Receiving a diagnosis related to poor egg quality can feel confusing and disheartening.

If you are on a journey to conceive, understanding what this means is the first step toward taking control.

It’s a topic surrounded by complex medical terms, but at its heart, it’s about the health of the cells that are crucial for creating a baby.

This guide is here to provide clear, expert-backed answers.

We will walk through what poor egg quality really means, what causes it, and how it is diagnosed.

Most importantly, we will explore the practical steps and medical treatments available to improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy.

You are not alone in this, and there is a path forward.

What Does “Poor Egg Quality” Actually Mean?

Poor egg quality, or diminished ovarian reserve, refers to the health of a woman’s eggs (oocytes).

An egg is considered “good quality” if it is chromosomally normal (euploid) and has enough energy to fertilise, divide, and develop into a healthy embryo.

Poor quality eggs are often chromosomally abnormal (aneuploid), which is a leading cause of infertility, miscarriage, and failed IVF cycles.

It’s important to separate egg quality from egg quantity. Egg quantity is the number of eggs you have left in your ovaries (your ovarian reserve).

While the two are often linked—as quantity declines with age, so does quality—it is possible to have a good number of eggs, but of poor quality.

Can You Tell If You Have Poor Egg Quality? What Are the Signs?

Unfortunately, there are no outward physical symptoms of poor egg quality. Many women only discover the issue when they have trouble conceiving. The most common sign is a consistent inability to get pregnant, especially after several months of trying.

Other indicators that might point towards an underlying issue with egg health include:

• Recurrent Miscarriages: Aneuploid embryos, resulting from poor quality eggs, are often unable to develop properly, leading to early pregnancy loss.
• Failed IVF Cycles: Poor response to ovarian stimulation, low fertilisation rates, or embryos that stop developing can all be signs.
• Irregular Menstrual Cycles: While not a direct sign, very short or irregular cycles can sometimes be linked to ovarian function issues.

Several factors can impact the health of your eggs. Understanding these can help identify potential areas for improvement.

1. Advanced Maternal Age

Age is the single most significant factor affecting egg quality. A woman is born with all the eggs she will ever have. As you age, these eggs also age, making them more prone to chromosomal errors during cell division. This decline typically becomes more rapid after the age of 35.

2. Genetic Factors

Certain genetic conditions can predispose a person to diminished ovarian reserve or poorer egg quality. Conditions like Fragile X syndrome or specific chromosomal translocations can play a role. Family history, such as your mother experiencing early menopause, can also be an indicator.

3. Medical Conditions and Treatments

Certain health issues and their treatments can harm egg quality.

• Endometriosis: Inflammation from endometriosis can create a toxic environment in the pelvis, potentially damaging eggs.
• PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome): While women with PCOS often have a high egg count, hormonal imbalances can affect egg maturation and quality.
• Autoimmune Diseases: Conditions like lupus or thyroid disorders can cause systemic inflammation that negatively impacts ovarian function.
• Cancer Treatments: Chemotherapy and radiation are known to be toxic to oocytes, often causing a significant decline in both quality and quantity.

4. Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Your lifestyle choices and environment contribute to your overall cellular health, including that of your eggs.

• Smoking: The toxins in cigarettes are known to accelerate egg loss and damage their DNA.
• Excessive Alcohol Consumption: Heavy drinking can affect hormone balance and overall reproductive health.
• Obesity: A high BMI can lead to oxidative stress and hormonal disruptions that impair egg quality.
• Environmental Toxin Exposure: Exposure to pollutants, pesticides, and plastics (like BPA) can act as endocrine disruptors, harming reproductive function.

A fertility specialist uses a combination of tests to assess your ovarian reserve and infer egg quality.

