It’s possible that most women will never give the quality of their reproductive eggs much thought. We tend to take many things for granted when we can. But when pregnancy doesn’t happen quickly, easily, or successfully, research into every aspect of the process begins. It’s here that you’ll often stumble upon the topic of egg quality. This post provides a basic introduction to begin to understand what it is, why it matters, and what we can do to contribute to it.
What is egg quality & why does it matter?
Each reproductive cycle for a woman consists of the development and release of an egg. At the start of a new cycle, eggs are recruited to develop. They grow a protective, nourishing follicle around them that produces estrogen. When one egg produces a sufficient amount of this estrogen, the ovary releases the egg from the follicle and it has the opportunity to meet with a sperm, if one happens to be waiting in the fallopian tubes (where most fertilizations occur).
This egg, then, is half of the DNA/genetic material necessary for the creation of a new life. Egg quality refers to the health of this egg. If there’s something abnormal or weakened about the genetic makeup, proper cell division and growth is less likely to be successful, and the odds of pregnancy loss increase.
It’s thought that half of early miscarriages are due to this possibility.1
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Fertile Faith to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.