fertility supplements
What Medications and Supplements Affect AMH Levels?
There are certain medications that can potentially influence AMH levels, raising questions about the accuracy and interpretation of AMH testing while on them. In this article, we will explore the relationship between medications and AMH levels, shedding light on the impact of specific drugs and discussing their implications for women's reproductive health.
Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has gained significant attention in the field of reproductive medicine as a valuable marker of ovarian reserve. It provides insight into egg quantity and can be useful in assessing fertility health and predicting the chances of egg freezing success.
However, there are certain medications that can potentially influence AMH levels, raising questions about the accuracy and interpretation of AMH testing while on them. In this article, we will explore the relationship between medications and AMH levels, shedding light on the impact of specific drugs and discussing their implications for women's reproductive health.
What is AMH?
AMH is a hormone produced by the cells within ovarian follicles. Its primary role is to promote the growth and development of follicles. AMH levels are generally stable during the menstrual cycle, making it a reliable marker for assessing ovarian reserve. It is measured through a simple blood test and has become an important tool in fertility evaluations and treatment planning.
What causes AMH to change?
AMH levels naturally decline as we age. The highest levels of AMH are typically found in women during their early reproductive years, and the levels gradually decrease as we approach menopause… making age the most common reason for AMH to change.
But there are other reasons AMH may change over time. The most common reason is simply age. Since AMH is considered a reliable marker of ovarian reserve, which refers to the quantity of eggs remaining in the ovaries, this hormone naturally decreases as we get older.
Certain medical conditions, such as ovarian tumors, can also affect AMH levels. Additionally, treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy that target the ovaries can significantly reduce AMH levels.
While the direct impact of lifestyle factors on AMH levels is not yet fully understood, some studies suggest that factors such as smoking, obesity, and extreme exercise may be associated with lower AMH levels. However, more research is needed to establish definitive conclusions.
Lastly, certain medications can impact AMH levels. For example, oral contraceptives and drugs like clomiphene citrate used in fertility treatments can temporarily decrease AMH levels. On the other hand, supplements like DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) and vitamin D have been associated with increased AMH levels. We’ll go more into detail about these below.
Remember that individual variations exist, and AMH levels should be interpreted in conjunction with other fertility assessments to gain a comprehensive understanding of your reproductive health. If you have concerns about your AMH levels or fertility, it's best to consult with a fertility doctor for personalized guidance and recommendations.
What medications can affect AMH levels?
Several medications have been found to influence AMH levels, potentially complicating its interpretation as a marker of ovarian reserve. Here are some examples:
Oral birth control
Oral contraceptives are commonly used for birth control and to regulate menstrual cycles. Studies have suggested that oral contraceptive use may lead to decreased AMH levels in the short term.
One study compared the AMH levels of 228 hormonal contraception users and 504 non-users. They found that users of birth control had 29.8% lower AMH concentrations. Because of this, the authors concluded that AMH may not be an accurate predictor for women using hormonal contraception.
You may want to consider the timing of the AMH test when using hormonal contraceptives. Estrogen can suppress the production of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), which are necessary for the development and maturation of follicles.
As AMH levels are influenced by FSH and LH, you could wait for a few weeks after discontinuing birth control before measuring AMH levels for a more accurate assessment of ovarian reserve. Or, you could take the test knowing the results may be lower due to birth control. It’s best to discuss this with your doctor.
Metformin
Metformin is a medication commonly used in the treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a complex endocrine disorder associated with metabolic and reproductive disturbances, and for managing insulin resistance. Research has shown that metformin use may be associated with decreased AMH levels.
Clomiphene Citrate
Clomiphene citrate (brand name Clomid©), is a medication used to stimulate ovulation in women who are trying to conceive. Similar to metformin, clomiphene citrate has been associated with decreased AMH levels. When undergoing fertility treatments involving clomiphene citrate, you’ll want to take this potential impact into account when interpreting AMH results.
What supplements can affect AMH levels?
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
DHEA is a natural hormone that can be converted into other hormones in the body, including testosterone and estrogen. Some studies have suggested that supplementation with DHEA may lead to increased AMH levels. These findings suggest that certain nutritional interventions may have a positive effect on ovarian reserve.
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is essential for overall health and has been linked to various biological processes in the body, including reproductive health. Some research indicates that vitamin D supplementation may lead to increased AMH levels. However, more studies are needed to fully understand the relationship between vitamin D and AMH levels.
Is there anything I can take to increase AMH levels?
While there are medications and supplements that have been associated with changes in AMH levels, the impact of these medications is typically temporary or specific to certain conditions.
Currently, there is no definitive medication or treatment specifically designed to increase AMH levels. However, there are lifestyle factors that may positively influence overall reproductive health, such as maintaining a healthy weight, adopting a balanced diet, managing stress levels, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. These lifestyle choices can contribute to optimal ovarian function and potentially support healthy AMH levels.
Summing it up
AMH testing has revolutionized our ability to assess ovarian reserve and guide fertility treatment decisions. However, it's crucial to consider the potential influence of certain medications on AMH levels. Understanding how specific drugs and supplements may affect AMH results can help you interpret the findings accurately and make informed decisions about fertility treatments.
Remember that these effects are usually temporary or specific to certain conditions. It's always best to consult with your fertility doctor who can provide personalized guidance based on your specific situation.
Better yet, focusing on maintaining a healthy lifestyle, managing stress levels, and adopting a balanced diet can contribute to overall reproductive health and support optimal ovarian function. By staying informed and working closely with your healthcare team, you can navigate the complexities of AMH testing and make informed decisions about your fertility journey.