⇒Blood Tests:

• Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH): This hormone is produced by cells in your ovarian follicles. A low AMH level suggests a lower egg count (quantity), which is often correlated with poorer quality.
• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): Measured on day 3 of your menstrual cycle, high FSH levels can indicate that your brain is working harder to stimulate your ovaries, suggesting a declining reserve.
• Estradiol: Also checked on day 3, this hormone level helps interpret the FSH results.

⇒Ultrasound:

• Antral Follicle Count (AFC): A transvaginal ultrasound is used to count the number of small, “resting” follicles in the ovaries. A low AFC points to a diminished ovarian reserve.

It’s crucial to remember that these tests primarily measure egg quantity. Quality is ultimately determined by observing how eggs and embryos perform during an IVF cycle.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) is a procedure where embryos are biopsied to check for chromosomal normality before transfer, giving a direct assessment of quality.

Yes, while you cannot reverse the effects of ageing, you can take steps to support the health of your remaining eggs and create a better environment for their development.

An egg takes about 90 days to mature before it is ovulated, providing a window of opportunity to make positive changes.

⇒Lifestyle Changes to Support Egg Health

1. Adopt a Fertility-Friendly Diet: Focus on a diet rich in antioxidants to combat oxidative stress. Include leafy greens, berries, nuts, and colourful vegetables. Healthy fats from avocados, olive oil, and fish are also beneficial.
2. Take Targeted Supplements: Certain supplements have been shown to support mitochondrial function and egg health. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), particularly in its ubiquinol form, is widely recommended. Others include DHEA (under medical supervision), Myo-inositol, and a high-quality prenatal vitamin.
3. Manage Stress: Chronic stress elevates cortisol levels, which can disrupt the hormones needed for ovulation and egg maturation. Incorporate stress-reducing practices like yoga, meditation, acupuncture, or gentle exercise.
4. Maintain a Healthy Weight: Aim for a BMI within the healthy range. Both being underweight and overweight can negatively affect hormonal balance and egg quality.
5. Avoid Toxins: Quit smoking immediately. Reduce or eliminate alcohol. Choose natural cleaning and beauty products to minimise exposure to endocrine disruptors.

⇒Medical Interventions and IVF Protocols

For those undergoing fertility treatment, a specialist can tailor protocols to optimise for egg quality.

• Minimal Stimulation (Mini-IVF): This approach uses lower doses of medication to focus on retrieving fewer, but potentially higher-quality, eggs.
• Hormone Priming: Using hormones like oestrogen or testosterone before an IVF cycle can sometimes help follicles develop more uniformly.
• Growth Hormone: In some cases, adding Human Growth Hormone (HGH) to an IVF protocol may improve embryo quality and pregnancy outcomes.
• Donor Eggs: For women with severely diminished ovarian reserve or consistently poor egg quality, using donor eggs offers a very high chance of success. This is a deeply personal decision but a powerful option for building a family.

Related Read: How to Improve Egg Quality for IVF Naturally?

• Quality over Quantity: Poor egg quality refers to chromosomal abnormalities in eggs, making it harder to create a healthy embryo.
• Age is the #1 Factor: The primary cause of declining egg quality is advancing maternal age.
• There Are No Obvious Symptoms: Most women discover the issue when they struggle to conceive or experience recurrent miscarriages.
• You Have a 90-Day Window: You can positively influence the health of your eggs through diet, targeted supplements like CoQ10, and stress management in the three months before ovulation.
• Medical Help is Available: Fertility treatments like customised IVF protocols and the option of donor eggs can provide a successful path to parenthood.

Consult Dr. Supriya Puranik, Pune’s leading fertility specialist, for expert solutions to poor egg quality and IVF success.

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• About Author

  Dr. Supriya Puranik

  Gynaecologist & IVF Specialist
  
  MMC -072514 (1993)

Dr. Supriya Puranik, a renowned gynaecologist and infertility expert, leads the IVF & Gynaecology department at Sahyadri Hospitals Momstory in Shivaji Nagar, Pune. She is committed to helping couples overcome infertility challenges.