Anti-Müllerian hormone kinetics in pregnancy and post-partum: a systematic review

Abstract

The aim of this systematic review is to critically appraise the available evidence regarding the kinetics of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) during pregnancy and post-partum. A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, Scopus and Web of Science on 14 December 2015, aiming to identify studies providing data on the serum concentration of AMH in women at various stages of gestation and post-partum. There was a total of 1719 participants across eight studies. Seven out of the eight studies reported a decline in serum AMH concentration with advancing gestational age. Further, all four of the studies that evaluated pre- and post-delivery AMH concentrations found that it increased in the post-partum period. This review demonstrated an association between reduced maternal serum AMH concentrations and advancing gestational age, with a subsequent post-partum increase in concentration. These findings suggest that AMH measurements in pregnant women, especially at later stages of pregnancy, should not be used to assess ovarian reserve. Additionally, further longitudinal research would be beneficial, to elucidate the pathophysiological mechanism through which this decline in serum AMH concentration is observed during pregnancy.

Keywords: Anti-Müllerian hormone; Pregnancy; Systematic review.