New research has made significant strides in understanding fertility preservation options for women diagnosed with cancer. As female patients of reproductive age face a limited timeframe to store their eggs and embryos before starting treatment, a team led by Hillary Klonoff-Cohen at the Cancer Center at Illinois (CCIL) has identified Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) levels as a potential predictor of success in fertility treatments.
The urgency around fertility preservation (FP) is profound. Before undergoing chemotherapy, women often have only a short window to make decisions about preserving their ability to have children. Current medical practices have not been able to accurately determine which patients will achieve successful pregnancies following treatment. This study, co-authored by Mounika Polavarapu from the University of Toledo and Neha Ramachandran from the Mayo Clinic, aims to address this gap.
The research highlights that baseline AMH levels between 2.1 and 2.8 ng/ml correlate with live birth rates of 35-42%. By examining AMH levels before, during, and after chemotherapy, the team aimed to predict which patients might deliver healthy babies after cancer treatment. “The goal of this study was to find out if we could identify certain substances in the blood of young women with cancer that might help predict their chances of having a healthy baby after cancer treatment,” said Klonoff-Cohen.
Despite the promising findings, the research faced challenges. The variability in follow-up intervals among cancer survivors complicated the assessment of long-term reproductive outcomes, with timeframes extending from one to 36 months post-chemotherapy. Moreover, the limited availability of data in this emerging field limited the scope of the analysis, as few studies currently provide a comprehensive foundation for AMH research.
The implications of this research are substantial for patient quality of life. Beyond surviving cancer, many women aim to fulfill their desire to start a family after treatment. Natural conception after chemotherapy offers a chance for pregnancy, but success rates vary, with only 40-60% of women achieving this outcome.
Looking ahead, Klonoff-Cohen emphasized the importance of further studies to identify optimal AMH levels in relation to variables such as age, cancer type, and treatment regimens. “It will be essential to standardize AMH measurement techniques, coordinate timing of assessments, focus on similar cancer types, and separate natural and assisted reproductive outcomes,” she noted.
The research received funding support from the University of Illinois College of Applied Health Sciences, led by Dean Gallagher and Dean Hanley-Maxwell, recognizing the importance of advancing knowledge in this critical area.
Hillary Klonoff-Cohen, Professor Emerita of Applied Health Sciences, is dedicated to integrating various aspects of health research. Her work spans over two decades, focusing on women’s health, cancer epidemiology, and the implications of lifestyle factors on reproductive outcomes.
The findings are detailed in the paper titled “Anti-Mullerian Hormone and conception timing as predictors of live births in cancer patients using fertility preservation: a systematic review,” published online in March 2025. The study can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2025.1683794.
For further inquiries, Hillary Klonoff-Cohen can be contacted at [email protected].
