Egg quality is a significant part of pregnancy. Without good quality eggs, it becomes difficult to conceive successfully. The egg quality in women plays a vital role in fertility and the ability to have a baby. High quality eggs have higher chances of developing into an embryo, implanting in the uterus, and having a successful pregnancy.
The best way to check egg quality is through a series of tests which an infertility specialist will recommend when they deem it necessary. If you have low egg quality, you may need to depend on a combination of medications and lifestyle changes to improve the quality and increase your chances of conception. This article will touch upon the importance of egg quality, signs that show your egg quality may be down and what you can do to improve it.
In This Article
- Importance of Egg Quality For Women
- Signs of Poor Egg Quality in Women
- How to Improve Egg Quality in Women
- How Long Does it Take to Improve Egg Quality in Women?
- What if Egg Quality Does Not Improve?
- When to Consult a Doctor?
- FAQ’s
Importance of Egg Quality For Women
The egg quality of a woman is important to have a healthy baby. Egg quality plays an important role in a woman’s fertility and her ability to have a healthy baby. It is important to remember that egg quality in women declines in women.
Every woman carries some abnormal eggs and this increases with age. The fertility of a woman depends upon the egg quality. To make a healthy baby healthy DNA is equally important.
Eggs of low or poor quality do not fertilize most of the time. Some eggs may fertilize but can result in genetic disorders in babies or in miscarriages. That is why the success rate of IVF is generally low in older women and it takes many menstrual cycles for ageing women to get pregnant.
Signs of Poor Egg Quality in Women
There are a few signs that can indicate that women have poor egg quality.
1. Low FSH Reserves
Lower reserves of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) are a sign of decreasing egg quality. FSH is a hormone that signals the ovaries to make an egg every cycle. When egg quality decreases it requires more FSH to make sure that the menstrual cycle continues. This increases the FSH in the body and leads to low FSH reserves.
2. Abnormal Estradiol Levels
Estradiol is a hormone responsible for communicating signals from the ovaries to the brain. High levels of this hormone can interfere with the production of FSH and egg quality. Low levels of this hormone can sometimes have a relation to conditions such as PCOD that indicate lower egg quality.
3. Low Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Levels
Egg cells release AMH which stimulates the eggs to mature and develop. High levels of AMH indicate a good egg reserve. Low AMH levels mean that your egg reserve is depleting and you have lower quality eggs which can make conceiving difficult for you.
4. Low Follicle Count
Follicle count is measured by counting the number of follicles between four and nine millimeters in the ovaries. This count is taken as a part of fertility testing between day 3 and day 12 of your period cycle with the help of an ultrasound. A low follicle can indicate low egg quality and egg count.
5. Irregular Period Cycle
Irregular periods or long cycles create issues with ovulation. It happens because the eggs are of poor quality, so they cannot form properly to reach the ovulation stage.
6. Difficulty in Conceiving
If you are finding it difficult to conceive despite multiple attempts and treatments seem to fail, poor egg quality can be one of the reasons.
7. Miscarriages
Multiple miscarriages may indicate poor egg quality. When abnormal eggs implant in the uterus it may lead to miscarriage. There could be various factors for a miscarriage but multiple miscarriages clearly state that there is an issue with egg quality.
8. Abnormal Chromosome Numbers
When an egg with 23 chromosomes is fertilized by sperm which too has 23 chromosomes, they both make 46 chromosomes. If the egg quality is normal, chromosomes will also be normal. If conception occurs with poor-quality eggs, then the chromosomes of an embryo will be abnormal.
9. Chromosomal Disorders
Chromosomal disorders may be another sign of poor egg quality. Poor quality eggs known as aneuploid eggs increase with the increase in the age of women. Eventually, it may lead to chromosomal disorders with abnormal chromosomes in babies born.
How to Improve Egg Quality in Women?
Fortunately, there are a few ways in which you can try and improve your egg quality. A few ways are listed below.
