Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between antimüllerian hormone (AMH) and steroidogenesis in follicles of normoandrogenic ovulatory women undergoing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) therapy for in vitro fertilization/embryo transfer (IVF-ET). DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Institutional/private practice. PATIENT(S): 26 normoandrogenic ovulatory women. All women received gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analog and ovarian stimulation for IVF-ET. INTERVENTION(S): Follicle fluid was aspirated at oocyte retrieval from the first follicle of each ovary. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Follicle fluid was assayed for AMH, estradiol (E(2)), progesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, insulin, and FSH. RESULT(S): Intrafollicular AMH levels positively and negatively correlated with E(2) and FSH concentrations in follicles, respectively, causing a positive relationship between follicle fluid AMH levels and E(2)/FSH ratios as a measure of follicle sensitivity to FSH. A positive relationship also existed in follicles between AMH levels and E(2)/androgen ratios as a marker of aromatase activity. CONCLUSION(S): The AMH levels in follicles of IVF patients positively correlate with follicle sensitivity to FSH.