AMH is Higher Across the Menstrual Cycle in Early Postmenarchal Girls than in Ovulatory Women

Abstract

Abstract Context Adolescents have more small, growing follicles and larger ovaries than normal women and are prone to anovulatory cycles (ANOV). It is unknown if a higher antral follicle count (AFC) per se contributes to ANOV in early postmenarchal girls. Objective To determine the relationship between AMH (an AFC biomarker), other reproductive hormones, and ANOV in postmenarchal girls and to compare AMH in girls and regularly cycling adults. Methods A total of 23 girls (1.7 ± 0.2 years postmenarche) and 32 historic adult controls (≤34 years) underwent serial hormone measurements during 1 to 2 menstrual cycles. Girls also had pelvic ultrasounds. AMH was measured 5 times/subject using the Ansh ultrasensitive ELISA. Results Girls had higher AMH than women (5.2 ± 0.3 vs. 3.3 ± 0.4 ng/mL; P < 0.01) and girls with more ovulatory (OV) cycles tended to have lower AMH than those with ANOV (2 OV 4.5 ± 0.2, 1 OV 5.7 ± 1.1, 0 OV 6.8 ± 1.1 ng/mL; P = 0.1). In girls, AMH correlated with natural-log (ln) transformed LH (r = 0.5, P = 0.01), ln_androstenedione (r = 0.6, P = 0.003), ln_testosterone (r = 0.5, P = 0.02), and ovarian volume (r = 0.7, P < 0.01) but not with FSH, estradiol, P4, or body mass index. In women, AMH correlated with estradiol and P4 (both r = -0.4, P ≤ 0.03) but not with ln_LH or body mass index. Conclusions In postmenarchal girls, AMH is higher than in ovulatory women and is associated with LH, androgens, and a propensity for anovulatory cycles. The cause of the transient increase in AMH and AFC during late puberty and the steps underlying the transition to a mature ovary deserve further study.