Effect of obesity and its related metabolic factors on serum anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations in women with and without polycystic ovaries

Increased body mass index is negatively associated with ovarian reserve as measured by anti-Müllerian hormone in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is commonly used as a marker of ovarian reserve. Although obesity is associated with decreased fertility, the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and AMH remains uncertain, hindering the accurate interpretation of AMH. We sought to assess the relationship between serum AMH and BMI in patients with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). This study analysed 500 patients at a single centre between 2020 and 2021. Patients were divided into cohorts: those with BMI <40 kg/m2 and those with BMI >40 kg/m2. Patients with and without PCOS were included. Chi-square tests, Fisher's exact tests, multiple linear regression analysis and independent t-tests were performed as appropriate. In the general study population, serum AMH was not significantly different in the BMI >40 kg/m2 group compared to the BMI <40 kg/m2 group (4.3 ± 5.6 vs. 4.3 ± 5.6, p = .35). Patient ages between these two groups differed, with an average age of 35.4 ± 5.4 years in the BMI <40 kg/m2 group and 33.7 ± 5.4 years in the BMI <40 kg/m2 group (p = .031). Our multivariate regression analysis, which adjusted for age, demonstrated a significant interaction effect between BMI and PCOS diagnosis, indicating that the relationship between BMI and AMH is dependent on PCOS status (β = -.03, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.05, 0.00, p = .044). In patients without PCOS, we found a non-significant relationship between AMH and BMI (β = .00, 95% CI -0.01, 0.01, p = .7); however, in patients with PCOS, AMH significantly decreased as BMI increased (β = -.03, 95% CI -0.06, 0.00, p = .034). BMI has an inverse association with AMH levels in patients with PCOS, indicating a need for future research to determine if that interaction represents a clinically significant negative effect on reproductive function.

A systematic review of the association between modifiable lifestyle factors and circulating anti-Müllerian hormone

BACKGROUND

Levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) are known to be associated with lifestyle determinants such as smoking and oral contraception (OC) use. When measuring AMH in clinical practice, it is essential to know which factors may influence circulating levels or ovarian reserve in general.

OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE

To date, there is no systematic review or summarizing consensus of the nature and magnitude of the relation between AMH and modifiable lifestyle factors. The purpose of this review was to systematically assess the evidence on association of lifestyle behaviors with circulating AMH levels.

SEARCH METHODS

We performed a pre-registered systematic review of publications in Embase and PubMed on the lifestyle factors BMI, smoking, OC use, alcohol consumption, caffeine consumption, physical activity, and waist-hip ratio (WHR) in relation to circulating AMH levels up to 1 November 2023. The search strategy included terms such as 'Anti-Mullerian hormone', 'lifestyle', and 'women'. Studies were considered eligible if the association between at least one of the lifestyle factors of interest and AMH was assessed in adult women. The quality of included studies was assessed using the Study Quality Assessment Tools of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The results were presented as ranges of the most frequently used association measure for studies that found a significant association in the same direction.

OUTCOMES

A total of 15 072 records were identified, of which 65 studies were eligible for inclusion, and 66.2% of the studies used a cross-sectional design. The majority of studies investigating BMI, smoking, OC use, and physical activity reported significant inverse associations with AMH levels. For WHR, alcohol, and caffeine use, the majority of studies did not find an association with AMH. For all determinants, the effect measures of the reported associations were heterogeneous. The mean difference in AMH levels per unit increase in BMI ranged from -0.015 to -0.2 ng/ml in studies that found a significant inverse association. The mean difference in AMH levels for current smokers versus non-smokers ranged from -0.4 to -1.1 ng/ml, and -4% to -44%, respectively. For current OC use, results included a range in relative mean differences in AMH levels of -17% to -31.1%, in addition to a decrease of 11 age-standardized percentiles, and an average decrease of 1.97 ng/ml after 9 weeks of OC use. Exercise interventions led to a decrease in AMH levels of 2.8 pmol/l to 13.2 pmol/l after 12 weeks in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or a sedentary lifestyle.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS

Lifestyle factors are associated with differences in AMH levels and thus should be taken into account when interpreting individual AMH measurements. Furthermore, AMH levels can be influenced by the alteration of lifestyle behaviors. While this can be a helpful tool for clinical and lifestyle counseling, the nature of the relation between the observed differences in AMH and the true ovarian reserve remains to be assessed.

REGISTRATION NUMBER

PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42022322575.

