When trying to conceive or TTC, it’s important to be aware of your egg quality as poor egg quality can lead to issues with conception ranging from implantation failure to miscarriage.
While there is no one indicator of egg quality, there are a few signs to look for that could indicate an issue with egg quality. Having a high follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level is one of the first ways a doctor can tell that there might be a potential egg quality issue. Irregular menstrual cycles or recurrent miscarriage are other signs that issue quality may be a factor in having issues conceiving. Having Low levels of anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) are signs of a lower ovarian reserve, this may be associated with lower egg quality but not necessarily.
Five Ways to Improve Egg Quality While TTC
- Don’t Smoke - This is probably one of the most beneficial things that you can do to help both egg quality and quantity. There have been several studies that show chemicals in cigarettes can mutate the DNA in women’s eggs, which can reduce the ability of these eggs to be fertilized and turn into healthy embryos.
- Take Supplements - some supplements have shown that they may have some benefit on egg quality. While there are a lot of supplements that claim to help with egg quality, it’s important to do your research and connect with your doctor about their recommendations based on your unique situation. For example, CoQ10 and DHEA are two supplements we may recommend to some patients in addition to starting a prenatal. CoQ10 can boost mitochondrial function and antioxidants, thus improving the quality of eggs, while DHEA is linked with potentially producing higher quality eggs and helping reproductive function in patients with advanced maternal age. (It is important to stop taking DHEA once you are pregnant).
- Get Sleep - Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night is crucial for good health, and that goes for fertility health as well. Studies have found that the chances of getting pregnant are reduced by 15% for those who sleep less than 7 hours a night, so it’s important to make sleep a priority.
- Reduce Stress - This is a tricky one! It’s impossible to completely eliminate stress from your life, but reducing stress in small ways that are possible may have an impact on egg quality. A study done by the National Institutes of Health showed that increased levels of stress hormones, such as cortisol, can reduce estradiol production and negatively impact the structure of the cells within the eggs. A great way to reduce stress is to consider joining a yoga or meditation class.
- Freeze Your Eggs - While freezing your eggs doesn’t really “improve” egg quality, it does give you a better chance at having higher quality eggs if you choose to freeze them earlier on. By freezing your eggs, you are preserving them in time, so the egg quality will more than likely be better than if you wait until you are ready to have children at a later date.
When to Visit a Reproductive Endocrinologist
If you are concerned about your egg quality or potential for conceiving, you can meet with a reproductive endocrinologist today. These specialized doctors can answer all of your questions and help you gain a better understanding of your reproductive health.
In addition to better understanding your current health, they can also advise you on your options for optimizing your fertility potential and what treatment options may benefit you when you are ready to start a family.
Here at OC Fertility, our mission is “Growing Families, Together” and we take pride in the state-of-the-art treatment and personalized care we offer each of our patients. If you’re ready to schedule your initial consultation, text or call us at 949-996-9522 today!
Author
Dr. Nidhee Sachdev
Nidhee Sachdev, MD has trained among the most prestigious and diverse medical programs in the country, including fellowship training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the prestigious New York University (NYU) Langone Fertility Center in New York City where she conducted research on preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she earned the academic distinction of chief resident in obstetrics and gynecology, and trained under a top recurrent pregnancy loss expert. Dr. Sachdev is passionate about providing individualized, collaborative patient care. She started her medical career right here in Orange County, earning her Doctor of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine.
