GUIDES
Egg Quality
Egg quality is one of most indicator of fertility. The state of an egg, whether it is genetically normal or abnormal, defines what we refer to as "egg quality."
AMH levels decline with age
As you get older, more eggs in your ovaries tend to carry genetic abnormalities.
The eggs in your ovaries start as immature "primordial" eggs and go through cell division as they mature and get ready for ovulation. As women age, these eggs can start forming DNA errors during ‘meiosis’ (or cell division), making them genetically abnormal.
When an egg's DNA is damaged, it can't be medically repaired —its quality stays the same. Eggs are either genetically "normal" (euploid) or "abnormal”(aneuploid), and as women age, more eggs tend to become abnormal.
Since DNA functions as a cell's instruction manual, any DNA damage can hinder the egg's ability to develop into a healthy baby.
Egg quality deteriorates with age
There is not a single test that can test the quality of eggs being produced.
The only way to determine if an egg is genetically normal is through fertilization attempts, followed by genetic testing of resulting embryos. However, because DNA damage is common in older eggs, a woman's age can provide a reasonable estimate of the proportion of her eggs likely to be genetically normal.
Unlike the diversity in egg count, age consistently impacts egg quality: in their 20s, women mostly have normal eggs with a few abnormalities, while by their 40s, they tend to have mostly abnormal eggs, regardless of their lifestyle.
Normal AMH levels might mean more successful outcomes for IVF and egg freezing.
Low AMH levels might shorten the reproductive window.
Fertility and egg quality are related
Women's ovaries are naturally designed to allow only one egg to grow, mature, and be released (ovulated) per cycle, usually occurring monthly. This single egg presents the opportunity for pregnancy in that specific cycle.
The ovulated egg might be either normal or abnormal. If it's normal, it increases the chances of a healthy pregnancy. However, abnormal eggs typically don't fertilize or implant well. In rare cases they do, it can lead to miscarriage or genetic disorders such as Down syndrome.
The difference in egg quality between a 25-year-old and a 40-year-old lies in the likelihood of the ovulated egg being normal. As women approach their late 30s and 40s, a higher proportion of their eggs become abnormal, increasing the probability of their monthly egg being abnormal. This natural decline in fertility with age explains why infertility, miscarriage, and genetic disorders are more common in women over 35.
Age is the driving factor of a healthy pregnancy
Research findings indicate a significant decline in success rates for women using their own eggs of the same age in in vitro fertilization (IVF), as depicted in the chart below. Conversely, participants utilizing donor eggs from younger women consistently achieved a 51% pregnancy rate across all age brackets.
This underscores a crucial reality: the age of the egg strongly influences its quality and, consequently, the likelihood of a successful pregnancy. While there are certain risks linked to carrying a pregnancy at "advanced maternal age," such as a slightly elevated risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia, the key factor for a healthy pregnancy remains a young and healthy egg.
Egg freezing proves effective as it enables women to safeguard their youthful, healthy eggs, thus preserving their egg quality for potential future use as their own egg donors.
Test your AMH to understand Ovarian Reserve.
How can you test your AMH levels?
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When you take our test, you'll receive:
Physician-reviewed reports based on your results
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