AMH test - is this necessary for IVF?

[dcba]

Hello,

I am currently waiting for an IVF on the NHS. I got a letter from my NHS Consultant this week confirming that she’s going to start the referral process (whatever this means!) following my recent HSG and FHS result which were both fine.

However, I haven’t had an AMH test yet which seems to be quite important. So, I wondered whether I’ll be offered one once the referral is successful and my next appointment is scheduled.

Can anyone who’s done IVF on the NHS shed some light on this please?

Also, once the referral has been made, who is my next appointment expected to be with? Is it going to be an appointment to discuss treatment and start date?

Many thanks.

[Hope_4_2017x]

I had mine on nhs and no amh test xx

[dcba in reply to Hope_4_2017x]

Hope_4_2017x, thanks for replying. This is really strange as I've read other posts in this forum accroding to which the AMH result is important to determine the drugs for the treatment... Did they tell you why they didn's do an AMH test? May I ask what your FSH leveles were?

[Hope_4_2017x in reply to dcba]

I asked about the amh and they said that it was only offered to paying customers as it was expensive.. i cant remember what my fsh levels were im afraid. Im on my 2ww now and all my drug dosages were calculated by blood tests so im sure you will be fine if you dont get offered it xx

[anna0908 in reply to Hope_4_2017x]

Fsh and amh both give indication of egg reserve. Some clinics use fsh and age to determine drug use and others use amh and age. In my area they also use fsh to determine if you get funding. It's not a necessity to have both as can use either to determine dosage. Xx

[dcba in reply to Hope_4_2017x]

Can you please also let me know, what happend after you were referred. Who was your next appointment with and what was discussed? How long did you wait to get the appointment?

[Hope_4_2017x in reply to dcba]

My first appointment was with the gynocologist i think between each appointment stage i waited about 4-6 weeks x

[dcba in reply to Hope_4_2017x]

This is a very long wait, but it's great you've already had the procedure. Good luck with your 2ww!

[SRS8 in reply to dcba]

Hi dcba, our first appointment once the referral was made was with the fertility consultant but then had to wait 6 weeks till the next one. This was with the embryologist, nurse and counsellor which seemed like a long time but I was actually given a start date at that appointment which was only 10 days wait (but obviously depends on your cycle date and if your on long/short protocol). Hope that helps x

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to SRS8]

I haven't had amh ever and I've had a private and an NHS cycle. I did read on a US website that an ultrasound of your follicles can give them the same info to base your drug treatment on. But I can't help but wonder if they should have done amh before my first round as I had a poor response to the drugs they gave me.

[Hope85]

Hiya! I had my AMH blood test done at the clinic before I started treatment. Xx

I hope this helps xx

[Cinderella5]

It's only so the Drs can decide the drug dosage that they want to give you!xx

[dcba in reply to Cinderella5]

So it doesn't tell your chances of success? I though that it tells you how many eggs you have left and their quality. Someone I know had a low egg reserve so they told her she should hurry with IVF (although she's only just turned 30!). She went prive as she didn;t want to wait on the NHS.

[Cinderella5 in reply to dcba]

It doesn't give your percentage chance unfortunatley! However it does show your ovarian reserve for your age which indicates whether your time is diminishing for trying!xx

[72cloud9]

I never got ivf on NHS 😡 But did make it as far as tests with them and no amh either.now I do know more I can't understand how they move forward without it.maybe worth asking if they will even consider this result with the treatment protocol if u get it done privately?x

[Hidden]

Hi, I had a AMH at the clinic once I had been referred and decided on where o would have treatment... honestly I was surprised a GP doesn't go an AMH right at the start because to my mind it's a pretty critical test.

This test tells you what your egg reserves look like i.e. How many you have in stock...

Now if you have a very low amount they tend to advise that IVF has lower chances of being successful due to number of eggs and this can result in them recommending using donor eggs (which is a whole other process to get your head around in my view, and one I would like to have known early on).

That said even with low reserves you can still do IVF with your own eggs as we all know it only take one egg!

Luckily whilst I have other issue thankfully I have a very high egg reserve and in particular for my age so that was some good news and just knowing that can really help you stay motivated.

I think it's a very critical test in the same way looking for blockages etc.

I'm on NHS and funded and mine was done for free.

