A new blood test introduced in New Zealand could help predict the risk of miscarriage in women.
Australian fertility expert and deputy medical director of Repromed Adelaide, Dr Kelton Tremellen, says the first Australian research on Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels links a low level of this hormone with an increased risk of miscarriage.
“This link is especially apparent in young women aged under 35 years. An AMH test will give some women who have experienced recurrent miscarriage vital information on why this is occurring,” he says.
“It will also forewarn others that they may be more at risk of miscarriage, so their expectations can be managed, and they can exercise more caution.”
The AMH test, now available through Auckland and Christchurch based Repromed Clinics, also promises to help women wanting a more accurate assessment of their potential fertility.
The test allows clinicians to best assess the fertility of the remaining eggs in a woman’s ovaries (ovarian reserve), and also assists women undergoing IVF fertility treatment as a predictor of their likely response to the fertility drugs given.
The information AMH provides for women doing IVF means the potential for those at risk of severe Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) is reduced because the clinician can more accurately adjust the drug dosage designed to stimulate their ovaries.
Repromed Auckland Medical Director, Guy Gudex says the AMH test gives women vital information about the biological age of the eggs in their ovaries.
“The biological age of a woman’s eggs may well differ from her chronological age. AMH is a more sensitive test to predict a woman’s likely chances of conceiving, particularly when used with the standard follicle stimulation hormone (FSH) test,” he says.
“FSH only lets us know if the woman has poor ovarian reserve when the quality of her eggs has already deteriorated significantly.”
