01/12/2021
In the past, a common belief was that the only factor which determines ovarian and egg health was age. Based on new studies, we now know that this may not be true.
There are many factors that can have an impact on the health of the ovaries and eggs including environmental factors, hormones in the diet, and stress, just to name a few.
In addition, having healthy fertility is based on many additional aspects to consider, including:
Proper circulation
A healthy fertility cycle
Balanced hormones
Healthy eggs
Why Is Egg Health Important?
Egg health is one of the cornerstones of healthy fertility. The health of your eggs (ova) can affect whether or not fertilization and implantation will occur as well as the viability of a pregnancy. In the past, it has been thought that we are born with all of the eggs cells we will have for the rest of our lives, hence the reason age can have such an impact on egg health. Egg cells are some of the only cells in the body that do not regenerate… or at least that has been the belief up until now. Recent research has brought up some promising new views on egg production – women may actually produce eggs throughout the reproductive years. Led by Dr. Jonathan Tilly of Massachusetts General Hospital, a group of scientists found stem cells within adult mice and human ovaries that produce new egg cells. (Nature Medicine, 2012).
Regardless of this study’s finding, age still had an impact on the new eggs since the ovaries continued to age, causing the “housing” for the eggs to be less than optimal. Protecting the eggs you currently have as well as encouraging ovarian health through diet, herbs, supplements, and increased circulation to the reproductive system is of the utmost importance.
90 Days: The Cycle of an Egg
Many women who are having trouble getting pregnant have been told by their doctors that their eggs are not healthy, or that their eggs are “old”. The options usually given to these women include using an egg donor, IVF, or adoption. But what most women don’t know is that there are things you can do to help support the health of the ovaries and eggs, but it must be done for at least 90 days to have an impact.
During the cycle of an egg’s journey towards ovulation, there is a window of opportunity, a period of time, when certain factors can affect the health of the eggs that are preparing for ovulation.
The cycle of an egg in preparation for ovulation is around 90 days.
egg cycle
During this 90-day period before an egg reaches full maturation, the eggs are changing and preparing for ovulation. At this time, they are affected by both healthy or unhealthy influences. Contributing factors to egg health are:
Blood Flow
Proper oxygenation
Hormonal Balance
Nutritional intake
Stress