Does AMH Matter When Choosing an Egg Donor?

Navigating the world of third party reproduction as intended parents can be overwhelming. There are many factors to consider when making decisions about your family's future. One question that often arises in this context is: "Does AMH matter when choosing an egg donor?" This article aims to shed light on AMH, detailing the role of AMH in fertility and its relevance in the egg donor selection process.

Understanding AMH

Anti-Mullerian Hormone, known as AMH, is an essential biomarker for assessing ovarian reserve, which is the quantity of eggs that are currently available in the ovaries for fertilization.

AMH levels naturally decline with age, but remain fairly stable throughout the menstrual cycle. AMH is used to give a snapshot of ovarian reserve at any point in time. Higher AMH levels are generally indicative of a larger ovarian reserve, while lower levels suggest a diminished ovarian reserve.

AMH and egg donation

When choosing an egg donor, intended parents often wonder how much they should pay attention to the donor's AMH levels. To answer succinctly: Yes, AMH does matter when choosing an egg donor, but it is only one piece of the larger puzzle.

A donor's AMH level provides valuable information about how she might respond to the fertility medications used during the egg retrieval process. Generally, donors with above-average AMH levels are likely to produce a larger number of eggs during a single retrieval cycle. This could potentially result in a greater number of embryos available for transfer and freezing.

Because AMH is a good predictor of ovarian response, a fertility doctor will use the egg donor’s AMH levels (amongst other biomarkers) to determine the drugs and dosages during the procedure. 

AMH measurements vary across clinics, so it’s best to use the reference range provided by the lab. In general, you can interpret their AMH level this way:

• Above 1.0 ng/ml (nanograms per deciliter): Normal
• Below 1.0 ng/ml: Showing weakness in the ovarian reserve
• Below 0.5 ng/ml: Showing severe weakness in the ovarian reserve

A very high level of AMH could be a sign of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which may require specific fertility treatment and/or medications. 

While AMH is a good measure of egg quantity, it does not directly reflect egg quality. Other factors, such as the donor's age, overall health, lifestyle, and genetic screening results, also play vital roles in determining egg quality and should be considered in the selection process.

The bigger picture: beyond AMH

While AMH levels serve as an important marker in the donor selection process, it's critical to note that a successful pregnancy depends on many more factors. Donors should have a minimum AMH of 2.0 ng/ml – beyond that, you should look at the egg donor’s qualifications holistically.   

A donor's medical history, genetic screening results, antral follicle count, lifestyle, and physical health should all be considered alongside AMH levels. This comprehensive evaluation aids in the selection of a donor who is likely to provide high-quality eggs that can lead to a successful pregnancy.

Furthermore, the health of the intended mother (or gestational carrier) plays a very important role in the success of the embryo transfer and subsequent pregnancy. Her overall health, uterine environment, and the expertise of the fertility clinic are all crucial pieces in the journey towards a successful pregnancy.

Egg donors at Cofertility

At Cofertility, we take an integrated approach to egg donor selection. We understand that while AMH is a valuable marker of ovarian reserve (which is why all our donors have an AMH over 2 ng/ml), but it's not the only factor that matters. That's why we conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all potential donors, examining medical history, conducting thorough genetic screening, psychological screening, and assessing overall health and lifestyle. We also meet with each donor 1:1 to get to know them personally. 

We aim to provide our intended parents with the most complete picture possible, ensuring that you have all the necessary information to make an informed and confident decision. Our team of fertility experts is here to guide you through this complex process and assist you every step of the way in your journey towards parenthood.

Summing it up

In the quest for the perfect egg donor, AMH plays an important role, but it should not be the sole deciding factor. A successful pregnancy depends on a multitude of factors, each playing their part in the intricate dance of assisted reproduction. 

At Cofertility, we strive to provide the best possible support for intended parents and ensure that your journey towards parenthood is as smooth as possible.

About us

At Cofertility, our program is unique. After meeting with hundreds of intended parents, egg donors, and donor-conceived people, we decided on an egg donation model that we think best serves everyone involved: egg sharing.

Here’s how it works: our unique model empowers women to take control of their own reproductive health while giving you the gift of a lifetime. Our donors aren’t doing it for cash – they keep half the eggs retrieved for their own future use, and donate half to your family.

We aim to be the best egg sharing program, providing an experience that honors, respects, and uplifts everyone involved. Here’s what sets us apart:

• Baby guarantee. We truly want to help you bring your baby home, and we will re-match you for free until that happens.
• Donor empowerment. Our model empowers donors to preserve their own fertility, while lifting you up on your own journey. It’s a win-win.
• Diversity: We’re proud about the fact that the donors on our platform are as diverse as the intended parents seeking to match with them. We work with intended parents to understand their own cultural values — including regional nuances — in hopes of finding them the perfect match.
• Human-centered. We didn’t like the status quo in egg donation. So we’re doing things differently, starting with our human-centered matching platform.
• Lifetime support: Historically, other egg donation options have treated egg donor matching as a one-and-done experience. Beyond matching, beyond a pregnancy, beyond a birth…we believe in supporting the donor-conceived family for life. Our resources and education provide intended parents with the guidance they need to raise happy, healthy kids and celebrate their origin stories.

We are obsessed with improving the family-building journey — today or in the future — and are in an endless pursuit to make these experiences more positive. Create a free account to get started today!