Elevated Anti-Müllerian Hormone as a Prognostic Factor for Poor Outcomes of In Vitro Fertilization in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) tend to have elevated anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, which appear to correlate with disease severity and pregnancy outcomes. This was a retrospective observational study designed to assess the relationship between circulating AMH levels and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. The study involved 150 women with PCOS who underwent IVF treatments. The women's IVF cycles were allocated into three subgroups according to AMH levels: 'low' (AMH < 3.7 ng/mL; n = 49), 'middle' (AMH 3.7-7.4 ng/mL; n = 94), and 'high' (AMH > 7.4 ng/mL; n = 56). All pregnancy-related outcomes (positive beta human chorionic gonadotropin (βHCG), clinical pregnancy rate, live birth rate, and cumulative live birth rate) were greater in women's IVF cycles with 'low' AMH when compared to those with 'middle' or 'high' AMH (p < 0.05). AMH levels below 3.7 ng/mL were found to be associated with lower oocyte immaturity rate and better pregnancy outcomes, although baseline AMH was not shown to have any significant predictive power for live birth and cumulative live birth in the multivariable logistic regression analysis after adjusting for possible confounders nor in the ROC analyses. In summary, the current study lays the groundwork to validate high AMH levels as a poor prognostic factor for pregnancy outcomes after IVF in women with PCOS.

Assessment of Nutritional Status and Its Influence on Ovarian Reserve: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, there is a growing interest in the relationship among lifestyle, reproductive health, and fertility. Recent investigations highlight the influence of environmental and lifestyle factors such as stress, diet, and nutritional status on reproductive health. The aim of this review was to determine the influence of nutritional status on ovarian reserve in order to improve the reproductive health of women of childbearing age.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was carried out following the PRISMA method. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias tool. Data were extracted, and the results were summarized into two blocks: according to the technique used to assess ovarian reserve and nutritional status; according to the results found in the relationship between ovarian reserve and nutritional status.

RESULTS

A total of 22 articles involving 5929 women were included. In 12 of the included articles (54.5%), a relationship between nutritional status and ovarian reserve was demonstrated. In seven publications (31.8%), the increased body mass index (BMI) led to a decrease in ovarian reserve, two of them (0.9%) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome, showing a decrease only if BMI > 25. In two articles (0.9%), there was a negative relationship between ovarian reserve and waist-to-hip ratio, and in one (0.45%), a positive relationship was shown between ovarian reserve and testosterone levels, the latter being related to body mass index. In five articles (22.7%), body mass index was used as a confounder and was negatively related to ovarian reserve, and in another four (18%), no correlation was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Ovarian reserve appears to be influenced by nutritional status. A high body mass index has a negative impact on the ovary, decreasing antral follicle count and anti-Müllerian hormone. Oocyte quality is compromised, increasing the rate of reproductive problems and the demand for assisted reproductive techniques. Further studies are needed to understand which dietary factors have the greatest effect on ovarian reserve in order to promote reproductive health.

The reference value of anti-Müllerian hormone to diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome is inversely associated with BMI: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the cut-off value of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) combined with body mass index (BMI) in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM).

METHODS

This retrospective study included 15,970 patients: 3775 women with PCOS, 2879 women with PCOM, and 9316 patients as controls. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for AMH. We randomly divided the patients into two data sets. In dataset 1, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to analyze the accuracy of basic AMH levels in diagnosing PCOS and PCOM. The optimal cut-off value was calculated in dataset 1 and validated in dataset 2, expressed as sensitivity and specificity.

RESULTS

In the PCOS group, obese patients had the lowest AMH levels, while underweight patients had the highest AMH level (P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, the ratio of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), serum testosterone level, and BMI, AMH was an independent predictor of PCOS and PCOM. In the group with BMI < 18.5 kg/m², the optimistic AMH cut-off value was 5.145 ng/mL with a sensitivity of 84.3% and specificity of 89.1%, whereas in the BMI ≥ 28 kg/m² group, the optimistic AMH cut-off value was 3.165 ng/mL with a sensitivity of 88.7% and specificity of 74.6%. For the BMI range categories of 18.5-24, 24.0-28 kg/m², the optimistic AMH cut-off values were 4.345 ng/mL and 4.115 ng/mL, respectively. The tendency that the group with lower weight corresponded to higher AMH cut-off values was also applicable to PCOM. In the same BMI category, patients with PCOM had a lower AMH diagnosis threshold than those with PCOS (< 18.5 kg/m², 5.145 vs. 4.3 ng/mL; 18.5-24 kg/m², 4.345 vs. 3.635 ng/mL; 24.0-28 kg/m², 4.115 vs. 3.73 ng/mL; ≥ 28 kg /m², 3.165 vs. 3.155 ng/mL). These cut-off values had a good diagnostic efficacy in the validation dataset. Based on different phenotypes and severity of ovulation disorders, the distribution of AMH in PCOS were also significantly different (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

AMH is a potential diagnostic indicator of PCOS and is adversely associated with BMI. The AMH cut-off value for diagnosing PCOS was significantly higher than that for PCOM.

