Anti-Müllerian hormone as an independent predictor of twin versus singleton pregnancy in fresh cycles

Abstract

This study evaluated anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) as a possible predictor of twin pregnancy in women undergoing fresh cycles who had more than one embryo transferred. A retrospective study was performed of 139 patients undergoing fresh non-donor cycles which resulted in either singleton or twin pregnancy between 2009 and 2010 in this fertility clinic. Random serum AMH and other clinically relevant variables were compared. For further analysis, the population was stratified by age (<34 and ⩾34 years). Random serum AMH concentrations were 1.4-times greater in women conceiving twins compared with singletons (P=0.03). In women aged ⩾34, the AMH concentration in twins was 1.8-fold greater than singletons (P=0.001). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that AMH was an independent predictor of twins. ROC curve analysis showed that AMH had a significant predictive ability for twin pregnancy in women aged ⩾34 (AUC 0.67, P=0.01). In contrast, in women aged <34, AMH was not different between twin and singleton pregnancies. In summary, random serum AMH is an independent predictor of twin gestation when more than one embryo is transferred in women aged ⩾34. Considering a woman’s AMH before transferring more than one embryo may assist in reducing the incidence of twins.Transferring multiple embryos to increase the chance of pregnancy and live birth rate is a common practice among assisted reproduction providers but often results in a high proportion of multiple pregnancies. Identifying factors predictive of multiple pregnancies is of paramount importance for the successful development of strategies to minimize multiple gestations. Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) has been shown to be closely correlated with a woman’s egg reserve. Aside from the strong association of serum AMH concentration with quantitative ovarian response, serum AMH concentration has been associated with qualitative aspects of assisted reproduction such as embryo quality and pregnancy rates. Our objective was to evaluate AMH as a possible predictor of twin pregnancy in women undergoing fresh cycles who had more than one embryo transferred. Our study included 139 patients undergoing fresh non-donor cycles which resulted in either a singleton or twin pregnancy between 2009 and 2010 in our fertility clinic. Random serum AMH concentrations were compared. For further analysis, the population was divided into two groups (age <34 and ⩾34). AMH concentrations were 1.4-times greater in women conceiving twins compared with singletons. In women aged ⩾34, the AMH concentration in twins was 1.8-fold greater than singleton pregnancies. AMH was an independent predictor of twins with a significant predictive ability for twin pregnancy in women aged ⩾34. In contrast, in women aged <34, AMH was not different between twin and singleton pregnancies. In conclusion, considering a woman’s AMH before transferring more than one embryo may assist in reducing the incidence of twins.