AMH and fertility blood test
Know your fertility, before you need to. Ovarian reserve plus the hormones that drive your cycle, explained by an Australian doctor.
The AMH and fertility blood test is a six-marker panel for women who want to understand their ovarian reserve and cycle hormones, whether they are planning ahead or trying now. It costs $179 with your own doctor's request, or $259 with a KnowLuna doctor who requests it and explains your results in a 20-minute video consult. Collect at an accredited Australian centre, or choose a home kit or a nurse visit at checkout (options below).
What it measures
- AMH (anti-Mullerian hormone): made by the small follicles in your ovaries, so it reflects roughly how many eggs remain. It is the single most useful marker of ovarian reserve, and one piece of the fertility picture rather than the whole of it.
- FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone): the pituitary signal that recruits an egg each cycle. It rises when the ovaries need more encouragement, which is why it is read early in the cycle alongside oestradiol.
- LH (luteinising hormone): the hormone that triggers ovulation. Its balance with FSH gives your doctor context about how the cycle is being run.
- Oestradiol: the main oestrogen in your reproductive years. A high early-cycle oestradiol can make FSH look falsely reassuring, so the two are always read together.
- TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone): thyroid function that is too low or too high can disturb cycles and ovulation, so a first-line thyroid check belongs in a fertility panel.
- Prolactin: a raised level can stop ovulation. It is a common, checkable reason for irregular or missing periods.
Who it's for
Anyone who wants to understand their fertility: planning a family in the next few years, weighing up egg freezing, trying to conceive now, or simply curious. It is for adults aged 18 and over, with regular or irregular cycles. If you have been trying for 12 months (or six months if you are 35 or over) without success, the results give you and your doctor a head start.
What you'll learn, and what you won't
You'll get a clear, plain-English read on your ovarian reserve and the hormones behind your cycle, each marker explained against your laboratory's range and in the context of your age and cycle day. A doctor talks you through what the pattern suggests and what sensible next steps look like.
Just as importantly: a blood test cannot predict whether or when you will conceive, and it does not measure egg quality. A blood test is one input to a doctor's assessment, not a diagnosis on its own.
AMH: what it cannot tell you
AMH is often described as an "egg count" test, and that shorthand causes unnecessary worry. AMH reflects the number of eggs left, not their quality, and quality matters most for a natural pregnancy. A low AMH on its own is not a good predictor of your chance of conceiving in any given month, because ovulating one healthy egg is what counts.
Where AMH earns its place is in planning: how long your reproductive window may stay open, how your ovaries might respond if you ever needed IVF or egg freezing, and whether a very high result points towards polycystic ovaries. Read what AMH can and can't tell you for the full explanation.
Reference ranges and what they mean
Australian laboratories report AMH in picomoles per litre (pmol/L), and the figures below are typical adult ranges. Ranges differ between assays, so your report shows the exact range your lab uses.
| Marker | Typical adult range | What it usually means |
|---|---|---|
| AMH by age | Highest in the mid-twenties, then declining gradually through the thirties and more steeply after about 40. Below roughly 7 pmol/L is often described as low for age; above roughly 25 to 30 pmol/L is high and is commonly seen with polycystic ovaries. | Lower values suggest a smaller remaining egg supply for your age; higher values a larger one. Neither predicts egg quality. |
| FSH (day 2 to 3) | About 3 to 10 IU/L in the reproductive years | Higher early-cycle FSH suggests the ovaries need more stimulation to recruit an egg, which can go with lower reserve. |
| LH (day 2 to 3) | About 2 to 10 IU/L | Usually similar to or a little below FSH early in the cycle. A persistently higher LH than FSH can be one feature of PCOS. |
| Oestradiol (day 2 to 3) | Low early in the cycle, typically about 100 to 400 pmol/L | A high early-cycle level can suppress FSH and make it look normal, which is why the two are interpreted together. |
| TSH | About 0.4 to 4.0 mIU/L | Within range suggests thyroid function is unlikely to be interfering with your cycle. Results outside it lead to a fuller thyroid check. |
| Prolactin | Under about 500 mIU/L in women who are not pregnant or breastfeeding | Raised prolactin can stop ovulation. Stress, a recent meal and the time of day can nudge it, so a mildly raised result is often repeated. |
Ranges vary by laboratory; your report shows the range your lab uses. Typical ranges on this page are drawn from Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA) and the sources listed below.