The relationship between anti-Müllerian hormone, body mass index and weight loss: A review of the literature

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is commonly used as a proxy for ovarian reserve due to its secretion by antral follicles. It is considered a metric for prediction of ovarian response to certain assisted reproduction therapies. As obesity has a negative impact on fertility, it is important to establish whether obesity-induced hormonal changes influence AMH levels, if and how weight loss affects AMH, and if that influence represents altered reproductive function. The aim of this study was to review the existing literature on the effects of body mass index and weight loss on AMH levels. A PubMed literature keyword search with relevant terms was performed to identify studies that have reported on the AMH/BMI relationship in cohorts with or without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). A second search was performed to gather publications on weight loss and AMH. Both searches were filtered for all full-text, English-language, adult-female and human-only literature through 1 January 2022. The relationship between AMH and body mass index (BMI) in reproductive-aged women remains inconclusive, with studies in women with and without PCOS producing mixed results. Research in this area is currently limited by failure to analyse the full spectrum of obesity, hindering generalization to a global population increasingly affected by the condition. Some authors pointed to evidence of race/ethnicity as a confounding factor of the relationship, but results between studies are contradictory. Limited evidence on weight loss suggests it may decrease AMH levels despite improving fertility outcomes, particularly after bariatric surgery. The impact of BMI and weight loss on AMH levels has not been conclusively established. Future studies will require appropriate design and sample size calculations, consideration for additional potential confounding factors and inclusion of higher BMIs and a thorough analysis of the full range of obesity.

Anti Mullerian hormone as a diagnostic tool for polycystic ovary syndrome in women of reproductive age with morbid obesity

OBJECTIVES

The aim of the study was to analyze the performance of the anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) level for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome in women with morbid obesity.

STUDY DESIGN

A single-centre cross-sectional study was conducted in 50 women of reproductive age with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 40 kg/m2. Each patient underwent a clinical examination, biological and hormonal assays, and an ovarian ultrasound between the third and the fifth day of the menstrual cycle. Polycystic ovary syndrome was diagnosed according to the Rotterdam's criteria.

RESULTS

The mean age of participants was 34.2 ± 7.5 years. Polycystic ovary syndrome was diagnosed in 20 women (40%). Age and anthropometric parameters did not differ between women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome. The mean AMH level was significantly higher in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (3.4 ± 3.6 vs 1.3 ± 1.2 ng/ml, p=0.010). It was positively correlated with the Ferriman and Gallwey score (r=0.496, p=0.016), total testosterone level (r=0.524, p < 10-3) and the LH/FSH ratio (r=0.290, p=0.046). In women aged between 35 and 45 years, the optimum cut-off level for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome was 0.81 ng/mL, providing a sensitivity and a specificity of 90 and 71%, respectively with an area under the ROC curve of 0.857.

CONCLUSIONS

AMH level was significantly higher in morbid obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome compared with those without polycystic ovary syndrome. Specific thresholds for this population must be assessed to improve the sensitivity and specificity of AMH for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome.

Circulating Anti-Müllerian hormone in a cohort-study of women with severe obesity with and without polycystic ovary syndrome and the effect of a one-year weight loss intervention

BACKGROUND

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) have high circulating anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels which is correlated with antral follicle count and polycystic ovarian morphology and negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI). Moreover, diet-induced weight loss in women with PCOS and overweight or obesity, reduce or normalize AMH-levels. There is, however, no previous study investigating the circulating AMH levels in women with severe obesity and how a structured diet-induced weight loss program affects circulating AMH levels in these women. Therefore, this study aims to investigate circulating AMH levels in a population of women with severe obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) with and without PCOS, as diagnosed by the NIH-criteria, and to investigate the effect of a one-year weight loss program with a very low-energy diet (VLED) on circulating levels of AMH.

METHODS

In a prospective cohort-study, were 246 women with severe obesity were screened for PCOS diagnosis with the NIH-criteria, circulating AMH and anthropometry were measured at baseline and after a 12-month weight loss intervention with very low-energy diet (VLED).

RESULTS

Mean BMI was 39.9 ± 4.7 (PCOS), 39.6 ± 4.3 (non-PCOS) P = 0.960. Circulating AMH was higher in women with PCOS (5.47 ± 4.89 µg/L) compared with non-PCOS (2.66 ± 3.71 µg/L) P < 0.001 and was positively correlated with circulating total testosterone in both groups. Next, we performed ROC-analyses, and show that circulating AMH could not discriminate women with PCOS and severe obesity from non-PCOS women with severe obesity. Finally, a one-year weight reduction program does not affect circulating AMH levels despite significant weight loss neither in women with PCOS, nor without PCOS and severe obesity.