1. Improve Blood Circulation
Blood flow should be rich in oxygen for healthy eggs. Stay hydrated. Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day. Include exercise and yoga in your everyday routine to improve blood flow.
2. Quit Your Addiction
Smoking and drinking cause infertility in women. The chemicals in smoke and drinks can make the DNA unsuitable for conception leading to the loss of eggs in ovaries. Say no to smoking and drinking and improve your egg quality.
3. Manage Stress Levels
Today’s life is busy and stressful. Amidst this, you have to find time for happiness. Stress can interfere with hormone production, which, in turn, can affect egg quality. A healthy lifestyle and routine, exercising, practicing yoga, and taking massages will help to relax and de-stress. Also, spending some quality time with your family will help to manage stress.
4. Eat Healthy
Eating a healthy diet will ensure that eggs stay healthy. Nutrient-rich food helps in supporting fertility. Avoid processed food and should avoid saturated fat and excessive salt and sugar. What you include in your diet plays an integral part in improving your fertility and overall health.
5. Start Fertility Supplements
Certain fertility supplements are specifically formulated to improve egg quality. Your gynecologist or fertility specialist will be able to guide you with these medications. It is very important to take these supplements under strict monitoring of your doctor.
6. Maintain a Healthy Weight
Obesity can result in lowered egg quality due to the hormones that come into play. Sometimes overweight can also be due to underlying hormonal disturbances or issues with the reproductive system. Maintaining a healthy weight can regulate hormones and help improve egg quality to some extent.
If you are overweight and struggling to conceive, it may be a good idea to see a gynecologist or a fertility specialist.
How Long Does it Take to Improve Egg Quality in Women?
It can take anywhere between 2 to 4 months for your egg quality to improve. This window is important to remember if you are trying to conceive. It also takes three months for eggs to mature and get ready to be released during ovulation
Fertility specialists recommend acupuncture, supplements, diet and lifestyle changes, etc. 3-4 months before you try to conceive. For better, you can start with diet and lifestyle changes and holistic healing practices as early as 6 months before you plan to have a baby.
You should start any fertility supplements at least 3 to 4 months before planning to conceive after getting due checkups and a go-ahead from your doctor.
What if Egg Quality Does Not Improve?
Sometimes, despite your best efforts your egg quality may not improve. There may be many reasons for this. Poor egg quality may reduce your chances of having a healthy pregnancy and baby.
Eggs with low quality may fertilize but the embryo is unable to implant. Even if it initially implants, it does not develop properly. This can lead to multiple miscarriages. Women who are older are more likely to face this but younger women too can have bad-quality eggs.
Your fertility specialist is the best person to guide you on the next steps for planning for pregnancy in case your egg quality does not improve.
When to Consult a Doctor?
If you are above 35 years and trying to conceive, then you should visit a fertility specialist. You may also need to consult a specialist if you have been trying for a year without breaks and do not seem to be able to fall pregnant.
Women are born with a fixed egg pool. The quantity and quality of eggs reduce with advancing age. Thus, a fertility specialist can guide you accordingly.
Sometimes even before 35 years, it is difficult to conceive. If you are facing the same issue, you should see a fertility specialist who will check your egg reserve, and your partner’s sperm quality and guide you accordingly.
There are various reasons for poor egg quality in females and ways to improve egg quality. Taking specialists’ help will help in conceiving successfully. Age is an important factor in determining egg quality in women. Though with age the quality decreases, it can happen in younger women as well. Always ensure that you maintain a healthy lifestyle and follow holistic health practices to improve your chances of conception.
FAQ’s
1. Can Folic Acid Improve Egg Quality?
Yes, folic acid can improve egg quality. Folic acid supplementation helps in improving the chances of pregnancy by providing an improved environment for developing eggs and reducing the risk of infertility. It helps in improving egg quality and maturation and increases the chances of implantation.
2. At What Age is Egg Quality Best?
A Woman in her mid-20s has high-quality eggs. This is the most fertile period in her life. The chances of pregnancy are the highest at this age.
