There are so many important factors when it comes to fertility – and egg quality is certainly one of them. Many people put so much pressure on their egg count as a sign of fertility, but what we need to understand is that it is only part of the fertility equation – and egg quality is another one.
Importance of egg quality for fertility
You have probably heard the term ‘ovarian reserve’ – and whilst you might think that it’s just about the number of eggs you have, it also refers to the quality of those you have left. When we are born, we have our lifetime supply of eggs in our ovaries. Of these eggs, a small percentage are abnormal – or of poor quality. This is totally normal but, just as the number of eggs we have decreases with age, the chances of them being poor quality increases.
Egg quality is important for a few different reasons. Firstly, poor quality eggs do not normally fertilise – which can be one of the reasons couples find it difficult to conceive. Of those eggs that do, which usually is a very small number, some will not be able to implant properly and this can lead to miscarriage. For the small percentage that do successfully lead to a pregnancy, there are concerns of genetic disorders that could potentially develop in the baby.
Can you test for egg quality?
The annoying news is there is currently no way to genetically test for the quality of an egg. All your eggs consist of only a single cell and cannot be tested safely without risking damage to the egg in question. However, once the egg is fertilised, you can perform a test on the embryo to check for signs of a genetic disorder.
Whilst you can’t test the quality of your eggs – quantity is easier to determine. Measuring anti-Mülleruan hormone levels can tell you how many of your little eggs you have left in your ovaries. There are also other hormones such as FSH and estradiol levels that can elude to egg quantity measure.
How to improve egg quality
Whilst it may be frustrating that you can’t test for egg quality, there are plenty of things you can do to help improve it.
Diet
As with all sides of fertility, a healthy nutritious diet can go a long way to improving your chances – and your egg quality, You wat to make sure you are eating lots of leafy greens, such as spinach, cabbage and broccoli. They are high in folate, iron, manganese, calcium, and Vitamins A, B, C and E – all nutrients essential for strengthening and maintaining the health of your eggs.
Dried fruits and nuts are also a great addition to your fertility diet plan. They are a brilliant source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Brazil nuts especially are high in selenium, which is a mineral that reduces the risk of chromosomal damage in eggs. It is also an antioxidant that keeps free radicals at bay and allows better egg production.
A vitamin-rich diet and sustainable exercise routine will also help you maintain a healthy BMI. Having a BMI over 25 has been linked to a decrease in overall egg quality. This happens if there is increased oxidative stress and alterations to the function of the mitochondria. You also don’t want your BMI to be too low, as this can bring along its own fertility complications.
Lifestyle
Smoking has never got a good reputation, and we know why. It is full of horrible ingredients that clog our lungs and have greater spillover effects on the rest of the body. These spillover effects include egg quality. Studies have revealed that smoking causes problems not only with current fertility but can lead to a lowering in future fertility issues. The harmful ingredients and chemicals found in cigarettes can mutate and change the DNA in women’s eggs while also speeding up egg loss in the ovaries. The general rule of thumb: Smoking is not a friend to fertility. Nicotine is toxic to eggs. Try and quit if you can.
In a year when everyone has been feeling the emotional strain, stress has been kind of unavoidable. But stress does not only give us headaches and acid reflux, but it also produces hormones like prolactin and cortisol which have been linked to the effect of egg quality and egg production. Reducing stress and making time for self-care can boost your overall health and in return your eggs. We all have our individual ways to relax and unwind so make sure you do those little things that bring you joy and prioritise some time in your jam-packed schedule to unwind.
Supplements
There are so many fertility supplements on the market – so it’s crucial you do your research and find the best ones for you. It is important to look for supplements that have been backed up by research and clinically proven to help you and your eggs. Antioxidants have a great reputation for fertility as they have been proven to help with free radical damage to the body caused by stress and environmental toxins. Vitamin A and D are some antioxidants you can take. Other supplements that are great for fertility are folic acid, and women are recommended to take folic acid as soon as they start planning to conceive.
Assisted fertility options for poor egg quality
Egg freezing – or Cryopreservation – is one of the only assisted fertility options that exists to maintain egg quality. When the eggs are harvested and cryopreserved, they do not undergo the damage that they would normally in your body when you age. Your eggs are essentially frozen in time and keep their current quality so you have healthy eggs for the future. There are many factors that can speed up declining quality of eggs in women such as age, lifestyle factors or predisposing fertility issues. If you know you have any of these or are not planning to have a family till later in life, cryopreservation is a good shout for you and something to think about.
IVF can also be helpful if you have poor egg quality. Your embryos can undergo preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) to check for abnormalities – which increases your likelihood of a successful pregnancy because only a healthy embryo will be put back in.
If you are looking for more information on egg quality, assisted fertility treatments and lifestyle factors that can impact your overall fertility Join the Parla community today!
