Introduction
If you are a woman who is trying to conceive, you may have heard that your age can affect your chances of getting pregnant. You may have also heard terms like “egg quantity” and “egg quality”, and wondered what they mean and how they relate to your fertility.
In this blog post, we will explain how age affects your egg quantity and quality, and how these factors influence your ability to conceive naturally or with assisted reproductive technologies (ART). We will also give you some tips on how to preserve and improve your egg quantity and quality, and how to test your ovarian reserve with a simple blood test.
What is Egg Quantity?
Egg quantity, also known as ovarian reserve, refers to the number of eggs that you have in your ovaries. You are born with a fixed number of eggs, which is estimated to be around 1 to 2 million at birth1. However, not all of these eggs are mature or viable. In fact, you lose about 11,000 eggs per month, even before you start menstruating1.
By the time you reach puberty, you have about 300,000 eggs left in your ovaries1. Every month, a group of eggs (called a cohort) starts to grow and develop in small sacs called follicles. Usually, only one egg from this cohort reaches maturity and is released during ovulation, while the rest are reabsorbed by the body. This process is called atresia, and it reduces your egg quantity over time.
By the time you reach menopause, you have less than 1,000 eggs left in your ovaries1. Menopause occurs when your ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle. The average age of menopause is 51, but it can vary from person to person2.
How Does Age Affect Egg Quantity?
Age is the most important factor that affects your egg quantity. As you get older, your egg quantity declines gradually and steadily. This decline is more noticeable after the age of 35, and more rapid after the age of 403.
The reason for this decline is that your ovaries become less responsive to the hormones that stimulate egg growth and development. This means that fewer eggs are recruited and selected for ovulation each month. Additionally, some women may experience premature ovarian aging or failure, which means that their ovaries stop functioning normally before the age of 404.
The decline in egg quantity affects your fertility in two ways. First, it reduces the number of ovulatory cycles that you have in your lifetime. This means that you have fewer opportunities to conceive naturally. Second, it reduces the number of eggs that are available for ART, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF). This means that you may need more cycles of stimulation and retrieval to achieve a successful pregnancy.
What is Egg Quality?
Egg quality, also known as oocyte competence, refers to the health and viability of your eggs. Egg quality determines whether your eggs can be fertilized, implant, and develop into healthy embryos and babies. Egg quality is influenced by several factors, such as genetics, environment, lifestyle, and nutrition.
However, the most important factor that affects your egg quality is age. As you get older, your egg quality declines significantly. This decline is more noticeable after the age of 35, and more rapid after the age of 405.
The reason for this decline is that your eggs accumulate more errors and damage in their DNA over time. These errors and damage can affect the chromosomes, which are the structures that carry your genes. Chromosomes come in pairs, and each egg and sperm should have 23 pairs of chromosomes. However, sometimes, an egg or a sperm may have an extra or a missing chromosome. This is called aneuploidy, and it is the most common cause of miscarriage and birth defects.
The risk of aneuploidy increases with age, because the mechanism that ensures the correct separation of chromosomes during egg division becomes less efficient. This means that more eggs have abnormal numbers of chromosomes, and fewer eggs have normal numbers of chromosomes. This affects your fertility in two ways. First, it reduces the chances of fertilization and implantation, because abnormal eggs are less likely to be compatible with normal sperm. Second, it increases the chances of miscarriage and birth defects, because abnormal embryos are less likely to survive and develop normally.
How to Test Your Egg Quantity and Quality
If you are concerned about your egg quantity and quality, you may want to test your ovarian reserve. Ovarian reserve testing is a way of estimating how many eggs you have left in your ovaries, and how well they respond to hormonal stimulation. Ovarian reserve testing can help you plan your fertility journey, and decide whether you need to pursue ART or other options.
There are several ways to test your ovarian reserve, but the most common and reliable ones are:
- Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) Test: AMH is a hormone that is produced by the cells that surround your developing eggs. AMH levels reflect the number of eggs that are growing in your ovaries, and therefore, your egg quantity. AMH levels do not change significantly throughout your menstrual cycle, so you can take this test at any time. AMH levels decline with age, and lower levels indicate lower egg quantity and lower ovarian response to stimulation.
- Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test: FSH is a hormone that is produced by your pituitary gland, and stimulates your ovaries to produce and release eggs. FSH levels reflect the quality and quantity of your eggs, and how well your ovaries respond to hormonal stimulation. FSH levels change throughout your menstrual cycle, so you need to take this test on day 3 of your cycle (the third day of your period). FSH levels increase with age, and higher levels indicate lower egg quality and quantity, and lower ovarian response to stimulation.
- Antral Follicle Count (AFC) Test: AFC is a measure of the number of small follicles that are visible in your ovaries by ultrasound. AFC reflects the number of eggs that are available for ovulation or retrieval in a given cycle, and therefore, your egg quantity. AFC can be done at any time during your menstrual cycle, but it is usually done on day 3 of your cycle. AFC decreases with age, and lower numbers indicate lower egg quantity and lower ovarian response to stimulation.
These tests can give you an idea of your egg quantity and quality, but they are not definitive or predictive fertility potential. The only way to know for sure if you can get pregnant is to try to conceive naturally or with ART. However, these tests can help you make informed decisions about your fertility options, and whether you need to seek professional help sooner or later.
How to Preserve and Improve Your Egg Quantity and Quality
While you cannot stop or reverse the natural decline in your egg quantity and quality, there are some things you can do to preserve and improve them as much as possible. Here are some tips that can help you and your partner protect and enhance your reproductive health:
- Avoid smoking and alcohol, as they can damage your eggs and sperm, and reduce your fertility. If you need help to quit or reduce these habits, seek professional help, or try alternative methods, such as acupuncture, hypnosis, or meditation.
- Eat a balanced and nutritious diet, rich in antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids, as they can protect your eggs and sperm from oxidative stress and inflammation, and support their development and function. Avoid processed foods, trans fats, added sugars, and artificial sweeteners, as they can affect your hormone balance and ovulation.
- Take a prenatal vitamin that contains folic acid, iron, zinc, selenium, and coenzyme Q10, as they can improve your egg and sperm quality, and prevent neural tube defects in your baby. Folic acid can also prevent aneuploidy by repairing DNA damage in your eggs and sperm.
- Exercise regularly, but moderately. Physical activity can improve your blood flow, metabolism, mood, and energy levels, and help you maintain a healthy weight. However, too much or too intense exercise can disrupt your hormone balance and ovulation, and reduce your fertility.
- Manage your stress levels, as stress can affect your hormone production, ovulation, and implantation. Find healthy ways to cope with stress, such as meditation, breathing exercises, journaling, reading, listening to music, or talking to someone you trust.
- Avoid exposure to environmental toxins, such as pesticides, chemicals, radiation, and heavy metals, as they can affect your egg and sperm quality, and increase the risk of birth defects and miscarriage.
- Get enough sleep, as sleep can affect your hormone levels, immune system, and overall health. Aim for at least seven to eight hours of quality sleep per night, and avoid caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, and blue light before bedtime.
- Consider egg freezing, if you are not ready to conceive now, but want to preserve your fertility for the future. Egg freezing is a process that involves stimulating your ovaries, retrieving your eggs, and storing them in a frozen state until you are ready to use them. Egg freezing can help you preserve your egg quantity and quality at the time of freezing, and increase your chances of getting pregnant later in life.
Conclusion
Age is the most important factor that affects your egg quantity and quality, and therefore, your fertility. As you get older, your egg quantity and quality decline significantly, and this can make it harder to conceive naturally or with ART. However, you can test your ovarian reserve with a simple blood test, and take steps to preserve and improve your egg quantity and quality as much as possible. These steps can help you and your partner optimize your fertility potential, and prepare your body and mind for conception.
We hope you found this blog post informative and engaging. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contract Eileen a fertility coach and expert. We would love to hear from you.
