How to Increase AMH Levels Naturally Before Starting IVF: A Functional Fertility Guide

If you’ve been told you have low AMH, diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), or poor egg quality and you’re getting ready for IVF, you feel like time is running out. But before you start your next cycle, you need to address the underlying imbalances that affect ovarian function. In this podcast, we’ll look at how a functional fertility approach, including personalized nutrition, advanced lab testing, and targeted lifestyle changes, can support AMH levels, improve egg health, and increase your chances of IVF success.

What is AMH and Why Does It Matter for IVF?

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is produced by the follicles in your ovaries and reflects your ovarian reserve, the number of eggs you have. 

For IVF, AMH helps predict how your ovaries will respond to stimulation: higher levels usually mean more eggs retrieved. Low AMH may mean diminished ovarian reserve, which can impact IVF success.

However, AMH does not predict your ability to get pregnant naturally. Studies have shown that AMH is a poor predictor of live birth outcomes. "Diminished ovarian reserve is not associated with reduced future reproductive capacity. Given the lack of association, women should be cautioned regarding the use of biomarkers of ovarian reserve as predictors of their future reproductive capacity."

AMH measures quantity, not quality. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), "Serum antimüllerian hormone level assessment generally should not be ordered or used to counsel women who are not infertile about their reproductive status and future fertility potential".

Common Causes of Low AMH: A Functional Fertility Perspective

From a functional fertility standpoint, low AMH is not just about ovarian aging but also underlying imbalances affecting ovarian health, including:

• Chronic Inflammation: Inflammation can damage ovarian follicles and reduce AMH.
• Gut Dysbiosis: Gut imbalance can impede nutrient absorption for hormone synthesis and egg health.
• Hormonal Imbalances: Thyroid dysfunction, insulin resistance, and high stress hormones (cortisol) can disrupt ovarian function.
• Toxin Exposure: Toxins and heavy metals accumulate and disrupt ovarian reserve and hormone signaling.
• Nutrient Deficiencies: Lack of vitamin D, CoQ10, and antioxidants can compromise egg quality and quantity.
• Autoimmune Activity: Autoimmune reactions (even positive ANA - (Antinuclear Antibodies)) can target ovarian tissue and reduce follicle viability.
• Chronic Stress: Stress can dysregulate the HPA axis and impair hormone balance and ovarian function.

Addressing these imbalances with personalized lifestyle, nutrition, and targeted testing can support ovarian reserve and increase AMH naturally.

Functional Fertility Strategies to Improve AMH Naturally

Boosting AMH means addressing the underlying imbalances that affect ovarian reserve. Here are the key functional fertility strategies to consider:

• Nutrition: Focus on an anti-inflammatory diet rich in antioxidants, healthy fats, and vitamins D, B vitamins, and CoQ10 to support egg health.

• Gut Health: Heal gut imbalances to improve nutrient absorption and reduce systemic inflammation that can impair ovarian function.

• Stress Management: Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which disrupts hormonal balance. Mindfulness, breathing exercises, and rest can calm the nervous system.

• Targeted Supplementation: Consider evidence-based supplements like CoQ10, DHEA (under professional guidance), myo-inositol, and omega-3s to support mitochondrial function and egg quality.

• Detox from Environmental Toxins: Minimise exposure to endocrine disruptors like BPA, pesticides, and heavy metals through lifestyle changes and support natural detox pathways.

• Functional Testing: Use advanced testing to identify hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, thyroid dysfunction, and autoimmune markers to tailor your fertility plan.

• Balanced Exercise: Engage in moderate exercise to improve circulation and hormone regulation without over-stressing the body.

• Sleep: Prioritise restorative sleep to support hormonal health and ovarian function.

Combining these strategies in a personalised functional fertility plan can help boost AMH and overall reproductive health.

Functional Fertility Testing to Personalize Your Approach

To support and boost AMH levels naturally, you need to know what’s unique to your body. Standard “normal” lab ranges miss subtle imbalances that affect fertility. That’s why Fab Fertile uses optimal levels and has access to advanced lab testing, including:

• Comprehensive Blood Chemistry: Beyond normal ranges, we test optimal levels of hormones, vitamins, minerals, and metabolic markers for fertility and ovarian health. Access the The Ultimate Guide To Getting Pregnant THIS YEAR: With Your Own Eggs With Low AMH/High FSH (includes all the optimal biomarker values you need to know)

• Adrenal Hormone Testing (DUTCH): Measures cortisol patterns and stress hormones to see how chronic stress is impacting your ovarian reserve. A theme we see with low AMH and high FSH is adrenal dysfunction.

