Anti-Mullerian Hormone Levels in Indian Women Seeking Infertility Treatment: Are Indian Women Facing Early Ovarian Senescence?

BACKGROUND: Antimullerian hormone (AMH) is a key marker of ovarian reserve and predictor of response to fertility treatment. AIM: To understand the prevalence of low ovarian reserve in Indian women seeking infertility treatment, compare their AMH with age-matched fertile Indian controls and understand ethnic differences with Caucasian women. SETTING AND DESIGN: Retrospective observational study done as collaboration between our in vitro fertilization centre and a laboratory with Pan-India presence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged 20–44 years were selected as Group A (seeking infertility treatment n = 54,473), Group B (conceived naturally in the past; n = 283) and Group C (data of Caucasian women; n = 718). Serum AMH levels were measured and descriptive analysis done. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test. RESULTS: In Group A, 28.7%, 48.7% and 70.6% of women aged <30 years, 30–34 years and 35–39 years had serum AMH levels ≤2 ng/mL and the proportions were higher than Group B. The rate at which median AMH decreased was 1.1–2 times faster in Group B as compared to Group C. The decrease in median AMH across age groups in Group A was similar to Group B. CONCLUSIONS: Indian women in their late twenties and early thirties visiting fertility centers showed a worrisome trend of low AMH. Our study can be used as a reference for those women considering postponing pregnancy. It may be time to look at intangible cultural factors linked to social habits, ethnicity, diet, genetic predispositions, and environmental factors like endocrine disrupting chemicals contributing to premature ovarian senescence.