How to Improve Egg Quality

Egg quality typically refers to the health of the eggs in the ovaries of a person assigned female at birth (AFAB).  Many things can affect the quality of a person’s eggs including lifestyle choices, mental health, genetic predisposition as well as diet, exercise, age and medical history. 

Let us dive into the ways you can use nutritional and lifestyle changes to enhance the quality of your eggs, as well as point out some health insights leading to higher fertility outcomes.

Age 

One of the biggest concerns and a crucial factor affecting reproduction for AFAB individuals is age. Age has a direct impact on the quantity as well as the quality of eggs, especially as a.person gets older. There is no fixed age by which this decline is observed, but in general, it begins from the age of 35. 

Research shows that more and more women are becoming pregnant later in life, and this is largely due to the high success rates of assisted reproductive technologies, which have allowed AFAB persons to conceive past 35 years of age.

How to Improve Your Egg Quality

Since there is no way to turn back time, let us look into some of the factors that affect the health of a potential parent’s eggs. We shall focus on good nutritional and healthy lifestyle choices.

Avoid Cigarettes

It is known that cigarettes have a negative impact on someone’s health, and this is of particular concern when one is trying to conceive. For example women who smoke during fertility treatments have a 50 percent lower success rate of implantation than those who do not. Meaning that those who do not smoke have a 50 percent higher chance of becoming pregnant. 

Products that contain nicotine also have a negative impact on the quantity and quality of eggs. Clinicians are urged to discourage prospective mothers from using tobacco and nicotine related products related of they want favorable results

Manage Your Stress

Stress can have a negative impact on anyone’s health, including those wanting to become pregnant. Different factors contribute to the stress of those wishing to become parents, such as the financial and logistical aspects associated with bringing a child into the world.

A 2022 study found that psycho-emotional stress has a negative impact on the development of eggs as well as the health of embryos grown from those eggs. Counselling and stress reduction techniques are recommended to turn the likelihood of conception toward a positive trajectory.

Have A Healthy Diet

A nutritious diet plays a crucial part in women’s reproductive health. It is also the least invasive way to improve the health of eggs and overall fertility if one is trying to become pregnant. 

Polyunsaturated fats, fiber, folate, and starch in diets, have been linked to positive success rates of pregnancy. Diets with high levels of trans saturated fats and highly processed foods, on the other hand, have been associated with negative pregnancy rates, and poor ovarian health in general. 

When you want to become pregnant, a good place to begin in ensuring you have a nutritious and healthy diet is the Mediterranean diet, especially if you are undergoing fertility treatments.

Take Supplements

All the nutrients required by your body should ideally be gotten from a healthy diet. When you are trying to conceive, it may  benefit you to increase your vitamin intake by including supplements.Make sure that you consult with a professional healthcare provider before you make dietary changes or add nutritional supplements to your diet.

Synthesized compounds such as Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) have been found to be helpful in improving the pregnancy rates in women who had not responded well to ovarian stimulation in previous IVF cycles.  Vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids and myo-inositol were other compounds that had a positive impact on embryological development.

Exercise

Exercise has always been beneficial in improving and managing a wide variety of health-related issues such as stress, mental health disorders, and weight management. It also improves the likelihood of conception in women with obesity or polycystic ovarian syndrome. 

However, exercise must be moderated to avoid the lack of ovulation that is linked to intense exercise routines. Generally, exercise routines should also be evaluated with the guidance of a healthcare professional, before choosing an appropriate course forward.

In Conclusion

The health of your eggs can be improved, and healthier eggs have higher chances of fertilization, leading to healthy pregnancies. Without the assistance of a healthcare professional, becoming pregnant can sometimes be challenging. 

Contact Us

If you have been trying to conceive for longer than six months without success, consider consulting a healthcare professional to assess your fertility.

Reproductive Partners Medical Group offers a wide range of reproductive services in locations across the country. With our support, it is possible to determine which form of fertility treatment is best suited to you.