The miracle of life begins with the fusion of egg and sperm. Among millions of sperm, only one sperm enters the fallopian tube to successfully fuse with an egg. To let the magic of life happen, the sperm and egg should be fertile enough to become a zygote. When the egg is not fertile enough to accept the sperm, then fertilisation does not happen.
Women face infertility issues during their reproductive age due to poor egg quality. In this article, let us explore the signs of bad egg quality to help you understand the symptoms, causes, treatment and other things to overcome poor egg quality challenges.
Signs of Poor Egg Quality
You can enhance fertility by doing the right things if you know the warning signs of poor-quality eggs. Look over the following common signs of poor egg quality without fail.
1.) Infertility:
Some couples may face infertility after trying for nearly 12 months. Poor egg quality may also be the reason for this delay and you should ignore this warning sign without getting proper treatment.
2.) Miscarriages:
Embryos cannot be developed fully due to poor egg quality. This increases the likelihood of frequent miscarriages within 5 months of pregnancy.
3.) Unusual Cycles:
Abnormalities in hormones that affect egg quality can lead to heavy or light bleeding, irregular cycles, or periods missed.
4.) Low AMH Levels:
Anti-mullerian hormone, or AMH, is a good predictor of egg stores. Fewer eggs are remaining when the levels are low.
5.) Low Follicle Count:
A reduced ovarian follicle count may reflect a lower-quality egg.
6.) Low oestradiol levels:
This hormone helps mature eggs. Low levels can affect fertility.
7.) Chromosomal Issues:
Chromosome abnormalities may present in poor egg quality that results in genetic disorder.
You can improve your chances of becoming pregnant by visiting a doctor if you notice these symptoms.
Reasons for Poor-Quality Eggs
Women experience difficulty in conceiving due to the bad quality of eggs. Here are some common causes:
1.) Endometriosis:
A condition that influences the quality of eggs by leading to tissue that looks like the lining of the uterus growing outside of it.
2.) Chemotherapy or radiation:
Diseases like cancer and other tumour growths include treatments like chemotherapy or radiation to stop the tumour growth which potentially leads to early menopause in women and compromises egg quality.
3.) Autoimmune diseases:
The body’s own immune system considers its body cells as a foreign antibody and starts to destroy them. When the ovaries are attacked, it directly impacts the number and quality of eggs formed.
4.) Age:
Fertility after the age of 35 reduces normally, leading to an increase in abnormal eggs due to gene changes.
5.) Lifestyle habits:
Unhealthy eating, stress, alcohol, smoking, and excess weight can all disrupt hormone balance, which decreases egg quality.
6.) History of Ovarian Surgery:
The number and quality of eggs can be reduced by previous ovarian surgery.
Knowing these causes can lead to timely intervention.
How to Diagnose Poor Egg Quality?
A variety of tests can be performed to check the quality of eggs and fertility as per your physician’s advice as follows:
Follicle-stimulating hormone is measured through the FSH test, which helps assess ovarian function.
To check your anti-mullerian hormone levels, an AMH test is done to count the remaining eggs in women’s ovaries.
Antral Follicle Count, or AFC, counts the small follicles in the ovaries with the help of ultrasonography.
Ovarian reserve testing is used to tests to measure the availability of eggs.
The level of oestrogen, which is essential for the production of eggs, is assessed through the oestradiol test.
Successful Treatment for Poor Egg Quality
The following are some measures to enhance fertility if testing indicates poor-quality eggs:
Medication:
The invention of fertility drugs in modern fertility treatment helps to enhance the number and quality of eggs produced.
Lifestyle Changes:
Changing regular food and lifestyle habits may increase your chances of pregnancy along with proper medication. The health of eggs can be enhanced by consuming a balanced diet, exercising regularly, abstaining from alcohol and tobacco, and stress management.
IVF with PGT testing:
Egg retrieval and the placement of a healthy embryo inside the uterus are the processes involved in IVF followed by Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT). PGT helps choose the embryos that are free of chromosome problems.
Donor Eggs:
Donor eggs from a healthier and younger woman can improve the chances of a successful pregnancy if the quality of natural eggs is too poor.
Women can make more informed choices regarding their reproductive lives if they know these options.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, if you are a couple struggling with conceiving for nearly one year, it is probably the time to see your healthcare provider sort out the issues in egg quality. If you have been struggling to get pregnant for more than one year months, it is probably time to see a fertility specialist. Our fertility experts can help you on your journey of motherhood as we understand your pain and difficulties in conceiving.
Our skilled professionals with advanced equipment and treatment options, both men and women can have personalised care to resolve the fertility issue. We can support you in achieving positive outcomes using current advanced technologies in fertility treatment. You are not alone in going through tough treatments like IVF and other testing processes.
