Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2014; 74 - PO_Endo04_14
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1388020

Anti-Mullerian-hormone levels during pregnancy and postpartum

A Köninger 1, A Kauth 1, B Schmidt 2, C Birdir 1, M Schmidt 1, 3, S Kasimir-Bauer 1, R Kimmig 1
  • 1Universitätsklinikum Essen, Frauenklinik, Essen, Germany
  • 2Universitätsklinikum Essen, Institut für medizinische Informatik, Biometrie und Epidemiologie, Essen, Germany
  • 3Klinikum Duisburg gGmbH Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus, Frauenklinik, Duisburg, Germany

Purpose: Anti-Müller-Hormone (AMH) seems to be a reliable predictor of the ovarian reserve. We analyzed AMH in a cohort of healthy pregnant women to determine the age-dependent decline and possible AMH fluctuations during pregnancy and postpartum.

Fig. 1: AMH in pregnancy

Methods: 554 women were enrolled in the study. 450 women had single measurements during pregnancy, allowing for cross sectional analysis of trimester- and age-related differences in AMH levels. Another 15 women had longitudinal data for all trimesters. 69 women had information on AMH at the time just before and after delivery and another 20 additionally at each of the first four days after delivery. Non-parametric statistical tests were used to compare AMH levels between age groups, trimesters and postpartum.

Results: AMH significantly dropped during the course of pregnancy and further after delivery whereas an increase was observed between the first four days postpartum. Women ≥35 years showed significant lower AMH levels than those < 35 years across all trimesters.

Conclusion: Pregnancy seems to cause ovarian suppression, reflected by AMH decline which recovers quickly after delivery. For the evaluation of the ovarian reserve, AMH levels assessed in pregnancy may not to be well suited as AMH levels seem not to be independent of gestational age.