CONCLUSION

Women with severe obesity and PCOS have elevated levels of circulating AMH compared to women without the syndrome. AMH-levels could not discriminate women with PCOS from non-PCOS because of low sensitivity and specificity. Significant weight loss was not associated with changes in circulating AMH levels, neither in women with, nor without PCOS and severe obesity. These results imply that in women with severe obesity, a greater weight loss may be needed to improve reproductive features, independent of PCOS diagnosis.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Clinical trial.gov: NCT01319162.

Investigating the relationship between body composition, lifestyle factors, and anti-Müllerian hormone serum levels in women undergoing infertility assessment

BACKGROUND

The impact of lifestyle factors such as adiposity, smoking, stress, exercise, and nutrition on anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels remains an unresolved question.

AIMS

This study aims to examine the anthropometric and lifestyle characteristics of women undergoing infertility investigations and to examine the relationship between serum AMH levels and body fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), and lifestyle factors including smoking, alcohol intake, nutrition, exercise, and stress.

METHODS

Only women undergoing infertility investigations were included in the study. Those with a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) were excluded. Body fat percentage was measured using the Tanita Body Composition Monitor and BMI calculated. Lifestyle factors were evaluated using the Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire (SLIQ).

RESULTS

Ninety-six women took part in the study. Of these, 35.4% (n = 34) were obese, and 28.1% (n = 27) were overweight according to their BMI. According to body fat percentage, 47.9% (n = 46) were classified as obese. An "unhealthy " SLIQ score was measured in 25% (n = 24) of participating women. There was no relationship between AMH and anthropometric or lifestyle factors, namely, body fat percentage (B =  - 0.11, p = 0.76), BMI (B =  - 0.14, p = 0.76), smoking [currents smokers (B =  - 1.86, p = 0.56), ex-smoker (B = 3.07, p = 0.41)], SLIQ score (B = 0.1.96, p = 0.29), stress (B = 0.12, p = 0.96), exercise (B =  - 0.94, p = 0.77), alcohol (B =  - 0.94, p = 0.77), or nutrition (B =  - 3.14, p = 2.44).

CONCLUSIONS

Body fat percentage, BMI, lifestyle choices, and high stress levels do not correlate with AMH levels in women seeking infertility investigations. We identified a high incidence of obesity and low levels of healthy lifestyle scores in our study population. Our study highlights the urgent need for patient education and optimization of pre-pregnancy health.

Anti-Müllerian hormone was independently associated with central obesity but not with general obesity in women with PCOS

OBJECTIVE

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is recognized as the most important biomarker for ovarian reserve. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to explore the potential association of AMH with central obesity or general obesity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, 179 patients with PCOS were enrolled and underwent anthropometric measurements (BMI and waist circumference (WC)) and serum AMH level detection. Pearson's correlation and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the associations of AMH with central obesity and general obesity.

RESULTS

Subjects with increasing BMI showed significantly lower values of AMH (median (interquartile range (IQR)) 8.95 (6.03-13.60) ng/mL in normal weight group, 6.57 (4.18-8.77) ng/mL in overweight group, and 6.03 (4.34-9.44) ng/mL in obesity group, P = 0.001), but higher levels of systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-c, obesity indices (WC, hip circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI)). Compared with the group of PCOS women without central obesity, the group with central obesity had significantly lower value of AMH (median (IQR) 8.56 (5.29-12.96) ng/mL vs 6.22 (4.33-8.82) ng/mL; P = 0.003). Pearson's correlation analysis showed that AMH was significantly and negatively correlated with BMI (r = -0.280; P < 0.001), WC (r = -0.263; P < 0.001), WHtR (r = -0.273; P < 0.001), and CVAI (r = -0.211; P = 0.006). Multivariate logistic regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounding factors showed that AMH was independently and negatively associated with central obesity but was not significantly associated with general obesity.

CONCLUSIONS

AMH was independently and negatively associated with central obesity. Closely monitoring the WC and AMH should be addressed in terms of assessing ovarian reserve in women with PCOS.

Anti-müllerian hormone levels and antral follicle count in women with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 germline pathogenic variant: A retrospective cohort study

Background

Some studies suggested a decreased ovarian reserve among BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers, with conflicting results.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective single-center observational study of ovarian reserve and spontaneous fertility comparing BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers to controls (women who attended consultations to discuss fertility preservation before gonadotoxic treatment). Measures of associations between plasma AMH concentration, AFC and BRCA1/2 status were modelled by nonlinear generalized additive regression models and logistic regressions adjusted for age at plasma storage, oral contraceptive use, body mass index, cigarette smoking, and the AMH assay technique.

