Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 7, 2026
Collection of Human Follicular Fluid, Follicle Somatic Cells, and Immature Oocytes from Individuals Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization
Published on: October 24, 2025
Can highly sensitive antimüllerian hormone testing predict failed response to ovarian stimulation?
Heather R Burks1, Lauren Ross1, Neisha Opper2
1Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
Objective:
To determine whether a newer commercially available antimüllerian hormone (AMH) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (picoAMH ELISA, AnshLabs) with a lower threshold of detection is predictive of successful ovarian stimulation in a population of women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR).
Design:
Retrospective case-control study.
Setting:
University-based IVF program.
Patient(S):
Cases were patients whose first IVF cycle was cancelled for lack of ovarian response (<3 follicles; n = 24). Controls were patients with DOR (early follicular FSH of ≥10 IU/L), whose first cycle resulted in aspiration of at least 3 oocytes (n = 24).
Intervention(S):
Frozen serum samples collected during routine clinical care between 2008 and 2012 before starting IVF were analyzed for AMH using the picoAMH ELISA.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Serum AMH levels in patients who successfully reached oocyte retrieval compared with patients with a failed controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) cycle. Receiver operator curve analysis was used to identify a predictive threshold AMH value.
Result(S):
No demographic differences were found between groups. The successful group had a higher antral follicle count (8.5 vs. 6) and higher AMH levels (847 vs. 406 pg/mL). The AMH level correlated with the antral follicle count (R = 0.61). The AMH level of >500 pg/mL had 83.3% sensitivity and 70.8% specificity to detect patients who proceeded to successful oocyte retrieval. Below AMH levels of 100 pg/mL, no patients achieved oocyte retrieval.
Conclusion(S):
Due to a lower threshold of detection, picoAMH may be able to predict successful ovarian stimulation among women with DOR using a threshold of 500 pg/mL, with good sensitivity and specificity.
