Feminism 'co-opted' to market non-evidence-based women's health interventions like AMH 'egg timer' tests, researchers argue

By Jessica Black

At 38, Carla Loughnane was told she had so few eggs she was near menopause and didn't need birth control.

Within six months, she was pregnant. Her twin girls were not yet two years old.

This "miracle" baby was a joy, but made her doubt years of medical advice and interventions — including 10 rounds of IVF — all based on a hormone test.

The anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) test gives an indication of how many eggs a woman has left, but experts say it cannot measure fertility.

Still, Mrs Loughnane's specialist told her it was a "very clear guide" to whether she could conceive when she came to him after a miscarriage in 2011.

"I remember very vividly sitting there with my husband next to me and the specialist saying, 'Your AMH is under five and this is quite dire. There's no way you'll be able to get pregnant naturally again,'" she said.

"[He said], 'You should seriously consider IVF. I've prepared a booklet here for you, and we can do the first egg pick-up in a month's time.'"

Mrs Loughnane was 34 at the time.