Assessment of male serum anti-Mullerian hormone as a marker of spermatogenesis and ICSI outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To assess serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) as a marker of spermatogenesis among fertile and infertile males, as well as its relation to ICSI outcome.

METHODS: A total of 77 male partners of infertile couples seeking infertility treatment were recruited for this study. They were classified according to the WHO criteria of semen analysis into three groups; azospermia, oligospermia, and normal. All participating patients had a serum assay of the level of AMH. Thirty-three couples out of the previously mentioned 77 couples underwent controlled ovarian stimulation and ICSI.

RESULTS: There were 41 patients with azospermia, 14 patients with oligospermia, and 22 patients with normal count. There was no significant difference among the three groups regarding the AMH levels. There was no significant correlation between the AMH levels from all patients and the sperm concentration (rho = 0.03, p = 0.82). Among patients who underwent ICSI, there was no significant correlation of the AMH with the age, sperm concentration, fertilisation percent or number of embryos. The age of male partners was significantly correlated with sperm concentration, fertilisation percent and the total number of embryos. In the logistic regression model used, serum AMH had no significant relation to clinical pregnancy.

CONCLUSION: Male serum AMH levels are not indicative of spermatogenesis and cannot differentiate between fertile and infertile males. Serum AMH levels were not predictive of ICSI outcome as well.