Fertility Hormone

AMH Test (Anti-Müllerian Hormone)

AMH is made by the small follicles in your ovaries, so its blood level reflects your remaining egg supply, your ovarian reserve. It is the key test doctors use before IVF, egg freezing or a fertility workup.

Written by Suman Konda, Clinical Pharmacist · Based on peer-reviewed sources · Editorial policy · Not medical advice

Last reviewed and updated: 26 September 2026 · How we check our content

Quick answer

The AMH test estimates ovarian reserve, how many eggs remain. Typical levels run about 2.0-6.8 ng/mL under 30, falling to under 1.0 after 40. Below 1.0 ng/mL suggests low reserve; above 4.0-5.0 may point to PCOS. AMH reflects egg quantity, not quality, and unlike FSH it can be tested on any day of the cycle.

The short answer

AMH estimates your ovarian reserve, roughly how many eggs remain. Typical levels fall with age: around 2.0–6.8 ng/mL under 30, down to under 1.0 after 40. Below 1.0 suggests low reserve; above 4.0–5.0 may point to PCOS. AMH reflects egg quantity, not quality, and can be tested on any day of the cycle.

What is an AMH test?

Anti-Müllerian hormone is produced by the granulosa cells of small, growing follicles in the ovaries. Because each follicle contributes a little AMH, the blood level works as a proxy for how many follicles, and therefore roughly how many eggs, remain. Unlike FSH or oestradiol, AMH stays fairly steady across the menstrual cycle, so the test can be taken on any day.

Doctors order AMH when evaluating fertility, planning IVF or egg freezing (it predicts how many eggs stimulation is likely to retrieve), investigating suspected polycystic ovary syndrome, or assessing ovarian function after chemotherapy. It is a simple venous blood draw with results usually ready in a few days.

AMH Normal Range by Age

Age Group	Typical AMH (ng/mL)	What It Suggests
Under 30	2.0 – 6.8	Good reserve for age
30 – 35	1.5 – 4.0	Healthy, slowly declining
35 – 40	1.0 – 3.0	Reduced reserve
40 – 45	0.3 – 1.5	Low reserve, expected
Over 45	Often below 0.5	Very low near menopause

As a rough rule of thumb used in many clinics: below 1.0 ng/mL suggests low ovarian reserve, 1.0–4.0 ng/mL is considered normal, and above 4.0–5.0 ng/mL is high and may indicate PCOS. Watch the units on your report: most labs use ng/mL, but some report pmol/L (1 ng/mL ≈ 7.14 pmol/L), so convert before comparing to any chart. Assays differ between labs, so always read your value against an age-matched range from your own report.

What does LOW AMH mean?

LOW AMH below about 1.0 ng/mL

Low AMH means fewer eggs remain than average for your age, diminished ovarian reserve. It does not mean you cannot get pregnant: many women with low AMH conceive naturally, especially under 35, because AMH says nothing about egg quality, and it only takes one good egg. Where low AMH matters most is IVF, where fewer eggs retrieved means fewer chances per cycle, and in timing decisions, it can prompt a fertility specialist to suggest not delaying treatment. Causes of prematurely low AMH include prior ovarian surgery, endometriosis, chemotherapy, smoking and, most commonly, simply being further along the natural age-related decline.

What does HIGH AMH mean?

HIGH AMH above about 4–5 ng/mL

High AMH usually means there are many small follicles, the classic pattern in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where AMH is often two to three times normal. In that context a high result supports a PCOS diagnosis alongside irregular cycles and excess androgens, though AMH alone does not diagnose PCOS. For IVF planning, high AMH is a double-edged sword: it predicts a strong response to stimulation, but also a higher risk of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), so doctors use lower, carefully calibrated drug doses.

What AMH does not tell you

Quantity is not quality

The most misunderstood thing about AMH is what it leaves out. It cannot tell you whether you will conceive naturally this year, large studies have found no difference in natural pregnancy rates between women with normal and low AMH. It cannot measure egg quality, which is driven mainly by age. And it cannot predict the age of menopause precisely for an individual. Treat AMH as one piece of the fertility picture, read alongside age, FSH, antral follicle count on ultrasound and your clinical history, never as a standalone fertility verdict.

Questions to ask your doctor

Is my AMH normal for my age, and which assay did the lab use?
How does my AMH change the plan, for natural trying, IVF or egg freezing?
Should we also check FSH, oestradiol and an antral follicle count?
Could PCOS or another condition explain my result?

AMH vs FSH vs antral follicle count: how they compare

AMH is one of several ways to estimate ovarian reserve, and each answers a slightly different question:

Test	What it measures	When it is ordered	Key limitation
AMH	Hormone from small growing follicles — a proxy for how many eggs remain	Fertility assessment, IVF planning, PCOS workup; can be drawn on any cycle day	Reflects quantity, not egg quality — and it cannot predict whether you will conceive naturally
FSH (day 2–3)	The pituitary signal pushing the ovaries to work	Cycle-day hormone testing alongside oestradiol	Varies by cycle day and rises only once reserve is already low — a late signal
Antral follicle count	Follicles actually seen on ultrasound	Alongside AMH in fertility workups	Needs a scan and depends on the operator; varies a little cycle to cycle
Oestradiol (day 2–3)	The ovaries' own oestrogen output	With FSH to interpret the cycle-day picture	Fluctuates markedly; a single value is hard to interpret alone

Doctors rarely rely on one of these alone — AMH plus the scan, or AMH plus day-2/3 hormones, gives a fuller picture than any single number.

