Poor quality eggs
Poor oocyte quality always has an origin
Poor oocyte quality is one of the main factors affecting female fertility. Despite the mistaken belief, there is always a reason that explains the deterioration of the quality of the gametes. It should be noted that in pathologies such as PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) or Endometriosis, it is treatable in most cases. However, there are other circumstances, such as age, that require a different strategy.
The aging of the egg is a determining factor in egg quality, since age makes fertilization difficult and/or causes repeated miscarriages. In these cases, our specialist focuses on defining and selecting the best cycles to perform the oocyte extraction. In addition, it is essential to propose a stimulation strategy that leads us to obtain the best oocyte.
Oocyte Quantity vs Quality
It is important to know that the quality and quantity of eggs do not always go hand in hand. Therefore, we must treat both factors independently.
If we talk about quantity, we must know that women are born with a finite number of oocytes. Throughout a woman’s life and during her fertile stage, consumption is inexorable until menopause, which is what we know as ovarian reserve. This reserve, and therefore the quantity, is measurable through the analysis of the anti-Müllerian hormone, together with other analyses such as FSH, estradiol or the antral follicle count.
However, it may happen that, even with a good ovarian reserve at the time of the count, these follicles may grow empty or 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 has some abnormality in its DNA structure. We are then talking about poor oocyte quality.