Anti-müllerian hormone levels are reduced in women living with human immunodeficiency virus compared to control women: a case-control study from Copenhagen, Denmark.

OBJECTIVES: Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) is a marker of ovarian reserve. The purpose of this study was to compare AMH in women living with HIV with an age-matched control group of HIV-uninfected women, and to identify possible variables associated with decreasing AMH levels in women living with HIV. METHODS: AMH was measured in frozen EDTA samples from 84 white women living with HIV, aged 20 -40 years, with fully suppressed HIV RNA viral loads for at least 6 months and no hepatitis B or C virus co-infection. All women living with HIV were age-matched with HIV-uninfected control women. RESULTS: Eighty-four women living with HIV and 252 control women were included. Median age for the women living with HIV was 33.5 years (interquartile range [IQR] 30.6-35.3), and 33.2 years (IQR 30.6-35.5) for the control women. A significant difference (P=0.03) was found in the mean AMH levels for all age groups combined, which was 17.23 pmol/L (95% confidence interval [CI] 14.56-19.89) in the women living with HIV versus 21.65 pmol/L (95% CI 19.50-23.81) in the control women, although levels were within reference limits in both groups.Only increasing age was significantly associated with decreasing AMH levels and not CD4 cell count, AIDS prior to inclusion, antiretroviral treatment/lack of treatment or antiretroviral treatment regimen. CONCLUSIONS: Well-treated, white women living with HIV in Denmark, have reduced AMH levels compared with age-matched control HIV-uninfected women. The only variable associated with decreasing AMH levels in women living with HIV was increasing age.

Investigation of anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations in relation to natural conception rate and time to pregnancy.

The objectives of this study were to investigate whether anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentrations can predict pregnancy rates and time to pregnancy (TTP) in women attempting to conceive naturally/having an unplanned conception, and whether there is a lower AMH threshold compatible with natural conception. This prospective cohort study included 260 women aged 25-42 years in two subcohorts: (A) healthcare workers at Rigshospitalet (2008-2010), and (B) women consulting the Fertility Assessment and Counselling Clinic (2011-2014), Rigshospitalet, Denmark. Pregnancy rates and TTP at 2-year follow-up were stratified into AMH groups: low: < 9.5 pmol/l, intermediate: 9.5-33 pmol/l, high: > 33 pmol/l. Pregnancy rates increased with increasing AMH: 60.1% (low) versus 70.0% (intermediate) versus 78.3% (high) (P = 0.03). The highest pregnancy rate (84.1%) was seen in regular cycling women with high AMH. TTP was reduced in women with high AMH compared with intermediate or low AMH (stepwise trend test P = 0.01). Natural conceptions were observed with AMH concentrations down to 1.2 pmol/l. In conclusion, high AMH, especially in ovulatory women, was associated with higher pregnancy rates. Nonetheless, TTP reflected a large variation in fecundity within similar AMH concentrations and natural conceptions occurred with AMH down to 1.2 pmol/l.

Left-right differences in ovarian volume and antral follicle count in 1423 women of reproductive age.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate side differences in antral follicle count (AFC) and ovarian volume in left versus right ovaries in relation to chronological and "biological" age, the latter estimated by anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels. The cohort comprised 1423 women: 1014 fertile and 409 infertile. All were examined by transvaginal sonography and serum AMH. Overall the right ovary contained 8.1% more antral follicles (p = 0.002) and had 10.7% larger volume compared with the left (p < 0.001). In all AMH quartiles, the right ovarian volume was larger than the left (p ≤ 0.003). AFC was significantly higher in the right compared to the left ovary in the three upper AMH quartiles (p ≤ 0.005). The findings were similar when stratified in age quartiles. More than half (54.8%) had polycystic ovarian (PCO) morphology in at least one ovary. Of these women, 46.3% (n = 361) had PCO morphology unilateral - most frequently on the right side (27.6%) compared to the left (18.7%, p < 0.001). The consistent difference in AFC and ovarian volume found in AMH and age quartiles may be explained by presence of a larger pool of primordial follicles in the right ovary established during fetal life.

Attitudes towards motherhood and fertility awareness among 20-40-year-old female healthcare professionals.

OBJECTIVE: To explore attitudes towards family formation and fertility awareness among Danish female healthcare professionals. METHODS: We collected cross-sectional baseline data from a prospective cohort study of 863 women, ranging in age from 20 to 40 years, working at a hospital in Denmark. Information about participants' intentions and attitudes towards family formation and fertility knowledge was gathered by means of a questionnaire. RESULTS: Only 2% of the respondents did not want children. Most women believed that motherhood is important, and hoped to have two to three children. About half of the respondents intended to have their last child after the age of 35 years. The most important prerequisites for family formation included: living in a stable relationship, having completed one's studies, a sound financial situation, a job that can be kept when having children, access to public child day care, and the possibility of travelling. As many as 50% of women underrated the impact of a woman's age on fertility, and overestimated the success rates of assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Many female healthcare professionals contemplated giving birth after the age of 35 years. Knowledge of fertility and ART success rates is needed to make well-informed decisions about when to have children.