Reading your report: what your doctor actually looks at

When a doctor opens an AMH result, the number itself is only the starting point. Here is the checklist they run through — and the same checklist helps you read your own report calmly:

Your age comes first. AMH falls naturally with age, so the same value means different things at 28 and at 40. Always read it against an age-adjusted range, not a single cutoff.
Quantity is not quality. AMH estimates how many eggs remain, not how good they are — and not whether you will conceive. A low AMH does not mean pregnancy is impossible.
What is the trend? AMH drifts down slowly over the years; a single low-ish reading matters less than the direction of travel. Doctors usually recheck after several months, not weeks.
Were you on hormonal contraception? Birth control pills, patches and rings can suppress AMH somewhat. Mention them so the result is read in context.
What is the actual question? AMH is strong for IVF planning and PCOS assessment, but weak at predicting natural conception in a given month. Make sure the test matches the question you are asking.

A low AMH is information for planning — timing, fertility preservation, how aggressively to investigate — not a verdict. Discuss what it means for your situation with your doctor.

AMH test price in India: typical bands across major lab chains

AMH is a specialised hormone assay, so it costs more than routine blood tests. Typical list-price bands:

Lab chain	Typical price band	Notes
Dr Lal PathLabs	Typically &rupee;1,800–&rupee;3,000	Wide network; online booking often slightly cheaper
Metropolis Healthcare	Typically &rupee;1,500–&rupee;2,800	Frequent online discounts
Thyrocare (via partner labs)	Typically &rupee;1,500–&rupee;2,500	Often the lowest list price; home collection available
Apollo 24\|7	Typically &rupee;1,600–&rupee;2,800	Integrated with Apollo hospitals
Orange Health	Typically &rupee;1,800–&rupee;3,000	Home-collection focused in metro cities

These are approximate bands, not quotes: prices change often and vary by city, and home collection can add a small fee. Where possible, choose a NABL-accredited lab, and remember the reference range printed on your own report is the one that counts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a normal AMH level by age?

Typical AMH is about 2.0 to 6.8 ng/mL under 30, 1.5 to 4.0 at 30 to 35, 1.0 to 3.0 at 35 to 40, and under 1.0 after 40. These are guides, not pass-or-fail cutoffs, and labs vary.

Does low AMH mean I cannot get pregnant?

No. Low AMH means fewer eggs remain, not that you are infertile. Many women with low AMH conceive naturally, especially under 35, because AMH measures egg quantity, not egg quality.

What does high AMH mean?

An AMH above about 4 to 5 ng/mL can indicate polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), where many small follicles raise the level. It also signals higher risk of overstimulation during IVF.

Can AMH levels be improved?

AMH reflects the remaining egg pool and cannot be meaningfully raised, since eggs cannot be created after birth. Healthy weight, not smoking and managing conditions like PCOS support overall fertility instead.

When in my cycle should I test AMH?

Any day. Unlike FSH, AMH stays fairly steady across the menstrual cycle, so it can be drawn at any time. Some labs prefer avoiding the days of heaviest bleeding, but it is not required.

Should I freeze my eggs if my AMH is low?

A low AMH can prompt the conversation, but it is only one factor — your age, overall health, and plans matter as much. Egg freezing is most successful at younger ages regardless of AMH. Discuss your timeline with a fertility specialist rather than deciding on one number.

Does hormonal birth control affect AMH?

Yes, modestly. Combined hormonal contraception can suppress AMH, so a result taken while on the pill may read lower than your true baseline. Mention all contraception to your doctor when the result is interpreted.

How often should AMH be retested?

Not often. AMH changes slowly, so retesting within months rarely adds information unless something has changed — stopping contraception, for example, or before a fertility treatment cycle. Your doctor will advise on timing.

Does a low AMH mean poor egg quality?

No — AMH reflects how many eggs remain, not how healthy they are. Egg quality is driven mainly by age. This is why a younger woman with low AMH can still conceive, and why AMH alone cannot predict natural fertility.

How much does the AMH test cost in India?

The AMH test typically costs ₹1,500–₹3,000 in India, though prices vary by city and lab. Choose a NABL-accredited lab where possible — and remember the reference range printed on your own report is the one that counts. Discuss the result with your doctor.

What is the full form of AMH?

AMH stands for anti-Müllerian hormone.

Pharmacist's practical notes

AMH's great strength is convenience: unlike FSH, it can be drawn on any day of the cycle. But that convenience tempts people to over-read a single value. Because AMH varies between assays, comparing numbers from two different labs is unreliable — if you are tracking a trend, use the same lab each time.

For IVF planning, a high AMH is genuinely double-edged: it predicts a strong response to stimulation but also a higher risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, so doctors calibrate the stimulation protocol carefully. That balancing act is precisely why the result belongs in a specialist's hands, not a home interpretation.

In India

Indian labs usually report AMH in ng/mL. A standalone AMH test typically costs &rupee;1,500–&rupee;3,000, though prices vary by city and lab; fertility workups often bundle it with ultrasound and other hormones, which changes the total.

Where possible, choose a NABL-accredited lab. Assay methods differ between labs, so the range printed on your own report is the one that governs.

Medical Disclaimer: This page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified doctor before making any health decisions.