Anti-Mullerian Hormone and Ovarian Function
Anti-Mullerian Hormone and Ovarian Function
The measurement of anti-Müllerian hormone is rapidly becoming established in assisted conception. It is likely that it will have a valuable role whenever the assessment of ovarian function is required, and, although the modest size of most studies outwith IVF necessitates caution regarding clinical use, there is now sufficient understanding to recognize its potential value in the assessment of ovarian reserve in health and disease in both childhood and adult life. As with any hormone, its interpretation needs to be made in the clinical context, and validated age-specific normal ranges, quality assurance and standardization of measurement are required for confidence in interpretation; a NEQAS scheme is underway. Anti-Müllerian hormone reflects a very different aspect of ovarian function to the historically available markers i.e. the sex steroids, and this sea-change in our ability to assess the submerged part of the metaphorical iceberg is likely to lead to considerable advances in our understanding of ovarian function from birth through puberty to the menopause.
Conclusion
The measurement of anti-Müllerian hormone is rapidly becoming established in assisted conception. It is likely that it will have a valuable role whenever the assessment of ovarian function is required, and, although the modest size of most studies outwith IVF necessitates caution regarding clinical use, there is now sufficient understanding to recognize its potential value in the assessment of ovarian reserve in health and disease in both childhood and adult life. As with any hormone, its interpretation needs to be made in the clinical context, and validated age-specific normal ranges, quality assurance and standardization of measurement are required for confidence in interpretation; a NEQAS scheme is underway. Anti-Müllerian hormone reflects a very different aspect of ovarian function to the historically available markers i.e. the sex steroids, and this sea-change in our ability to assess the submerged part of the metaphorical iceberg is likely to lead to considerable advances in our understanding of ovarian function from birth through puberty to the menopause.
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