Ways to Maintain Healthy Eggs

Women hardly think about infertility or it’s signs until they are ready to conceive. A lot of people go about their life thinking it’s easy to get pregnant, but sadly, that is not always the case. In fact, 1 out of every 8 couples in the world is dealing with infertility or it’s signs, some of which are unexplained. Maintaining a proper diet, avoiding cigarettes, and staying away from alcohol does increase your chances of becoming pregnant. Additionally, there is another important factor we usually don’t consider – the egg health. Here we bring the detail discussion about the factors that affect egg quality. Our doctors and infertility specialists at Orange county also give you insight into how you can maintain egg health and fertility.

Egg Health

The definition of egg health is “the condition of eggs that a woman’s ovaries produce ”. The health of a woman’s eggs plays a crucial role in her ability to get pregnant. In recognition of this, the National Institute of Health launched the Female Health and Egg Quality Initiative back in 2002.

This initiative aims to address the growing concern that poor egg quality is the cause of fertility health problems. This is said to be due to the lack of mitochondria which is needful for an egg to form an embryo. Fertility doctors cannot say for sure the actual cause of the problems due to poor egg health. Also, top researchers believe that our environment and lifestyle choices may harm female fertility. As per studies, unexplained infertility problems and signs of poor egg quality also has a link to an increase in chronic diseases like diabetes, asthma, and hypertension. Fortunately, if you have any health issues, visiting a reputable fertility clinic for a check-up can help you evaluate your situation.

What is your Egg IQ?

Do you know that a female egg is the same size as a grain of sand. Also, it is actually visible to an unaided eye? That means it’s 16 times bigger than a male sperm! Women are naturally born with all the eggs they are ever going to have. The estimated number is about 1 million. Out of these 1 million eggs, about 300 to 500 eggs will mature during a woman’s lifetime. Research has shown that female eggs are very selective. This means that they tend to prefer healthy sperm with intact DNA and permits only such sperm to fertilize them.

Women have a 10 percent chance of having a multiple ovulation, which is the release of more than one mature egg in a cycle. This implies that a woman releases an average of two eggs per menstrual cycle. Yes, these are some key facts to help kick start your egg IQ. However, it is essential to know that every choice you make will significantly affect the quality of eggs produced by your body. The selection of your eggs occur roughly 150 days before the ovaries release them. After this, they start the maturation process.

Ways to Boost & Maintain Egg Health

Avoid exposure to environmental toxins

According to studies, exposure to toxins significantly reduces fertility and can result in unexplained infertility. Toxic chemicals are present in almost everywhere in the environment, including water, air, and food supply. Getting exposed to these chemicals once in a while is not very concerning. However, exposing yourself to them for an extended period of time can be fatal. 

So, stay away from potentially harmful substances like phthalates and parabens to maintain your egg health. These substances can be found in plastic bags and cosmetics. Additionally, it would be best if you avoided PCBs, which are present in coolants and flame retardants. Researchers have associated these toxins with cancer and the inability to become pregnant (infertility signs).

Avoid trans fats

A lot of people don’t know that trans fats can lower fertility by up to 70%. Therefore, Our infertility doctors at Orange County recommend that women who are trying to get pregnant avoid trans fats. Trans fats are usually listed as vegetable fat on the food labels. Go for healthy fats like avocados and coconut oils instead of trans fats.

Reduce estrogen derived from animals 

A whopping 60 to 70% of consumed estrogen comes from dairy products. Oxytocin, progesterone, growth hormones, somatostatin, prolactin, and melatonin are few examples of hormones you can find in cow’s milk. Consuming too much of these hormones can disrupt your hormonal balance. Studies have associated excessive consumption of cow’s milk with male infertility signs. The best way to enhance your chances of getting pregnant is to switch to a fertility promoting diet.

Avoid common allergens

If you want to reduce your dairy intake, you may also want to stay away from gluten. It is the other most common food intolerance. Research indicates that women with food prejudices have a higher risk of having a miscarriage due to a hyperactive immune system. The reason is that their body is more likely to destroy its own cells. In this case, body sees the sperm and embryos as foreign bodies. Thus, a hyperactive immune system will start to destroy them. Our Infertility Doctors from Orange County advise that you go for a food sensitivity test to ascertain whether you are gluten and dairy intolerant.

Make sure you are taking vitamins 

You need to make sure your body is getting all the necessary nutrients to support and maintain the health of your eggs and the womb lining. A top-grade prenatal vitamin containing high levels of folate and CoQ10 Ubiquinol can significantly improve egg quality and fertilization rates. 

What else can you do to support & maintain egg health?

Studies have not shown that stress causes infertility and it is still unexplained. Although, keeping a positive mindset can help support to maintain your egg health. Yoga, acupressure, meditation, and fertility massage can boost your fertility health.

Meditation enables you to have some “me” time. It is believed to allow the body to make good use of its energy. Moreover, it focuses on healing the body wherever needed. Note that meditation is not easy to do and will require some practice. 

Acupressure can also help maintain & improve egg health. It is a process where the fertility specialists apply gentle pressure on specific points on your body. When correctly done, acupressure can help balance and support your organ systems. It can also improve the flow of blood to the ovaries and balance your hormones. This procedure may even stimulate an energetic surge that will restore the quality of your eggs, keeping them 100% healthy. Fertility massage or fertility yoga can also be beneficial. Yoga aids oxygenation of the blood and enhances circulation. Whereas, a fertility massage helps increase the flow of blood to the reproductive system. 

Conclusion

All in all, there are several factors that may affect each woman’s egg health. Some of These are in our control, whereas some aren’t. It is important to remember that making the necessary lifestyle changes is essential when trying to get pregnant. Carrying out stress reducers mentioned above can help you maintain healthy eggs and actualize your dream of having a baby. If you have any other questions related to your fertility health, any unexplained infertility, or becoming pregnant, please feel free to reach out to Coastal Fertility Medical Center. Contact us at (949) 726-0600 or visit us at coastalfertility.com to schedule a consultation with our Infertility Doctors in Orange County.