Objective: This study aimed to identify a possible correlation between serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and oocyte quality, embryo developmental competence, and implantation potential.
Methods: 4488 oocytes obtained from 408 patients undergoing ICSI cycles were evaluated. Oocyte dimorphisms, embryo quality on days two and three, blastocyst formation competence, fertilization rates, implantation rates, and pregnancy rates were correlated with serum levels of AMH using Pearson's correlation coefficient and regression analysis.
Results: A positive correlation was observed between serum levels of AMH and number of retrieved oocytes (CC: 0.600, p<0.001), fertilization rate (CC:0.595, p=0.048), and number of obtained embryos (CC:0.495, p<0.001). AMH did not affect the quality of cleavage stage embryos or the chance of blastocyst formation. However, AMH levels affected oocyte quality (OR:0.75, CI 0.44-0.96, p<0.001), and implantation (CC:0,116, p=0.031) and pregnancy (OR:1.22, CI:1.03-1.53, p<0.001) rates.
Conclusion: Serum levels of AMH are a useful predictor of ovarian response to COS, oocyte quality, and fertilization. However, AMH levels may also compromise clinical outcomes; lower AMH levels did not impair embryo development.
Keywords: COS cells; Oocyte; anti-Müllerian hormone; blastocyst; embryo implantation; pregnancy.