Cofertility is a human-first fertility ecosystem rewriting the egg freezing and egg donation experience. With our Freeze by Co platform, women can freeze their eggs for free when they donate half of the retrieved eggs to a family who can’t otherwise conceive. 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.
Weight Gain During Egg Freezing: Fact or Fiction?
Through a comprehensive exploration of the egg freezing process, hormonal shifts, medications, and lifestyle aspects, we’re here to set the record straight about weight gain and egg freezing.
One of the most commonly asked questions we hear from people considering freezing their eggs is if they’ll gain weight during the process. Hey, we get it — it’s a fair question, and while there have been tons of advancements in the egg freezing process, there’s still lots of misinformation out there about it all. Through a comprehensive exploration of the egg freezing process, hormonal shifts, medications, and lifestyle aspects, we’re here to set the record straight about weight gain and egg freezing.
A closer look at the egg freezing process
Before we jump into potential weight implications of the egg freezing process, it’s essential to understand what that process actually entails. Egg freezing revolves around controlled ovarian stimulation, which basically means taking daily hormonal medications for about 10-12 days to stimulate your ovaries to produce more eggs than usual in a single cycle. Right before you ovulate, when those eggs are at peak maturity, a reproductive endocrinologist will retrieve those eggs while you’re under anesthesia.
In egg freezing, mature eggs are collected, frozen, and stored for your own potential future use, whereas in egg donation, the retrieved eggs are contributed to assist those who need help from an egg donor to grow their family — including gay dads, those with infertility, cancer survivors, and more. Whether you’re freezing your eggs, donating them, or both via our Split program (where you freeze for free when donating half), the stimulation process may cause concerns about potential weight changes due to hormonal shifts and medications. If this is you, you’re in the right place, and we’ll explain it all.
Dispelling weight-related myths: the what and the why
While scientific studies about this subject are limited, most fertility doctors say that, while some weight gain can be a side effect during the egg freezing process, it is unlikely for noticeable weight gain to persist beyond the retrieval cycle. It’s possible to experience slight weight fluctuations during the retrieval cycle, but these changes are typically attributed to factors like temporary fluid retention and abdominal bloating rather than significant fat accumulation.
Not everyone experiences weight change during the egg freezing process (you could actually lose weight if you’re stressed about the experience for one reason or another and don’t have an appetite), but for those who do, it is not usually substantial or enduring.
Egg freezing medications
Some of the medications involved in your egg freezing protocol can also play a role in minor weight changes. The controlled ovarian stimulation process involves the administration of hormonal medications, primarily follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). These medications are crucial for encouraging your ovaries to develop more mature eggs during that cycle. But because these medications can influence appetite and metabolism regulation, this could lead to small weight fluctuations.
Once you stop taking these medications, any fluctuations resulting from temporary fluid retention will likely dissipate, and these effects are generally transient.
Lifestyle factors and their impact
Beyond medications, lifestyle factors also play a role in potential weight fluctuations during an egg freezing cycle. But regardless of your weight, we want you to feel your best throughout your egg freezing cycle.
Nourishing your wellbeing
Egg freezing or not, a well-balanced diet rich in nutrients supports your body's overall functioning. Incorporating whole foods, lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables fosters a sense of wellbeing and provides energy throughout the egg freezing process. But in addition to helping you feel good, eating a balanced diet may have a positive impact upon your egg freezing cycle itself. And certain foods rich in specific nutrients may actually impact your egg quality.
For more on what to eat if you’re freezing your eggs, click here.
Rest and stress management
Ensuring adequate rest is vital during the egg freezing journey. Your egg freezing medications may influence your energy levels, underscoring the importance of listening to your body's cues. Stress can also influence weight fluctuations (in either direction), making stress management an essential aspect of wellbeing during the egg freezing process.
Prioritizing rest allows your body to recover, and if you’re trying to maintain a stable weight, it can help support that. Our recommendation? Block off some time, load up on shows to watch, plan some cozy nights, and take egg freezing as an excuse to just chill (if you can). Your egg freezing cycle might also be the perfect time to finally download that meditation app you’ve been planning to try.
Egg freezing and BMI
While we’re on the subject of weight gain and egg freezing, you may be wondering if your weight itself plays a role in predicting your cycle outcomes. There’s a lot of conflicting research out there about this, but when it comes to egg donation in particular, fertility clinics often do have BMI limitations in place. For egg freezing, you may be subject to similar BMI requirements as set out by clinic partners, but it is typically more flexible than if you are donating eggs to another family.
The more you know
To sum it up — yes, sometimes people gain a little weight during the egg freezing process (and other times they lose a little weight). But it’s usually not a noticeable change given how the egg freezing cycle lasts under two weeks. If you have specific concerns related to weight gain during egg freezing, we encourage you to consult with your fertility doctor who can provide personalized guidance based on your weight and health history.
As you think through your options, we encourage you to explore our quiz to see which of our accessible egg freezing programs you may qualify for.
With our Split program, members who qualify based on clinic criteria can freeze their eggs entirely for free when they donate half to a family that can’t otherwise conceive.
Through our Keep program, members self-fund their egg freezing journey and keep the entire egg yield for themselves, with discounts and support from our team every step of the way.
With both programs, members also get exclusive access to our members-only community, where they can connect with others going through the egg freezing and donation processes at the same time and lean on each other for support and encouragement.
To see which programs you qualify for and start your journey today, click the link below to take our free, two-minute quiz.