Do I have the AMH test?

[wineandcheeseplease]

Currently about to start 1st cycle of IVF/ICSI. Had normal bloods done for DP and me yesterday but was told about the AMH test that costs money. We don't have much money atm but family has offered to pay it for me if I need it. Is it worthwhile?

[SesameSparkle]

Yes AMH test can be useful. It is a measure of your ovarian reserve, along with your antral follicle count and FSH. It is expensive for a blood test but worth getting if your fertility clinic uses it to tailor your protocol as it gives them an idea about how you might respond to treatment.

[Viewofhedges]

What sesame said. I had a really low AMH count and apparently that means they will tailor the meds accordingly. I'd be very surprised if they do a cycle without having the test done.

(Interestingly I had very low AMH but a normal antral follicle count. Anyone know if this means anything? The consultant said low AMH halved my chance of conceiving with IVF so we're currently deciding whether or not to proceed with treatment at all.)

[Onthematleavecountdown]

Yes AMH is very useful. It will probably cost between 50 and 100 pounds. I would also ask for an endometrial scratch. They can and should do this for free as its very quick and can be done at a scan appointment. Make sure you are also taking conception vitamins as well as your dp such as wellman and wellwoman. Also you should both be taking omegas and coq10. All proven to be beneficial in ivf.

I am concerned that you say you can't afford the test. If you can't afford the test can you afford to have a baby?

[SesameSparkle]

Hedges I think that AMH is only an indication of how you might respond to treatment, it's not an absolute. And the only way you can find out is to undergo a round of treatment and see what happens. I think if your antral follicle count is looking good this aspect will probably work in your favour if anything. But of course you can only go on the advice of your own clinician about whether the likely success rates based on your own personal circumstances, including factors like age, cause of infertility, etc. are acceptable enough to go through treatment. And of course IVF for anyone is pretty indiscriminate in that an individual cycle of treatment it is much more likely to fail than to work.

[allchatnicknamesgone]

I paid for a cycle at Guys and it must have been included in costs of cycle because they knew it (although didn't tell me until I asked for it)

[wineandcheeseplease]

Yes we can afford a baby. Things are just tight this 1 month as we pay some things off.

They will do cycles without as it is optional but I think I will get it done from what you guys say. Thanks

[ManorGreyhound]

No reputable clinic will start a cycle of IVF or ICSI without knowing your AMH.

This is their main method of determining the dosage of stimulating drugs to give you, also of how you are likely to respond.

Most importantly, your AMH is a key predictor of your risk of OHSS, I would be very very wary of a clinic that would offer me such powerful and potentially dangerous drugs without being armed with as much information as possible.

I have to say, I am also concerned about your finances - if money is tight, have you chosen the cheapest clinic you can find? (hence they are cutting corners and risking your health in the process)

If you can't afford decent IVF treatment at the moment, then wait until you can.

[farfallarocks]

AMH is a very useful indicator of how you will respond to stimulation. A word of warning though, I got a very low AMH result (less than 1) and did in fact have a very poor response in IVF (2 eggs, BFN) but conceived naturally 3 months later so don't panic if your AMH low, its not the death sentence I thought it was when I received my result.

[BettyBi0]

AMH is an important result to know for lots of reasons. If it's super low it might make you change treatment decisions i.e. Go for a low dose natural IVF rather than standard IVF. At the other end of the spectrum it can also give an indication of whether you are higher risk for overstimulation so they can tailor your doses and monitor your response more closely to avoid OHSS.

AMH results aren't absolute though. Mine went up and down over the years as I have polycystic tendencies so one month it was 20something and then when another clinic tested it 3 months later it was 57 or something silly like that.

[wineandcheeseplease]

Manorgreyhound, I am on the NHS as stated. Don't worry about my money - that's my concern not yours

[wineandcheeseplease]

Just realised I didn't state this is NHS treatment. Apologies

[allchatnicknamesgone]

Hey OP. Just wanted to say that quite a few of the posts here mention your money situation. Yep, money is of course needed to bring up a child, but we all have tight months with unexpected bills. It's a bit rude of people to comment on your financial position when you are asking for advice. So hope you haven't taken it to heart.
There are informative posts here though, so maybe raise some points with your clinic.
Good luck.

[Shellster52]

Some people on here seem very convinced that an AMH test is absolutely necessary and the clinic is not very reputable if they don't insist on one. Everyone is entitled to there opinion of course so here is mine. AMH is a hormone that each of your little follicles on your ovaries produce. So getting an AMH blood test will give an indication as to how many follicles your ovaries produce. But if you clinic has done a scan prior to your IVF cycle to count your follicles, then that is just as informative. I've done 11 IVF cycles before finally having success and in that time I had my AMH checked twice and (too) many scans. The first time my AMH was 2.5 and I had 5 follicles in total (2 on one ovary and 3 on the other). The next time I had it tested, my AMH was 6.7 and I had 15 follicles that IVF cycle. I commented on an IVF thread I was on at the time how it seems that it seemed my body produced around .5 AMH for each follicle. Others had recently done an AMH test and were about to start IVF and then noticed that it worked out roughly the same for them too. Also seems to match with farfallarocks AMH and 2 eggs comment above. Did your clinic do any sort of preliminary scan or how did they work out your medication dose? Good luck whatever you decide. IVF is one heck of a roller coaster of emotions.

[carnassials]

I am having NHS treatment in Kent and the hospital wouldn't even refer us to the clinic before I had the AMH test done with results over a certain level (unhelpful, sorry!).

[carnassials]

Sorry, I forgot to add the NHS covered the cost of the AMH test (August 2015)