A common option is through blood tests that look for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and anti-müllerian hormone (AMH). FSH and estradiol are usually checked at the beginning of a woman's menstrual cycle between days one and five, while AMH can be checked at any point during the cycle.
In fact, poor quality of eggs makes one of the most prevalent reasons for female infertility. At the same time, it does not mean that the road has ended. It is still possible for a woman with poor egg quality to get pregnant and stay pregnant.
Poor egg quality is caused by diminished ovarian reserve and is one of the most common causes of infertility, especially in women over 35. Egg quality is important because it determines embryo quality. Poor egg quality is closely associated with chromosomal abnormalities in embryos, also known as aneuploidy.
While there really is no single treatment to improve egg quality, you still have options. “One could move to donor eggs, or eggs from another female, as another treatment for very poor egg quality,” says Baratz, “but that would be after multiple times of treating a woman with her own eggs if all else failed.”
If you are looking to improve your egg quality to aid in fertility, many tips revolve around improving your overall health. Exercising, reducing stress, improving your sleep patterns, and getting proper nutrition can all improve egg health. Some women opt to try supplements to improve their fertility.
Impatience is understandable and many people are looking for ways to improve egg quality in 30 days or less. However, it's important to understand that results can take some time: the window for improving egg quality is two to four months before ovulation.
Folic acid supplementation has been shown to improve the environment for the developing egg and is associated with improved chances of pregnancy and reduced risk of ovulatory infertility.
Egg quality and quantity also decline in a woman's 30s and 40s. While the total number of eggs cannot be increased, research has shown that egg quality can be improved. Supplements containing Myo-inositol, folic acid and melatonin have been shown to help improve egg quality and ovarian function.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is another antioxidant powerhouse that can increase egg quality. In a human trial, supplementation with CoQ10 led to higher fertilization rate and more high-quality embryos. CoQ10 also has increased the number of ovarian follicles and improved ovulation.
-Take a glass bowl or jar filled with water. -Then dip the egg into the water. If the egg is placed at the bottom of the glass width wise, then the egg is absolutely fresh and fit to eat. -In case the eggs are stale or a bit old, it will be placed at the bottom on one end of the glass.
The AMH Test
The level of AMH in a woman's blood helps doctors estimate the number of follicles in her ovaries; the more follicles a woman has, the more eggs she can release, and the better her chances of pregnancy.
Many women who carry excess weight still ovulate, but it appears the quality of the eggs they produce is reduced. The evidence for this is that among women who ovulate, each unit of BMI above 29 reduces the chance of achieving a pregnancy within 12 months by about 4%.
A woman's peak reproductive years are between the late teens and late 20s. By age 30, fertility (the ability to get pregnant) starts to decline. This decline becomes more rapid once you reach your mid-30s. By 45, fertility has declined so much that getting pregnant naturally is unlikely for most women.
Dehydration can lead to low sperm count as well as decreased egg health, so it's not just important for you to stay hydrated, but for your partner or donor as well. Hydration also plays a role in the hormonal regulation that's key to fertility, and in the production of cervical fluid.
Women are most fertile and have the best chance of getting pregnant in their 20s. This is the time when you have the highest number of good quality eggs available and your pregnancy risks are lowest.
Eggs take 3 – 4 months to mature, but even a month of supplements, acupuncture, diet, and lifestyle can improve egg quality, especially when you are preparing for an IVF cycle. Of course, the more time you have, the more your eggs will benefit.
The increased level of stress hormone such as cortisol reduces estradiol production possibly by affecting the granulosa cell functions within the follicle, which results deterioration in oocyte quality.
Most fertility specialists recommend taking anywhere between 100mg and 600mg of CoQ10 daily. As with all nutrients or supplements, be sure to consult with your doctor, especially if you are taking medications, have health concerns, or are already pregnant.
Hormone testing to assess egg quality
Three simple blood tests can check hormone levels and reveal more information about egg quality. These tests may also help diagnose infertility in a younger woman, who ordinarily would not be experiencing diminished ovarian reserve or poor quality: Basal FSH.