It can happen that, despite a good ovarian reserve, some follicles are empty or do not develop normally and that the oocyte does not mature correctly or presents alterations in its DNA; we then speak of poor ovular quality.
Is there a treatment for poor ovulation?
Poor oocyte quality is one of the main factors affecting female fertility. Despite common beliefs to the contrary, there is always a reason behind the deterioration of gamete quality. Note that in pathologies such as PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) or Endometriosis, it can be treated in most cases. However, other circumstances such as age require a different strategy.
Oocyte Quantity vs Oocyte Quality
It is important to be aware that egg quality and quantity do not always go hand in hand. Both conditioning factors should therefore be treated separately.
When talking about quantity, remember that women are born with a finite number of oocytes. Throughout a woman's life and during her fertile years, consumption is inevitable up to menopause. This is known as the ovarian reserve. This reserve, i.e., the quantity, can be measured through analysis of the Anti-Müllerian hormone, along with other analytical tests such as FSH, estradiol or antral follicle count.
However, sometimes, even when there is good ovarian reserve when counted, these follicles are empty or do not develop normally, and the oocyte, which is the cell that must mature in the follicle wall each month until ovulation, does not grow or abnormalities are found in its DNA structure. This is what is referred to as poor egg quality.
Our procedures
for poor egg quality
Depending on the underlying pathology of the patient with poor quality eggs, there are a series of specific procedures that our specialists prescribe. These procedures are applied before starting the stimulation cycle:
This is a proprietary procedure that Dr Crespo pioneered, and the clinic's team has mastered. The focus is on improving oocyte quality, not quantity. It involves creating optimal hormone levels similar to those a woman has between the ages of 18 and 20 in order to obtain quality eggs.
Treatment with androgens is indicated in patients with pathologies such as early ovarian failure. This type of treatment regulates hormone levels to improve ovary functionality and therefore egg quality.
Antioxidant supplements, such as Coenzyme Co10, are vitamin supplements that, combined with other types of therapy, help to improve antral follicles.
There are certain situations such as endomeriosis where patients suffer from an inflammatory process that affects their reproductive systems. Detox, gluten-free or cleansing diets help to reduce inflammatory systems, achieving a hormonal balance that affects egg quality.
Treatments for
ovarian quality
One of the keys to IVF (in vitro fertilization) treatment success for women with poor ovarian quality is the pre-puncture stimulation protocol.
After the goals of improving antral follicles and hormone levels have been achieved, a personalised stimulation protocol is initiated. This is closely tailored to the patient's hormonal response.
Equipo Juana Crespo has as many stimulation protocols as we have people. The major difference is that, starting from a baseline strategy, treatments are customised to the patient's response and findings.
- Start with optimal hormonal values and inflammatory state before beginning stimulation.
- Control and achieve previously established, optimal hormone levels (FSH, estradiol) for the patient through the provision of customised medication
- Select the optimal cycle for puncture. As with natural reproduction, not all menstrual cycles are the same. There are better (in terms of response) and worse cycles. It is important to choose the best cycle to perform the oocyte puncture or retrieval
- Frequent hormonal controls and follicle measurements during the stimulation phase
Revitalize Ovaries is an innovative ovarian rejuvenation treatment where plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) is used to achieve vast improvements in egg quality.
This treatment boosts the transit of the primordial or dormant follicles to the antral follicles, which can in turn be stimulated.
At the time of writing, there are no tests or analyses that reveal whether a woman’s eggs are good or poor quality in advance. Certain pathologies or initial situations are scientifically known to have a direct impact on egg quality, such as endometriosis, chromosomal or genetic alterations, obesity and poor lifestyle habits, or women who have undergone aggressive pharmacological treatments. This doesn’t mean that these pathologies always cause poor quality eggs. However, there is a high probability that they do.
No. The Anti-Müllerian hormone test only provides an idea of a woman’s ovarian reserve when the test is performed. It offers partial information about quantity but not quality.
Yes, you can get pregnant naturally or via assisted reproduction with poor quality eggs.
Generally speaking, infertility or sterility. But this can also cause miscarriages in the first weeks of pregnancy because if the egg is abnormal, it will generate abnormal embryos.