Results

The whole population comprised 119 BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers and 92 controls. A total of 110 women (42 carriers, among whom 30 were cancer-free, and 68 controls) underwent an ovarian reserve evaluation. Spontaneous fertility analysis included all women who previously attempted to become pregnant (134 women).

We observed a tendency towards a premature decrease in ovarian reserve in BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers, but no difference in mean AMH or AFC levels was found between BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers and controls. An analysis of the extreme levels of AMH (≤5 pmol/l) and AFC (≤7 follicles) by logistic regression suggested a higher risk of low ovarian reserve among BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.57, 95% CI = 1.00–12.8, p = 0.05; and adjusted OR = 4.99, 95% CI = 1.10–22.62, p = 0.04, respectively).

Discussion

Attention should be paid to BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers’ ovarian reserve, considering this potential risk of premature alteration.

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A tendency towards a premature decrease in the ovarian reserve in BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers was found.

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BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers presented a higher risk of a low ovarian reserve.

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Information and education regarding reproduction is mandatory among BRCA1/2 pathogenic variant carriers.

Correlation of Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance, Anti-Mullerian Hormone, and BMI in the Characterization of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

Objective: To evaluate the correlation of homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), and BMI and to compare their values across the different phenotypes in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) women of the reproductive age group.

Study design: A total of 307 PCOS-diagnosed women were included in the study and further classified in different phenotypes. BMI, HOMA-IR, and serum AMH values were noted and their association with different phenotypes was seen. The correlation of these variables was also noted.

Results: Phenotype D was the most common phenotype followed by type A, type B, and type C. A total of 265 women had an AMH value of ≥4 mg/ml with the highest value in phenotype A followed by D, C, and B. HOMA-IR and BMI values did not vary significantly among different phenotypes. HOMA-IR and BMI had a statistically significant positive correlation and serum AMH was negatively correlated with HOMA-IR, but no significant correlation was seen between serum AMH and BMI. The biochemical parameters like luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), LH: FSH ratio, and serum testosterone showed no correlation with phenotypes or any other clinical parameter.

Conclusion: HOMA-IR and BMI showed a statistically significant positive correlation indicating the need for lifestyle modification and weight reduction in PCOS women, which can further help in decreasing insulin resistance. A strong correlation of serum AMH levels and phenotypes shows the importance of serum AMH levels for classifying different PCOS phenotypes.

Do trends of adiposity and metabolic parameters vary in women with different ovarian reserve status? A population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether trends of adiposity and glucose metabolism parameters in women with low ovarian reserve status based on their anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels differ from those with high ovarian reserve.

METHODS

In this population-based prospective study, eligible women, aged 20 to 50 years, were selected from among participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were applied to compare changes in various adiposity and metabolic parameters across time between women in the first and fourth quartiles of age-specific AMH, after adjustment for confounders. Pooled logistic regression was used to compare progression of prediabetes mellitus (pre-DM) and diabetes mellitus (DM) between the women of these two age-specific AMH quartiles.

RESULTS

In this study of a total of 1,015 participants and with a median follow-up of 16 years, we observed that over time, both groups of women in the first and fourth quartiles of age-specific AMH experienced significant positive trends in their adiposity indices including central obesity, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), a body shape index (ABSI), and a negative trend in visceral adiposity index (VAI), whereas there was no significant difference in these parameters between the two groups. This study revealed that odds ratios of diabetes and prediabetes in women in the first quartile of age-specific AMH were not significantly different, compared with those in the fourth quartile.

CONCLUSION

Women with lower ovarian reserve do not experience different over time trends of adiposity and glucose metabolism parameters during their reproductive life span.

Anti-Müllerian Hormone Predictive Levels to Determine The Likelihood of Ovarian Hyper-Response in Infertile Women with Polycystic Ovarian Morphology

BACKGROUND

The objective of this study was to investigate serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in normal-ovulatory infertile women with polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) and their association with ovarian hyper-response.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective cohort study was carried out on 100 infertile women with PCOM who were treated with an antagonist/agonist triggered stimulation protocol at Shahid Akbar-Abadi Hospital IVF Centre, Tehran, Iran. Serum AMH levels were measured before starting the assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycle and the ovarian hyper-response was evaluated by retrieved oocyte numbers, ooestradiol levels on the triggering day, and the incidence of ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS) clinical signs and symptoms. Logistic regression and the area under the curve (AUC) were used to estimate the effects of AMH and the accuracy of the test.

