Objective: Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) presents a strong positive correlation with quantitative aspects of the ovarian reserve, while its correlation with embryo quality is unclear. This study assessed the association between serum AMH as a marker of ovarian reserve and embryo quality, in women undergoing in vitro fertilization.
Methods: This observational analytical retrospective study included patients seen between 2010 and 2018. In vitro fertilization patients with measured AMH levels were analyzed based on the following parameters: number of retrieved oocytes; number of metaphase II oocytes; embryo quality; and treatment outcome. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA, Mann-Whitney U test, linear regression, and Pearson and Spearman correlations.
Results: We found a positive correlation between AMH levels, number of retrieved oocytes and number of metaphase II oocytes (r 0.649, p=0.000). The numbers of retrieved and metaphase II oocytes were predicted in 42% (R2: 429) of the cases based on AMH levels (p=0.000). Serum AMH levels were not associated with embryo quality on Day 3 (p=0.151); an association was seen between AMH levels and embryo quality on Day 5 (p=0.006). The distribution of AMH levels was the same across patients, regardless of whether they were able to achieve pregnancy (p=0.767).
Conclusions: AMH levels correlated with embryo quality on Day 5; no association was found between AMH levels and embryo quality on Day 3 or pregnancy rate. The use of AMH levels to predict embryo quality still requires further studies; therefore, AMH should be used to assess the ovarian reserve only.
Keywords: advanced reproductive treatments; anti-Müllerian hormone; embryo quality; ovarian reserve.