When to do this test
AMH can be collected on any day of your cycle. FSH, LH and oestradiol are most informative on day 2 to 5 (day 1 is the first day of full bleeding), with day 2 to 3 the classic window. If your cycles are irregular or absent, collect on any day and tell us the date of your last period; the doctor reads the results in that context. No fasting is needed. The time of day matters little, except that prolactin is best collected when you are rested and at least an hour after waking.
If you use hormonal contraception, the pill, the ring and the injection suppress FSH, LH and oestradiol, so those three readings mostly reflect the contraception rather than your own cycle. Progestogen-only methods such as the implant have a smaller and less predictable effect on them, and a hormonal IUD has much less effect again. Combined hormonal contraception also lowers AMH readings, by roughly 20 to 30 per cent. You can still test (TSH and prolactin remain informative), but tell us what you use. More in our guide to contraception and hormone tests.
How this compares to a fertility clinic
The blood tests are the same: the same six markers analysed by an accredited Australian laboratory. What differs is the pathway around them. A fertility clinic offers a full assessment and a treatment pathway, and is the right place if you already know you need that help. KnowLuna is the step before that: the same results, explained by a women's health doctor, without joining a waiting list or committing to anything. If a specialist opinion would help, the doctor says so and can write a referral letter. Partners can add a semen analysis, since about half of fertility difficulty involves a male factor.
How it works
- Order online. Either upload the request your own doctor has signed, or a KnowLuna women's health doctor reviews your short questionnaire and requests the test for you.
- Collect at an accredited centre near you, or choose a home kit or a nurse visit (options below). We'll guide you on cycle timing where it matters.
- Results are usually ready within a few business days, explained in your account, with a doctor to talk them through.
Choose how you collect
Every option is the same accredited test and the same report. Pick what suits you at checkout; the fee, if any, is added to either pathway price.
A quick draw at an accredited pathology collection centre near you. Usually under ten minutes. Included.
Lancet kit posted to you with an Express return satchel. If the lab cannot test your sample we send a replacement kit at no charge.
A near-painless device draws a small sample from the upper arm, with far fewer failed samples than a finger-prick. Express return satchel included.
A registered nurse comes to your home or workplace for a standard blood draw. Metro areas of capital cities; other locations on request.
Common questions
What is a good AMH level to get pregnant?
There is no AMH level that you need to reach to conceive naturally. AMH reflects egg number, not egg quality, and women with low AMH conceive every month. A result in the typical range for your age is reassuring for planning; a low result is a prompt to talk timing through with your doctor rather than a reason to panic.
Is an AMH test covered by Medicare in Australia?
No. There is no Medicare rebate for AMH testing in Australia, so it is an out-of-pocket cost wherever you have it done. FSH, LH and oestradiol may attract a rebate when your GP requests them for a clinical reason. KnowLuna is self-pay, with the price shown up front.
What are normal AMH levels by age?
AMH peaks around the mid-twenties and declines with age, more steeply after 40. Laboratories publish age-specific ranges, and your report shows your result against the range for your age band. See our AMH levels by age guide for a fuller picture of what typical, low and high look like.
Can I get pregnant at 37 with a low AMH?
Yes, many women do. At 37 the main factor in natural conception is egg quality, which AMH does not measure. A low AMH can mean less time to work with and a smaller response if IVF is ever needed. Your doctor will explain what your result means for your timeline.
Do I need to fast or test on a certain day?
No fasting is needed. AMH can be tested any day. For FSH, LH and oestradiol, day 2 to 5 of your cycle is ideal. If your cycles are irregular, collect any day and note the date of your last period. Tell us about any hormonal contraception, because it changes several of these readings.
How much does an AMH test cost in Australia?
Prices vary by provider and by what is included. The KnowLuna panel is $179 test-only with your own doctor's request, or $259 with a KnowLuna doctor's request and a 20-minute results consult, and includes AMH plus five cycle and thyroid markers. See AMH test cost in Australia for the full breakdown.
Sources and further reading
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH)
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): luteinising hormone (LH)
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): oestradiol
- Pathology Tests Explained (RCPA): prolactin
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby: fertility tests and treatments
- Healthdirect: about infertility
General information only, not medical advice. A test result is one input to a doctor's assessment, not a diagnosis on its own, and every abnormal result is followed up by a KnowLuna doctor. If your symptoms are severe or sudden, see a doctor promptly. Read our medical disclaimer.
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