RESULTS

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that AMH could significantly predict ovarian hyper-response in PCOM patients (AUC=0.73). The estimated threshold value was 4.95 ng/ml, with a specificity of 74.58% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 50.85, 93.22) and sensitivity of 73.17% (95% CI: 48.78, 92.68). Logistic regression results showed a significant interaction between AMH and body mass index (BMI, P=0.008), which indicated that BMI had a moderation effect.

CONCLUSION

Individualized stimulation protocols for patients with isolated PCOM and AMH greater than 4.95 ng/ml may significantly reduce the chances of developing OHSS. However, the AMH cut-off values to predict ovarian hyperresponse differ for different BMI categories among PCOM patients; thus, it becomes a more precise predictive marker with increasing BMI.

Anti-Müllerian hormone as a driving force of polycystic ovary syndrome, independently from insulin resistance

RESEARCH QUESTION

Which clinical features, along with biological features, ultrasound features, or both, are the most strongly associated with either high or low anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?

DESIGN

A retrospective cross-sectional study conducted within a university-affiliated reproductive endocrinology unit in Lille, France. A total of 639 patients with PCOS according to the Rotterdam Criteria and 137 control women were included. A comparison of clinical, hormonal, metabolic and ultrasound data in patients with PCOS and controls belonging to the first (Q1) and fourth (Q4) quartiles of their respective AMH ranges (discriminant analysis) was conducted.

RESULTS

In the PCOS group, patients in Q4 had higher LH levels and a more severe phenotype, but they were thinner and had lower levels of hyperinsulinaemia than patients in Q1. In the PCOS group, discriminant analysis yielded a highly significant model in which follicle number per ovary (FNPO) and serum LH were strongly and equally discriminating between Q4 and Q1 (R² at 0.371 and 0.304, respectively, both P < 0.0001), whereas body mass index had less, although significant, effect (R² = 0.075, P < 0.0001). In control women, discriminant analysis yielded a significant discriminant model, including only FNPO and age (R² at 0.62 and 0.27, both P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

High serum AMH levels are associated with high serum LH levels and more severe features of PCOS. Conversely, the effect of hyperinsulinism may be greater in patients with lower serum AMH levels, suggesting independent effects of AMH and insulin on the phenotypic expression of PCOS.

The Relationship of Anti-Mullerian Hormone in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients with Different Subgroups

PURPOSE

To explore the value of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with different phenotypes and ages, and to identify the relationship between hyperandrogenism (HA) and polycystic ovary morphology (PCOM), in a Chinese cohort.

METHODS

A total of 2262 women (1631 with PCOS and 631 controls) were enrolled. The serum AMH and total testosterone (TT) were analyzed, the AMH levels of each subgroup were compared, and the value of each phenotype and age group of patients with PCOS was evaluated.

RESULTS

The level of AMH in women with PCOS (mean±SD, 8.63±4.73 ng/mL) was higher than that in controls (5.57±3.31 ng/mL) (P<0.01). The level of AMH in the PCOM subgroup (11.19±6.4 ng/mL) was significantly higher than that in the HA subgroup (8.58±4.74 ng/mL) (P<0.01), and both were higher than that in controls (P<0.01). AMH was higher in PCOS patients than in controls, but the same values were found in subgroups of PCOS patients under 30 years old.

CONCLUSION

AMH changed in different subgroups of PCOS, which was the possible reason why AMH was not a diagnostic indicator. However, AMH could help to differentiate between clinical subgroups, as it was strongly related with PCOM but not with HA. AMH changed substantially with age, but was stable in PCOS patients under 30 years old.

Diminished Ovarian Reserve in Girls and Adolescents with Trisomy X Syndrome

An extra X chromosome occurs in ~ 1 in 1000 females, resulting in a karyotype 47,XXX also known as trisomy X syndrome (TXS). Women with TXS appear to be at increased risk for premature ovarian insufficiency; however, very little research on this relationship has been conducted. The objective of this case-control study is to compare ovarian function, as measured by anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) levels, between girls with TXS and controls. Serum AMH concentrations were compared between 15 females with TXS (median age 13.4 years) and 26 controls (median age 15.1 years). Females with TXS had significantly lower serum AMH compared to controls (0.7 ng/mL (IQR 0.2-1.7) vs 2.7 (IQR 1.3-4.8), p < 0.001). Additionally, girls with TXS were much more likely to have an AMH below the 2.5th percentile for age with 67% of them meeting these criteria (OR 11, 95% CI 2.3-42). Lower AMH concentrations in females with TXS may represent an increased risk for primary ovarian insufficiency in these patients and potentially a narrow window of opportunity to pursue fertility preservation options. Additional research is needed to understand the natural history of low AMH concentrations and future risk of premature ovarian insufficiency in girls with TXS.

