Human Female Eggs
(Improving the quality of human female eggs)
What is a human female eggs?
Ovum, plural ova, in human physiology, single cell released from either of the female reproductive organs, the ovaries, which is capable of developing into a new organism when fertilized (united) with a sperm cell.
How big is a human egg?
The human egg, or ovum, is one of the largest cells in the human body. That said, it is still very small and measures approximately 0.12 mm in diameter. You would need 9 eggs to reach a millimetre in length, and if you laid 100 of them side by side they would sit on a line just 12 mm (1.2cm) long.
How are eggs produced?
Eggs are produced in the ovaries, which are normally situated towards the back of a woman’s abdomen below the kidneys. The eggs develop from tiny cells inside the ovaries, going through various stages of development – known as oogenesis – until they are released once a month during ovulation. Usually each ovary takes turns releasing eggs every month; however, if one ovary is absent or dysfunctional then the other ovary continues to provide eggs to be released.
How many eggs are there in an ovary?
A woman is born with approximately 500,000 potential eggs, or follicles, in each ovary. From birth onwards she will not produce any more; in fact the number of eggs will steadily decline over her lifetime and be absorbed back into the body in a process known as atresia.
By the time a woman reaches puberty, the million original follicles will have reduced to roughly 300,000; they will continue to decline right through until the menopause. With each menstrual cycle a dominant follicle will recruit a potentially mature egg, which is then released into the fallopian tube during ovulation.
Given an average span of 40 years between puberty and menopause, with one egg being released per month, only 400-500 eggs in total will actually be released. By the time a woman reaches the menopause, few or no follicles remain. Any that do are unlikely to mature and become viable eggs because of the hormonal changes that happen during this time.
About 1% of women will experience premature menopause (or premature ovarian failure), meaning that they will run out of eggs well before the normal age of menopause, sometimes when they are still teenagers. This is one of the reasons why otherwise healthy women need egg donation.
How does an egg develop?
At the beginning of each menstrual cycle, a group of 10-20 primary follicles begin to develop under the influence of Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH). By around Day 9 of the cycle, only one healthy follicle normally remains, with the rest having degenerated. On approximately Day 14 of the cycle, a surge of Luteinising Hormone (LH) occurs, which causes the mature follicle to ovulate approximately 24 – 36 hours later.
What is egg quality?
Egg quality means how capable an egg is of being fertilised and going through the developmental stages to form a viable embryo. This is largely determined by two factors: the number of chromosomes present within the egg, and the energy supply of the egg. As both of these factors tend to reduce over time, age is one of the biggest factors affecting egg quality in a woman, with the quality gradually declining as she gets older. This is the main reason that egg donors need to be below 35 years – the age when the egg quality begins to reduce. Other factors that affect egg quality are lifestyle issues such as smoking, drinking, drugs (medical or otherwise) and general health.
How to improve the quality of human eggs for pregnancy?
There are mainly 6 steps to improve the quality of human eggs for pregnancy.
1. Improve your blood flow: Oxygen-rich blood flow to the ovaries is essential for the health of the eggs. Blood flow can be improved by making sure that you stay hydrated with at least 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day. Exercise also increases blood flow, as a healthy heart will help to provide optimal circulation everywhere in your body. Massage therapy and yoga can also help to improve blood flow.
2. Eat a healthy diet: Improving your overall health will also ensure that your eggs stay healthy and what you eat and drink plays a big part in this. Studies show that nutrient-rich foods such as fruit and vegetables, fish and grains can help to support your fertility. (1) As well as making sure your diet contains healthy foods, you need to avoid processed foods, saturated fats and excessive sugar and salt and ideally minimise your alcohol consumption.
3. Incorporate fertility supplements: Many fertility supplements contain strong antioxidants which can actually damage the quality of your eggs. When choosing supplements, look for research-based supplements, clinically proven with strong evidence to support claims and superior ingredients which will be easily absorbed and processed by the body. Impryl enables your body to maintain its natural metabolic balance and is clinically proven to increase your chance to get pregnant, making it the perfect female fertility supplement.
4. Stop smoking: Studies have shown that smoking causes problems with fertility and leads to lowered fertility in the future. One of the reasons is that the chemicals in cigarettes can mutate the DNA in a woman’s eggs (making them unsuitable for conception) and speed up egg loss in the ovaries.
5. Maintain a healthy weight: A BMI of 25 to 29.9 means you’re overweight, and a BMI of 30 or above means you’re very overweight, or obese. Being overweight has been linked to decreased egg quality due to increased oxidative stress and alterations of mitochondrial function. You can lose weight through diet and exercise and this will not only increase your chances of getting pregnant but also avoid any problems associated with being overweight in pregnancy.
6. De-stress: Stress can produce hormones like prolactin and cortisol which can affect egg quality and egg production. Happiness and engaging in meaningful activities like making quality time for your family and friends can be really powerful in boosting your overall health. There are also activities which reduce stress such as meditation, yoga or spending time with pets or other animals. It is also important to prioritise time to relax, by taking naps, resting or scheduling-in long, warm baths. Treatments like aromatherapy and massage can also help you to de-stress.
The importance of egg quality
When fertility is being discussed, the amount of eggs a woman has left is often prioritised, and while this is indeed part of the equation, female fertility is also dictated by egg quality. The decline in egg quality is a natural part of a woman’s aging. Although a woman is born with all her eggs, older eggs are more prone to containing abnormal DNA. Without healthy DNA an egg can’t make a healthy baby.
