Australiaβs birth rate is in freefall as more young people delay parenthood or forego it entirely, either by choice or because they miss their fertility window.
With that in mind, itβs easy to imagine why a magic-looking ball that could help people get a glimpse into their future family planning would be a game changer.
Indeed, this is how the anti-MΓΌllerian or AMH test is often framed by IVF clinics and commercial brands β as a βfertility testβ, despite warnings from experts that it cannot tell us anything about someoneβs likelihood of conceiving.
So, what is it? What are the risks? And what can it tell us?
What is an AMH test β and is it accurate?
The anti-MΓΌllerian hormone (AMH) blood test is a measure of ovarian reserve, or egg count. AMH is produced by follicles in the ovaries and helps follicles and eggs grow during the menstrual cycle. As the number of follicles drops with age, so do AMH levels.
It is most commonly used during IVF and egg freezing, as it can indicate how many eggs a woman may get when her ovaries are stimulated with fertility drugs.
However, Dr Tessa Copp from The University of Sydneyβs School of Public Health, says it is often falsely promoted as a fertility or βegg timerβ test, particularly by fertility clinics and a growing number of companies selling commercial, at-home tests.
But research over recent decades has found women with a low AMH have the same chance of conceiving as those with a high AMH.
In March, world-leading medical journal Fertility and Sterility published the most damning indictment of the test from professionals yet, writing that the routine use of AMH as a measure of fecundity is βfundamentally flawedβ, calling for an βend to this misguided practiceβ.
For general fertility screening, the test is not covered by Medicare, making it difficult to know exactly how many people are accessing it. A 2023 survey by Copp of over 1700 women found 13 per cent had heard of the AMH test, while 7 per cent had had one.
Dr Karin Hammarberg, adjunct senior research fellow at Monash Universityβs School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, points out that not only is the test unable to determine fertility, but it can be unreliable.
βThere are several studies that show a woman with a low AMH, on a retest it can be quite different, and much higher. So thereβs not even consistency in how it operates within one woman,β she says, pointing to one commercial brand sheβs seen that advocates for retaking the test every few years.
βYou can see how this is becoming a very lucrative idea.β
So, can you test your fertility?
Unfortunately, there is no test for egg quality or fertility. βThe only real test is trying to get pregnant when youβre ready. And thatβs scary for many people,β says Copp.
Nor is there a means of improving oneβs egg quality β despite what social media posts about βrestorative fertilityβ or βfertilitymaxxingβ, through individual choices like diet, may make improve your chances of conceiving.
βYouβre not going to change biology β an egg thatβs had its time is not going to be restored, improved or changed in any way,β says Hammarberg.
βThe only thing we know for sure is that age is the factor that drives the quality and quantity of eggs β¦ It varies between women [too] β some women might just have better-quality eggs.β
What are the risks?
While the test itself may not pose any physical risks, experts are concerned about the risks of psychological and financial harm.
Associate Professor Michelle Peate, program leader for The University of Melbourneβs Psychosocial Health and Wellbeing Research Unit, has researched womenβs perceptions of the test and how it shapes reproductive decision-making.
βFor women who perceive their AMH to be low, it can cause emotional harm β stress about their fertility. They would bring forward reproductive plans, things like that,β Peate says of her findings. βConversely, those who perceive their AMH to be normal or high tended to feel more reassured.β
While Peate says the test does have a place β like for IVF, egg freezing or in certain populations, like those with cancer β for the general population, healthcare providers should exercise extreme caution.
βIf itβs delivered to you by someone who completely understands how the test works and its implications, youβre lucky,β says Peate, recalling a woman who was told by her GP her low AMH meant she was sterile.
Hammarberg says not only is the test itself a βwaste of moneyβ for the general population (out-of-pocket cost generally ranges from $90 to $120 per blood test), but within the context of a profit-driven, multibillion-dollar IVF industry, risks pushing women towards unnecessary procedures, like egg freezing if they receive a low AMH.
These companies co-opt the language of feminism, says Copp, with βslogans like βempower your fertilityβ or βinformation is powerβ.
βEspecially on social media, there is no nuance whatsoever. Youβre only getting a snapshot, and I think itβs really unethical to present the test in that way.β
She thinks healthcare providers have a βresponsibility to provide accurate informationβ, so patients can provide informed consent about their reproductive decisions.
Copp says she has been filing complaints to Australiaβs medicines regulator, The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), for years, to no avail.
A TGA spokesperson said all advertising of therapeutic goods must comply with their code and that while they have not approved any AMH self-tests to date, there are a number of laboratory devices on the ARTG.
βThese tests are performed in a laboratory setting and require referral by, and /or interpretation of results from, a medical professional to ensure appropriate clinical assessment and diagnosis.
βWe are unable to provide advice on whether specific websites, advertisements or online content may breach therapeutic goods legislation. All reports of alleged unlawful advertising, importation, manufacture, or supply of therapeutic goods are subject to assessment and, where appropriate, further compliance or investigative action.β
Peate says women are exposed to a βmist of misinformationβ, particularly on social media, and that having publicly available trustworthy, evidence-based resources would give patients the autonomy to make informed decisions.
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