A patient-specific model combining antimüllerian hormone and body mass index as a predictor of polycystic ovary syndrome and other oligo-anovulation disorders

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a patient-specific predictive model combining antimüllerian hormone (AMH) levels and body mass index (BMI) can aid in the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and other ovulatory dysfunction disorders (OVDYS) among infertile women.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Academic fertility center.

PATIENT(S)

One thousand and ten infertile women undergoing 3,160 intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles, stratified by diagnosis in three groups: PCOS, OVDYS, and other etiologies.

INTERVENTION(S)

Ovulation induction followed by IUI or ultrasound-monitored natural cycles.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The probability of either PCOS or OVDYS diagnosis based on AMH levels alone and a patient-specific predictive model that combines serum AMH and patient's BMI.

RESULT(S)

Median and interquartile range (IQR) for the serum AMH levels (ng/mL) were the highest in women with PCOS, and lowest in those with other infertility causes. Overall, for every 1 ng/mL increase in AMH, the odds of PCOS and OVDYS versus other causes increased by 55% and 24%, respectively. Postestimation from multivariate logistic regression models showed that PCOS diagnosis can be predicted with lower AMH values in women with a higher BMI compared with the AMH values predicting PCOS in normal-weight or underweight patients. The receiver operating characteristic curves reinforced these findings, and the best cutoffs for PCOS diagnosis were 7.5, 4.4, and 4.1 ng/mL for women belonging to the BMI groups 18.5-24.9, 25.0-29.9, and ≥30.0 kg/m², respectively.

CONCLUSION(S)

Taking into account AMH and BMI, we developed a model that predicts the probability of an oligo-anovulation diagnosis, thus facilitating patient-specific counseling in the infertility setting.

Increased Body Mass Index Is Associated With A Nondilutional Reduction in Antimüllerian Hormone

CONTEXT

Controversy exists regarding if and how body mass index (BMI) impacts antimüllerian hormone (AMH) in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Understanding the BMI-AMH relationship has critical implications for clinical interpretation of laboratory values and could illuminate underlying ovarian physiology.

OBJECTIVE

To test the hypotheses that (1) BMI is associated with reduced AMH in PCOS and ovulatory controls (OVAs) and (2) the reduction in AMH is not accounted for by dilutional effects.

DESIGN/SETTING

Multicenter cohort.

PARTICIPANTS

Women aged 25 to 40 years from 2 clinical populations: 640 with PCOS, 921 women as OVAs.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Ovarian reserve indices: AMH, antral follicle count (AFC), and AMH to AFC ratio (AMH/AFC) as a marker of per-follicle AMH production.

RESULTS

In both cohorts, increasing BMI and waist circumference were associated with reductions in AMH and AMH/AFC, after adjusting for age, race, smoking, and site in multivariate regression models. Increasing BMI was associated with reduced AFC in PCOS but not OVAs. Body surface area (BSA), which unlike BMI is strongly proportional to plasma volume, was added to investigate a potential dilutive effect of body size on AMH concentrations. After controlling for BSA, BMI retained independent associations with AMH in both cohorts; BSA no longer associated with AMH.

CONCLUSIONS

In an adjusted analysis, BMI, but not BSA, was associated with reduced AMH; these data do not support a role for hemodilution in mediating the relationship between increased body size and reduced AMH. Decreased AMH production by the follicle unit may be responsible for reduced AMH with increasing BMI.

Is the low AMH level associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease in obese pregnants?

Our aim was to investigate whether Antimullerian Hormone (AMH), complete blood count (CBC), Homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and weight gain have any diagnostic value for the prediction of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in obese and non-obese pregnant patients. A prospective, case-control study was carried out, including 187 patients (93 obese, and 94 non-obese). CVD risk for each patient was evaluated according to the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (ACC/AHA). A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the independent risk factors of CVD in obese and non-obese patients. The obese patients had significantly lower levels of AMH when compared to the non-obese ones (p = .002). Insulin, HOMA-IR, HbA1c, and SBP were significantly higher in obese patients than non-obese ones (p < .001, p < .001 and p = .001, respectively). Age, SBP, and decreased AMH levels had significantly associated with risk factors of CVD in the obese group (p = .001, p = .002, and p = .049, respectively). Our study suggests that decreased AMH levels, increased age, and SBP are associated with CVD in obese patients. AMH may be used to evaluate CVD risk in advanced aged, obese patients.IMPACT STATEMENTWhat is already known on this subject? Obesity is one of the most common medical complications of pregnancy. Obesity increases maternal complications such as preeclampsia, caesarean rate, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and diabetes after pregnancy; and neonatal complications including macrosomia, hypoglycaemia, hyperbilirubinemia, delivery trauma, shoulder dystocia, and adult-onset obesity, and diabetes. Obese patients have lower serum AMH levels.What the results of this study add? A significant relationship between AMH levels and CVD risk in obese pregnant women was observed.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Based on this finding, we concluded that decreased AMH levels are predictive for CVD in obese pregnant women.