All women have some percentage of abnormal eggs and this percentage increases with age. Most poor quality eggs don’t fertilise at all. A smaller number fertilise but lead to miscarriage and a smaller percentage still fertilise but lead to genetic disorders for the baby. This is why it can take many more menstrual cycles for an older woman to get pregnant and why IVF success rates are lower as a woman’s age increases.
Fertility testing such as checking anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, is an indicator of how many eggs you have left, but there is currently no test for egg quality.
Basic Understanding Of The Female Egg And Ovary
First, females eggs are located in the ovary. Women have two ovaries that sit on either side of the uterus, and they are about the size of an almond. A woman’s ovaries can each have different sizes and shapes! Ovaries produce and shelter the eggs, or ova, and are the source of female reproductive hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Inside the ovary structure are follicles that hold the immature egg. During a menstrual cycle, hormones cause some follicles to grow and mature an egg within. Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a follicle-stimulating hormone that signals the ovary to release one egg, the most healthy one. When LH surges, the mature egg is released from the follicle. The release of an egg from the ovary is called ovulation. Many women track ovulation by using ovulation prediction test kits that measure luteinizing hormone surges to plan pregnancy.
Facts About Human Eggs
Did you know that the female egg is the only human cell you can see with the naked eye? The human egg size has a diameter of 100 microns, which is comparable to the width of a strand of hair. Women are born with the total amount of eggs they will have in their lifetime. This number can be around 20 million before birth as a fetus and 2 million at the time of birth. The female egg, once released, has a very short lifespan of only 12-24 hours. As you age, the quality of your ova can decrease because of changes to DNA during the division process.
Female Egg Quality and Quantity
Egg quality is measured by the number of eggs available in a woman’s ovaries. The quality and number of available eggs can determine fertility. When eggs are higher quality, the chances of it implanting inside the uterus and developing into an embryo are much higher. As technology stands today, the best indicators of egg quality are a woman’s age, hormone testing, and actually “counting the eggs” using transvaginal ultrasound. If you are curious about your egg quality and fertility, schedule an appointment at Cool Springs OB GYN to have medical testing.
Age: As women age, their eggs can develop chromosomal abnormalities that can cause embryos to fail to implant, cause miscarriage, or cause chromosomal disorders, like Down syndrome. By age 35, around 50% of a women’s eggs will still be chromosomally normal.
Estradiol (E2) Testing: Estradiol is a form of estrogen, and it is how the ovaries communicate with the brain. E2 levels should rise with the monthly cycle. Early high levels can mean the ovaries are responding too early causing egg quality to be decreased.
AMH Testing: AMH is a hormone produced by the follicles in the ovaries. Having a normal range of this hormone in the blood can mean eggs are healthy. Too little can mean premature aging, and too much could indicate a hormone disorder like PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome).
FSH Testing: FSH stands for follicle-stimulating hormone, and this one is released by the pituitary gland in the brand. This hormone prepares eggs for maturity and aids in ovulation. FSH levels fluctuate during a cycle, but levels that fall outside the norm could indicate PCOS or a diminished ovarian reserve.
Counting Eggs: Using transvaginal ultrasound, doctors can assess follicle count. This test takes place before ovulation, and the number of enlarged follicles that could mature an egg are counted. More follicles mean you should have a higher egg quantity available.
Can You Improve Egg Quality and Fertility?
If you are looking to improve your egg quality to aid in fertility, many tips revolve around improving your overall health. Exercising, reducing stress, improving your sleep patterns, and getting proper nutrition can all improve egg health. Some women opt to try supplements to improve their fertility.
Improve Your Egg Quality With Lifestyle Changes
Don’t smoke: The chemicals in cigarettes are known to mutate the DNA in egg cells. When this happens, the eggs can become unsuitable for conception or the risk for birth defects may increase.
Try not to stress: Stress can hinder or altogether halt egg production. When you get stressed, your body releases cortisol making it much harder to get pregnant. Look for ways to reduce stress like yoga, meditation, or even consider a career change.
Eat healthy food: If you are healthy, so are your eggs. Stay away from fast food and highly processed foods. Instead, opt for greens, lean meats, vegetables, and fruit.
Maintain a healthy weight: This can go both ways. If you are overweight, you may have reduced fertility due to increased oxidative stress and altered mitochondrial function. If you are underweight, you may have hormone imbalances that affect ovulation and can reduce your chance of getting pregnant. A healthy body mass index (BMI) is between 18.5 and 24.9. Calculate your BMI.
Get active. Improving your blood flow will help oxygen-rich blood flow to your ovaries, keeping the egg cells healthy.
Improve Your Egg Quality with Supplements
CoQ10: This supports energy transport in cell membranes and is an antioxidant. Older women can experience a breakdown in energy production in egg cells.
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone): A hormone that can increase follicular stimulation. DHEA production declines with age and can help women with Decreased Ovarian Reserve (DOR) or Premature Ovarian Failure (POF).
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L-Arginine: An amino acid that can increase circulation to the uterus and ovaries. This aids with the quality of maturing eggs and can improve the chances of implantation.
Myo-Inositol: This can help improve glucose metabolism and can improve fertility rates in women with PCOS. Inositol has been shown to restore normal ovulation patterns.
Melatonin: Melatonin has antioxidant traits which will improve egg quality. One study found that pregnancy rates in those with unexplained infertility were 30% higher in those taking melatonin.
EPA/DHA Fish Oil: Fish oil can help regulate hormones, increase blood flow to the uterus, reduce sensitivity to the hormone prolactin, and increase egg white cervical mucus.
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