• Micronutrient and Mineral Analysis (including HTMA): Tests for deficiencies or toxicities in minerals and nutrients for egg quality, like zinc, magnesium, and selenium. Learn more about the test here.

• Gut Health and Stool Analysis: Identifies dysbiosis, inflammation, infections, or leaky gut issues that drive systemic inflammation and hormonal imbalance.

• Vaginal Microbiome Testing: Tests vaginal flora to ensure a healthy environment for conception and implantation.  This is especially important to test before IVF transfer or trying to conceive naturally.

• Seminal Analysis (for partners): a seminal microbiome test checks for imbalances that may harm sperm quality and pregnancy outcomes.  This plays a key role in successful IVF treatment and natural conception, and could be a reason for failed embryo implantation or miscarriage.

• Autoimmune and Inflammatory Markers: Includes ANA and other antibodies to uncover immune factors that affect ovarian function and pregnancy success.

By combining all these tests, Fab Fertile creates a fully personalized fertility plan that targets your specific imbalances – whether hormonal, nutritional, microbial, or immune – to maximize your chances of improving AMH and getting pregnant.

This episode is for you if:

• You’ve tried diet/lifestyle changes, and you feel like IVF is the next step
• You’re not sure how to optimize successful IVF
• You feel like something is being missed, but your REI keeps telling you that you’re running out of time
• You’ve already experienced failed IVF, and they want to rush you again to another retrieval and/or transfer (sometimes with the same protocol)
• You feel hesitant to rush back in again without making targeted changes to your health

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TIMESTAMPS - Improve AMH Levels Naturally

5:18 The Fast Track to Improving Reproductive Health and Fertility Naturally

• In a very short period, you can make massive changes to your reproductive health and improve your chances of having your baby.

7:21 Understanding the Cause of Fertility Issues and POI Diagnosis

• Back when I was diagnosed with POI, I would have said my health was great (in reality, it wasn’t)
• Sometimes, we may not know that seemingly unrelated health issues are related to our fertility.
• In conventional medicine, no one stops to look at the underlying causes
• Just because mentally you can still cope doesn't mean your body is coping well.

9:03 Taking a Targeted Functional Fertility Approach with Personalized Testing

• The importance of using personalized recommendations to improve fertility outcomes
• Types of functional testing we recommend
• Building your health team
• You’re the conductor of your healing.

10:30 Impact of Long-Term Hormonal Birth Control on Fertility

• Many times, people are put on the pill for reasons other than birth control
• Some people experience adverse side effects and don’t recognize that the pill is the cause

11:53 Undetected Autoimmune Disease Affecting Fertility and Ovarian Reserve

• For several people chasing symptoms and struggling to conceive, there can be an undetected autoimmune disease
• If you have celiac disease, it’s about more than gluten. There are a lot of cross-reactors.
• There can be underlying inflammation in the body even when there hasn’t been a flare-up

13:42 Food Sensitivities, Inflammation, and Their Role in DOR/POI

• It's figuring out the foods that are triggering inflammation and taking them out for a short time
• You heal the gut, and then you bring most of the foods back in
• If you know there's an issue with a type of food, just stop eating it.

14:55 Gut Infections and Their Direct Impact on Ovarian Function

• Get Pregnant Naturally | Episode 411: Why The Health of Your Gut Impacts Ovarian Function
• The best diet in the world won’t help as it should if you don’t address an underlying gut infection
• Different types of gut infections
• Your gut health is directly related to your ovary health.

16:12 Thyroid Dysfunction and Its Link to Low AMH and Fertility Challenges

• Get Pregnant Naturally
• Episode 345: Why Improving Thyroid Function Is Essential When You Are TTC
• Episode 421: Why Adrenal Insufficiency Can Be A Factor with Low AMH and High FSH
• We always see something going on with the thyroid with low AMH and/or high FSH, diminished ovarian reserve and premature ovarian insufficiency
• Even if you've been told your TSH is normal, you need a full thyroid panel.
• Email me at hello@fabfertile.com to request your free Thyroid Guide
• Thyroid issues are highly correlated with pregnancy loss.