Hormone profiling, including anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), for the diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and characterization of PCOS phenotypes

Objective was to evaluate serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and in its different phenotypes in relation to clinical, endocrine and metabolic parameters using a new automated VIDAS^® method and to compare it with the Gen II method. Study design was multi-center study including 319 PCOS women and 109 healthy controls. Serum AMH levels measured using VIDAS^® were significantly higher in PCOS women than controls (p < .001), and they correlated with those measured using the AMH Gen II method. An AMH cutoff value of 42.1 pmol/L distinguished PCOS women from controls with 67% sensitivity and 83% specificity. The PCOS women with three Rotterdam criteria or hyperandrogenism displayed significantly higher AMH levels compared with those with two Rotterdam criteria or normoandrogenism. In PCOS, AMH levels correlated positively with luteinizing hormone (LH), androgen and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels and negatively with BMI, abdominal obesity, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), fasting glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance. In conclusion, AMH evaluated using the VIDAS^® method distinguished PCOS patients from healthy controls relatively well, especially in those with more severe phenotypes. Further studies are needed to establish whether AMH measurements can distinguish PCOS patients with different metabolic risk factors.

The diagnosis of PCOS in young infertile women according to different diagnostic criteria: the role of serum anti-Müllerian hormone

PURPOSE

To diagnose polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in young infertile women using different diagnostic criteria. To define serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) cutoff values for PCOS definition. To investigate the correlation between AMH and body mass index (BMI).

METHODS

Retrospective case-control study. A total of 140 infertile women (age 21-35 years) were enrolled. PCOS was defined according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) criteria, the Rotterdam consensus criteria and the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society (AE-PCOS) criteria. ROC curve analysis was performed to define AMH thresholds for PCOS definition according to the three different diagnostic criteria. Correlation between AMH and BMI was investigated.

RESULTS

The prevalence of PCOS under the NIH criteria, the Rotterdam criteria and the AE-PCOS criteria was 27.1, 40 and 29.3%, respectively. The optimal thresholds of AMH to distinguish NIH PCOS from infertile controls was 5.20 ng/ml (AUC = 0.86, sensitivity 79%, specificity 80%); the best cutoff to detect Rotterdam PCOS was 4.57 ng/ml (AUC = 0.85, sensitivity 78%, specificity 81%); a cutoff of 4.85 ng/ml (AUC = 0.85, sensitivity 80%, specificity 78%) defined PCOS women according to AE-PCOS criteria. The prevalence of the syndrome became 37.1, 44.3 and 39.2% according to the three criteria, respectively, using AMH threshold between 4.57 and 5.20 ng/ml as an alternative to antral follicle count and/or hyperandrogenism.

CONCLUSION

Anti-Müllerian hormone may reconcile the three diagnostic criteria and allow the PCOS diagnosis in women with mild symptoms. No significant correlation was found between AMH and BMI in PCOS women and controls.

One-year impact of bariatric surgery on serum anti-Mullerian-hormone levels in severely obese women

INTRODUCTION

Although bariatric surgery seems to increase spontaneous fertility by improving ovulatory function in young women, its impact on ovarian reserve remains largely unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate changes in serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in reproductive-age severely obese women after bariatric surgery (BS).

METHODS

AMH levels were measured retrospectively in 39 women (mean age 34.6 ± 1.1 years, range 18-45) that underwent a sleeve gastrectomy or Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) at baseline, and 6 and 12 months after BS. Metabolic and micronutrient status, including fasting plasma insulin and glucose, HOMA-IR, leptin, adiponectin, calcium, albumin, transthyretin, ferritin, vitamins (B9, B12, B1, A, E, D), zinc, and selenium, were assessed in all patients before and 1 year after BS.

RESULTS

Of the patients, 79% had class-3 obesity. At 6 and 12 months, mean total weight losses (TWL) were 26 and 30%; mean excess weight losses (EWL) were 61.7 and 70.2%. Compared to baseline, AMH levels significantly decreased by 18% at 6 months, and 32% at 12 months post-operatively (p = 0.010 and p = 0.001, respectively). There was no correlation between AMH variation and changes in metabolic parameters or micronutrient levels. Remarkably, changes in AMH levels did not differ between sleeve and RYGB patients and were not correlated with EWL.

CONCLUSION

This pilot study shows a drastic reduction in AMH levels at 1 year after BS in reproductive-age severely obese women, which was not related to weight loss: this suggests a negative impact of BS on ovarian reserve, at least in the short term.