[CountryCat]

I went privately for IVF but had tests and investigations done over a 2 year period on the NHS and no AMH test either. My local hospital also don't offer them due to cost. Did get FSH done twice though. I was 40 at the time so it wasn't a stretch for me to realise my eggs were no good and we did donor egg ivf.

I do feel it should be a part of a comprehensive diagnosis and think it should be offered. Unfortunately, I had a fairly negative experience with my local NHS so am consequently quite critical of many of their protocols.

[Blondyboo]

I had investigations for over a year laporoscopy and such then OH did sperm test and due to low count put us straight for IVF. However didn't have AMH test until right before treatment to be then told I'm menopausal?!!!! I was so angry they hadn't checked this before. I was told not likely to get many eggs and I won't respond to drugs - they were right they only got 1 egg out of me and it didn't fertilise. We now are having DE treatment but I wish I new this early on I wouldn't have needed the laporoscopy and save NHS money!! I feel there needs to be a better set investigations schedule or at least in Somerset!

[Hidden in reply to Blondyboo]

I agree I think this test should be done at the GP when you first go in experiencing issues - before all other invasive investigations / as a lot of time and effort can be wasted to find late on that you have little in the way of eggs to start with or work with.

[Blondyboo in reply to Hidden]

Yes and the thing is if I didn't have a year of 'unnecessary' investigations My AMH would have been better and IVF might have had a better outcome!

[Hidden in reply to Blondyboo]

Exactly I said to my hubby when I'd had a laparoscopy etc etc and then at the very end they do the test to see if you even have enough eggs to work with - he and I are agreed on it's a no for us to donor eggs, so it would have all been for nothing had we found out I had a low reserve TBH even IVF was a step too far we didn't want anything invasive but you end up in the process then feel you've come so far that you can stop...

[Blondyboo in reply to Hidden]

In our case having a sperm test first would have stopped me having a laporoscopy as well! Our tests seemed all ass around t*t!

[Hidden in reply to Blondyboo]

Yeah there is no consistency- my mate is going through the same issues as me at the moment she had cancer treatment years ago and they've not done a AMH on her yet and I've told her she must press for it as it's critical info

[Isa84]

Hi, I had an AMH test done at the private clinic I was at which then gave a guideline for the Drs to decide which dosage of stims to give me. It helps them ensure they don't overstimulate you or not give you enough. Mine was normal however if your result was low it would indicate that you need more stims to develop the eggs. It doesn't give you any percent chance of success but it seems an important test to me. I'm now on my NHS funded cycle and they didn't do the test however I'd already had it done and they could use that as a guideline. I assume for others they use the tracking scans to determine whether you need more or less stims along the way. Could you pay for this test privately to put your mind at rest? So you don't feel in a hurry and anxious. I wish you all the best with your journey xx

[ClarabGlasgow]

I just had AMH test last Friday which they told me is to determine drug dosage during IVF. I am private but that test is a blood test costing £50 so anyone who wants it done might be worth asking if they can pay. I agree the lack of tests the go does is unfair! For me they only did 3 bloods on day 21 (nothing on day 3 which I think they are meant to?).

I had a HyCosy (fellopian tube dye check) a few months ago at that the gynae checked my ovaries & counted the follicles in them so assume that's checking the same thing as AMH? For me she said one ovary was full of eggs and the other a bit inactive which left me worried but she said it's the combined amount of follicles that matters. Does anyone know if no of follicles is linked to how many eggs you might get during IVF? I am worried I will get less cos of my inactive ovary! As for timelines, before going private I had 2 appointments with the Nhs gynaecologist - she said appointment 2 would be 4 months after the first but it came through sooner. Also worth checking for cancellations if you can attend at short notice. The next step would have been fertility clinic referral but we were not eligible hence going privately. Good luck xxx

[Blondyboo in reply to ClarabGlasgow]

Sounds like you had your antral follicular count I think it's called baseline scan.... yours sound fine I had only 4 follies showing in both I think 3 one side 1 the other! With ivf yours sound fine to me xx

[emmab178]

Amh test isn't funded on NHS. It gets done at the clinic to help them determine drug dose

[7AVA]

I had AMH tested by the NHS before my IVF treatment - I can't remember what comes next though, sorry xx