20:28 Chronic Stress Effects on Hormones and Fertility Health

• I know you’re getting stuff done, but how is that affecting your biochemistry?
• We put a lot of pressure on ourselves.
• Functional testing can clue us into chronic stress issues
• How our fertility mindset coaches help our clients work through chronic stress
• Get Pregnant Naturally | Episode 380: HeartMath: A Simple Technique for Managing Stress When TTC
• It’s essential to have someone support you both on the mindset and biochemical sides of things.

23:04 Environmental Toxin Overload and Fertility – How to Detox Safely

• Get Pregnant Naturally | Episode 420: How To Reduce The Risk of Miscarriage and Enhance Fertility By Eliminating Toxins with Rachel Varga
• How to switch to non-toxic substitutes without feeling overwhelmed
• The massive impact of pesticide residue on the foods we eat

25:27 Overexercising and Undereating: The Hidden Fertility Saboteurs

• How cortisol testing can offer essential insights

26:27 Breast Implant Illness as a Possible Cause of Fertility Struggles and Low AMH

• Get Pregnant Naturally | Episode 207: Breast Implant Illness and Why This Matters if You are TTC
• Breast implants can be a factor in the struggle to conceive

27:58 Blood Sugar Dysregulation and Its Impact on Sex Hormones

• Get Pregnant Naturally | Episode 409: What Mood Swings, Sugar Cravings, Poor Sleep and Feeling Hangry Has To Do With Your Fertility
• If you're on a blood sugar rollercoaster, it's impacting your sex hormones.

29:05 Poor Sleep and Its Effect on Reproductive Health

• Get Pregnant Naturally | Episode 404: Proven Sleep Hacks That Optimize Reproductive Health and Banish Poor Sleep For Good
• Many people are relying on sleep aids and struggling to get restful sleep

30:03 Digestive Issues Affecting Nutrient Absorption and Diminished Ovarian Reserve

• It’s normal to eliminate one to three times per day.
• Digestive issues can cause you not to absorb all the nutrients in your food

32:12 Why Focusing on Your Overall Health Has No Downsides for Fertility

33:29 Case Studies: Real-Life Success Stories of Improving Egg Quality Naturally

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How to Get Started With Functional Fertility Support

Book your call here to get your personalized plan and options to help improve pregnancy success either naturally or with IVF treatment. 

Check out our Fab Fertile functional fertility program here and learn how to improve AMH levels naturally.  We work with couples that have low AMH, high FSH, diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency and recurrent pregnancy loss.

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FAQ's

Q: Can AMH levels improve with natural methods?

A. Yes. While AMH is often thought to be static, research and clinical experience show that lifestyle changes, dietary strategies, and functional testing can support ovarian function and improve AMH in some women, especially when inflammation, nutrient deficiencies, or hormonal imbalances are addressed.

Q: How long should I work on improving my AMH before starting IVF?

Give yourself 3 to 6 months to implement targeted changes. This allows time to improve egg quality, regulate hormones, and overall fertility health, which may increase your chances of IVF success. Learn more about how our Fab Fertile Method can help improve pregnancy success with diminished ovarian reserve, premature ovarian insufficiency, and recurrent miscarriage.

Q: What are the key areas to focus on to support AMH naturally?

Focus on the gut, thyroid, adrenal function, nutrient status, and inflammation. Personalized strategies based on functional lab testing (like food sensitivity, GI MAP, HTMA, DUTCH, or full thyroid panels) will help uncover hidden imbalances that may be impacting ovarian reserve.  Learn more about Heather's success story here, with 3 failed IVFs, 2 miscarriages, and getting pregnant with her daughter after following our Fab Fertile Method.

RESOURCES:

Fab Fertile Method - https://fabfertile.com/pages/what-we-do

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Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant This Year If You Have Low AMH/High FSH

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Get Pregnant Naturally | Related Episodes

• Episode 407: The Ultimate Diet For Egg And Sperm Health
• Episode 389: Want to get pregnant this year?

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Eating for your fertility does not have to suck and it is not about deprivation. It’s about eating food that tastes amazing and nourishes your body as you prepare for pregnancy success.

I’m excited to announce that our Spring Fertility Recipe Guide is ready! I worked with a chef/nutrition background to prepare these spring recipes. In this 5-day challenge you’ll learn how food impacts your body while enjoying delicious meals - no you will not be drinking green juice and starving! Start this challenge today with your partner.

Your free guide includes a meal plan, grocery shopping list and everything you need to get started with nourishing foods that improve your chances of pregnancy success.

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