Prior to commencing IVF treatment in Beverly Hills, IMA ART Fertility asks patients to undergo a number of pre-screening IVF testings. The results from the blood work and ultrasound will assist our Reproductive Endocrinologists to create a tailor-made fertility program.
Your ovarian reserve and AMH
AMH may just be the right test for you. AMH (anti-mullerian-hormone) is one of the most accurate tests to assess a woman's ovarian reserve (OR). AMH levels can be measured at any point of a woman's menstrual cycle. You may want to get the level checked to find out whether your egg reserve is declining or not. If the egg reserve is declining, egg freezing may be a good option because the sooner you act on it, the better.
AMH released by the ovaries has been used as a reliable test to determine the status of egg reserve in reproductive aged women. As a general rule, higher the level, healthier the ovaries. The levels can range from 0-16 ng/mL, but in most cases it’s between 1-3 ng/mL. Certain exceptions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) or women with high number of developing eggs due to hormonal imbalances can have a falsely elevated AMH level. In general, levels are reliable in women with regular menstrual cycles.
AMH is produced by the developing eggs and therefore can be affected by many variables. If someone is taking hormonal contraception for example, the levels may be lower than expected. That does not necessarily mean the actual level is low and the egg reserve is therefore diminished, but rather the low hormone level requires further evaluation. All types of hormone contraception typically have a similar impact, whether it’s birth control pills, the patch or the vaginal ring. If someone is on such hormonal contraception and desires to test her egg reserve, simply a blood test can reveal whether the AMH level is low. If it’s normal, periodic assessment can be done. If the level is low, then hormonal contraception needs to be stopped and the level checked again. This way, the true value can be established.
A normal AMH level may not guarantee that the person is fertile or she has high egg reserve. There are patients with normal AMH levels who have responded poorly to fertility medications. Interestingly, the other way around is also true. Patients with very low levels of AMH can actually get pregnant with IVF treatment.
Overall, AMH is a good marker for egg reserve and considered to be highly reliable. Women considering pregnancy in the future who are concerned about their egg reserve should get their AMH level checked.
What to Expect with a Transvaginal Ultrasound during IVF Testing?
A transvaginal ultrasound gives our fertility team a look at your reproductive organs, including your uterus and ovaries. We often start with a transvaginal ultrasound while you are on your period to inspect your uterus for fibroids, polyps or irregularities of the uterine lining. We will also look at your ovaries to measure their volume and count the antral follicles, which gives us information about your egg reserve.
If you are undergoing infertility treatment, you will have a baseline ultrasound where we check to confirm that your ovaries have not formed any unexpected cysts that may disrupt your treatment. We also look at the endometrial lining thickness to make sure it is thin and even after a menstrual period.
Once ovarian stimulation medications have started, you may undergo a follicular ultrasound to monitor the progress of the medications. We will examine your ovaries closely and measure any growing follicles. We will also note the thickness and appearance of your endometrial lining.
Our goal is to gather more information about your uterus and/or ovaries, whether it is to help in diagnosing a cause for infertility or to monitor the progress of your treatment.
Some of the more common IVF testing:
Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH)
FSH
E2
TSH
Prolactin
Testosterone
Hepatitis B Surface Antigen
Hepatitis C Antibody
HIV I / HIV II
RPR (Syphilis)
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Vaginal Ultrasound
Hysterosalpingogram (HSG)
Progesterone
Variceller Titer
Antibody Screen
Rubella IgG
Varicella IgG,
Rubeola IgG
Blood Type and Rh
CBC
Vitamin D Level
25-Hydroxy
HgbA1c
Genetic Carrier Screening
HTLV I/II
Semen Analysis
IMA ART Fertility thanks LA IVF and RMA Network for contributing to the above article.
Réserve to speak with us about your Luxury Fertility journey.
