Antimüllerian hormone: correlation with age and androgenic and metabolic factors in women from birth to postmenopause

Abstract

Objective: To study the age-specific distribution of antimüllerian hormone (AMH) and describe the association of AMH with androgenic and metabolic profiles at different ages.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: University hospital.

Patient(s): A total of 6,763 Chinese women from birth to menopause.

Intervention(s): None.

Main outcome measure(s): Anthropometric parameters (height, weight, and blood pressure), and levels of AMH and testosterone, glucose metabolism, and lipid profiles.

Result(s): According to the level of AMH, four age phases were established: childhood (0-10 years), adolescence (11-18 years), reproductive age (19-50 years), and advanced age (≥51 years). During childhood and adolescence, AMH levels increased, reaching a peak at 18 years. A decline occurred thereafter during the reproductive-age period until the age of 50 years, and it remained at a low level above 0 onward. We found that AMH was negatively correlated with testosterone in childhood (r = -0.25), but was positively correlated with testosterone and the free androgen index in adolescence (r = 0.30; r = 0.26, respectively) as well as during the reproductive phases (r = 0.28; r = 0.31, respectively). No correlation was observed between AMH and body mass index, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, the homeostasis model assessment, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, or high-density lipoprotein at any phase.

Conclusion(s): From birth to 18 years, AMH increases, then it declines thereafter, indicating changes of ovarian maintenance. A positive relationship between androgenic profiles and AMH during adolescence and reproductive years implies a synchronism between androgens and ovarian reserve.

Keywords: AMH; Age; metabolism; testosterone.