I’m frequently asked how to improve egg quality and has conception all starts with the egg, it’s an important one to get right.
We all know that as women, we are born with all the eggs we will ever have for our reproductive lifetime. We don’t make anymore and as such they are like gold dust and should be treated as such. Unfortunately though, very often we only realise how important are eggs are when we are low on supplies, and perhaps the ones we have left aren’t quite up to scratch.
The condition of our eggs is affected by the environment in which they are in, and by that I mean our body. What we do to our body with regards to our lifestyle, has a direct affect on the health of our eggs.
1. Balance Your Hormones to improve egg quality
A delicate balance of hormones is needed to nourish an egg sufficiently to grow and mature. During our cycle we have a constant battle with these hormones, which often encourage us to eat more sugary foods. Foods high in sugars, up set the delicate hormonal balance by increasing blood sugar levels and potentially disrupting ovulation. If you have PCOS I recommend taking Inositol to help improve egg quality. Taking Inositol to regulate blood sugar and preserve ovarian health.
2. Manage Your Stress
Trying to conceive is often a stressful journey, as is life in general. Recent studies have shown a direct correlation with chronic stress and poor ovarian health. We know that we have to try and manage our stress levels to improve egg quality, because often eliminating stress altogether just isn’t an option. Exercise is a great stress buster, as are relaxation methods. More and more ladies are turning to fertility coaching to learn the techniques needed to effectively manage stress and bring back positivity in to their lives.
3. Remove the Toxins to improve egg quality
Environmental toxins are increasingly being thought of as a major cause of infertility among both women and men. BPA (Bisphenol A) is a chemical found in hard plastics, as a coating for drink bottles and even on paper receipts. Studies have found that BPA affects the health of the egg by dramatically reducing the percentage of eggs that mature. You can find out more about toxins here. By reducing your exposure to toxins you are able to improve egg quality.
4. Lifestyle Matters
Alcohol, cigarettes, binge drinking and drugs have a direct affect on egg health. For optimum egg health, make sure that you maintain a healthy weight and look after your general health so to avoid oxidative stress.
5. Your Eggs are What You Eat
Healthy eggs require a complex balance of nutrients to keep them working at their optimum. Essential fatty acids such as Omega 3 and Vitamins D and B, as well as Zinc are important nutrients that are needed to maintain this adequate balance. Protein from fish, chicken, meat and vegetable sources are crucial for egg health. Foods high in trans fats should be reduced as much as possible as these can adversely affect ovulation.
6. Keep the blood flowing to help improve egg quality
For the eggs to be healthy, it is crucial that the ovaries have a good blood flow. A good blood flow to the ovaries ensures that all the vital nutrients are able to reach the growing eggs. Studies show that acupuncture can increase blood flow to the ovaries. Also although not clinically researched based, a fertility massage which focuses on the uterus would encourage a good blood supply to the ovaries.
7. Don’t be Shy, Ask Your Mum
Genetics plays a large part in ovarian preservation, so ask your mum how old she was when she went through the menopause. You are likely to experience the menopause at the same age. Remember that your fertility will start to diminish a number of years before the menopause actually occurs, so be prepared and know exactly how long you have left.
Book your consultation with fertility nurse Kate Davies to find out how you can optimise egg quality and your fertility
