AI Insight
A study by Flinders University found that requests for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) blood tests by Australian general practitioners increased more than 13-fold between 2011 and 2021. Despite this surge in testing, accumulating evidence indicates that AMH tests cannot reliably predict whether a woman will achieve natural pregnancy, either in the present or future. The research, published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, highlights a disconnect between test usage and clinical utility.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that women may be receiving and acting upon fertility test results that do not provide meaningful information about their ability to conceive naturally, potentially leading to unnecessary anxiety or medical interventions. This research underscores the need for better education among healthcare providers and patients about what AMH testing can and cannot determine regarding natural fertility outcomes.
Understand the Science
Increasing numbers of Australian women are using a blood test to assess their fertility, but new research suggests it may not provide the answers many are looking for. A study led by Flinders University and published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology found requests by GPs for anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) tests increased more than 13-fold between 2011 and 2021, despite growing evidence that the test cannot predict whether a woman will become pregnant naturally—not now or in the future.
Source: AMH fertility tests surge but cannot predict natural pregnancy