Clinical efficacy of anti-Mullerian hormone inspection in supporting diagnosis for climacteric disorders

Abstract

The diagnosis of climacteric disorders in gynecology is performed on the basis of symptoms rather than hormonal levels. Generally, the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level increases when the 17<i>β</i>-estradiol (E2) level decreases in menopause. However, the problem of these hormones should be determined by strict timing of sampling, and there are individual specificities of decreases of hormone levels. We considered that anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) can be measured at any time of the menstrual cycle and that it shows ovary functional decline earlier than FSH/E2, and we examined whether AMH would possibly become a good index for climacteric disorders. The subjects were 163 healthy females and 21 patients with climacteric disorders between 20 and 59 years old. We examined AMH, FSH and E2 at the same time. It is understood that in healthy females, AMH decreases with age and a decline in ovary function occurs at a relatively early age. Patients visiting clinics for climacteric disorders often have normal-range serum FSH/E2 levels, and it is clear that these values could not serve as indices of menopause at these inspections. Upon measurement of AMH in patients with climacteric disorders, most showed less than normal range (< 14 pmol/L), suggesting a decline in ovarian function. In addition, AMH was low in females with climacteric disorders compared with those without them. In conclusion, AMH was suggested as an objective index for climacteric disorders and possibly as a new diagnostic marker.