. Also, a referral for a specialist fertility assessment may be advised.