AMH also known as “the egg timer test”
If you’ve been told to check your AMH levels to understand your fertility potential, you’re not alone.
The so-called “egg timer” test has become increasingly common, and for many women, it brings a wave of anxiety with it. You're handed a number that’s meant to reflect your egg reserve, and suddenly you’re wondering, Do I have time? Am I running out? What does this even mean?
Let’s take a step back and talk about what AMH actually tells us and what it doesn’t.
What is AMH?
The granulosa cells in your ovaries produce AMH (Anti-Müllerian Hormone). It plays a role in follicle development, part of the ovulation process.
It’s often used as a marker of egg quantity—how many follicles (and therefore eggs) might still be present. But this marker has become somewhat misunderstood.
What AMH Can Tell Us (and What It Can’t)
Yes, AMH can give us a general indication of ovarian reserve, mainly when used in specific clinical settings like IVF.
But it’s not a crystal ball for your fertility. And it doesn’t directly predict your ability to get pregnant.
Why? Several factors affect AMH levels, and these are rarely explained clearly.
Things That Can Lower Your AMH (That Have Nothing to Do With Your Egg Supply)
Where you are in your cycle: AMH levels naturally fluctuate. Testing early in your cycle (around days 5–7) tends to give the most consistent results.
The oral contraceptive pill: If you are currently on the pill or have been on the pill in the last 3 months, your AMH may read as artificially low. The pill suppresses ovulation and with it, AMH production.
Your weight: Both a high and a very low BMI can influence AMH levels, even if your ovarian reserve is otherwise normal.
Vitamin D: a low vitamin D level may cause a falsely low AMH level. Increasing Vitamin D levels in ovulatory women has been shown to improve AMH. Interestingly, the reverse is true in women with PCOS. In PCOS, women have elevated levels of AMH and increasing Vitamin D levels in these women, lowered their AMH (a positive result!). You can read more about that here
Thyroid hormone: both low and high TSH levels (the hormone the brain sends to the thyroid gland to either produce or pull back on T4 and T3 production). A TSH of 2.88mIU/L was found to have the highest AMH level in one study
Pelvic Surgery: Laparoscopic surgery has been shown to lower AMH levels in women following surgery for at least 3 months. By 6 months, AMH levels had recovered, and there was no difference in pre-surgery AMH levels.
Stress: Chronic stress and nervous system dysregulation can suppress hormonal patterns, including AMH.
Yet many women are being told their AMH result is definitive—regardless of these influencing factors. Some are even making life-altering decisions based on a single blood test taken while on the pill.
That’s a lot of pressure on one number.
So... Is AMH Useless?
Not at all.
It can be a helpful part of the picture, especially in IVF, where AMH levels help predict how your body might respond to medication.
But if you’re using it to assess your natural fertility, context is everything.
If You're Testing AMH, Consider This:
To get the clearest picture possible:
Test around day 5–7 of your cycle
Make sure you’ve been off the pill for at least 3-6 months
Aim for a BMI between 19–25, if possible
Do your best to be in a relatively low-stress window
Have your thyroid hormones and Vitamin D levels checked at the same time, and if your TSH is suboptimal as well as Vitamin D levels, consider that your AMH levels is not accurate.
Do not test if you have had a laparoscopy in the last 6 months.
Even then, AMH is just one piece of the puzzle. You may also want to check:
FSH, LH, and oestrogen on day 2–3 of your cycle
(A higher FSH and lower oestrogen may provide additional insight.)
But above all: don’t panic.
Why egg quality matters more
Fertility is about so much more than numbers.
And while AMH is often framed as a measure of quantity, emerging insights suggest it may also hold clues about quality, something we can support through naturopathic care, nutrition, and emotional wellbeing.
If you have considered the above factors that may negatively influence your AMH levels and have still come back with a low result, please know there is support to help you.
Improving egg quality is absolutely key if you are currently struggling to conceive, and also still extremely important if you are considering egg freezing. Once those eggs are frozen, the quality f them cannot be changed. But spending 3-4 months supporting your diet, a healthy weight, lowering stress and toxin exposure and some key nutrients can do wonders in improving your chances of conceiving, whether that is now or down the track.
If you want support improving your AMH and egg quality, I am taking on new patients. Book here.
If you would like a self-paced, low-cost option to improve your fertility, my preconception Ready is for you. In this I cover all areas of preconception health, which is key whether you are trying to conceive now, or also for egg freezing. Find out more here