AMH Levels and Egg Quality: What Your Results Actually Mean

If your AMH came back lower than you hoped, this post is for you. AMH is one of the most commonly ordered fertility blood tests, and a low result can feel alarming. But there is a lot it does not tell you, and there is more you can do than you might think.

01What AMH Actually Tells You (and What It Does Not)

AMH (anti-Müllerian hormone) is a marker of ovarian reserve, which is a rough measure of how many eggs remain in your ovaries. It can be useful in some clinical contexts, particularly for planning IVF stimulation. But it has real limitations as a standalone predictor of fertility.

Clinical guidelines are clear that AMH should not be used in isolation to advise someone about their chances of conceiving naturally. A lower number does not mean you cannot conceive. It also does not say anything about the quality of the eggs you have. It is also worth knowing that conditions like endometriosis and PMOS can affect AMH levels, which is another reason the number alone does not tell the full story.¹

AMH tells us something about quantity. It tells us very little about what matters most.

02Egg Quality Is What Really Matters

Whether an egg can fertilise, develop into a healthy embryo, and lead to a live birth comes down to egg quality. Age is the single biggest driver of this, because it influences the likelihood of chromosomal errors during egg maturation. That is not something we can change. But the environment in which your eggs develop is something we can influence, and that is where nutrition, lifestyle, and targeted supplementation come in.

03The 90-Day Window

Eggs take approximately 90 days to complete their final stages of maturation. This means that what you eat, how well you sleep, how you manage stress, and whether any nutrient gaps are addressed in the three months before trying to conceive, or before beginning an IVF cycle, can all have an impact on the eggs available that cycle.

This is not about overhauling everything overnight. It is about building the best possible environment for your eggs to mature, starting well before you need them.

04How Nutrition Can Support Egg Quality

A Mediterranean-style dietary pattern has the strongest research base when it comes to fertility outcomes. It is rich in antioxidants, anti-inflammatory compounds, and key nutrients that support reproductive health, and has been associated with better outcomes in both natural conception and IVF cycles.³

Beyond the overall dietary pattern, identifying and correcting specific nutrient gaps is important. Iron, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 are among the most commonly insufficient in women of reproductive age, and deficiencies in each have been linked to impaired ovarian function. Folate, iodine, zinc, and choline are also important in the preconception period and are worth reviewing alongside bloodwork rather than guessing.

Blood sugar balance, adequate sleep, and stress management matter too. These influence hormonal regulation and the cellular environment your eggs are developing in, and they are worth taking seriously alongside dietary changes.

05What About Supplements?

CoQ10 is one of the more researched supplements in the context of egg quality. It plays a role in cellular energy production and has antioxidant properties. Some evidence suggests it may support mitochondrial function in oocytes, particularly in women over 35 or those with diminished ovarian reserve.⁴ The evidence is still developing, but it is one of the more evidence-informed options for those looking to support egg quality in the preconception window.

That said, supplements work best when built on top of a strong nutritional foundation, not instead of one. They are a support, not a replacement for diet and lifestyle.

What supplements are appropriate, and at what doses, varies between individuals. A registered dietitian can assess your individual nutrient status, dietary intake, and treatment timeline to recommend what is actually relevant for you.

Ready to Make the Most of Your 90-Day Window?

If your AMH result has prompted questions about what you can do, the preconception window is a genuinely valuable time to act. Nula Nutrition provides registered dietitian consultations for preconception planning, IVF preparation, and fertility nutrition support. Available in Calgary and online across Alberta, including Canmore, Banff, Edmonton, and Cochrane.

Seeking evidence-based nutrition support for preconception or IVF preparation?

Book a Free Discovery Call

Nula Nutrition. Registered dietitian services for women's health. Calgary and online across Alberta.

Please note: This post is intended for general educational purposes only and does not constitute personalised medical or dietetic advice. Individuals are encouraged to work with their physician and a registered dietitian for individualised preconception and fertility nutrition support.

Written by Madison Hows RD APD

References

1. Uncu G, et al. Prospective assessment of the impact of endometriomas and their removal on ovarian reserve and determinants of the rate of decline in ovarian reserve. Human Reproduction. 2013;28(8):2140–2145. PMC6603105

2. Gaskins AJ, Chavarro JE. Diet and fertility: a review. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2018;218(4):379–389. PMID: 28844822

3. Vujkovic M, et al. The preconception Mediterranean dietary pattern in couples undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment increases the chance of pregnancy. Fertility and Sterility. 2010;94(6):2096–2101. PMID: 20189169

4. Bentov Y, Casper RF. The aging oocyte — can mitochondrial function be improved? Fertility and Sterility. 2013;99(1):18–22. PMID: 23273985