You might be thinking that How to Improve Egg Quality with Endometriosis? Many women around the world are affected by Endometriosis. It is characterized by the growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterus, leading to infertility and other reproductive health problems. Poor egg quality is one of the biggest challenges that women face who are suffering from Endometriosis which acts as a big hurdle in conceiving. By implementing a few simple steps, you can improve your egg quality, that can increase your chances of becoming pregnant. We will discuss some tips and strategies that can be beneficial in improving your egg quality with Endometriosis.
Understanding Endometriosis and Its Effects on Egg Quality?
About 10-15% womens are affected by Endometriosis. If this seems low, then take a look at the impact in the absolute numbers: In the united states, around 8.7 million women are affected by Endometriosis from the total 58 million females who are between 18 and 44 years of age. According to doctors, one in two women suffering from Endometriosis may have difficulty getting pregnant.
Impact on reproductive health:
Anatomical modifications due to scar tissue formation: Endometriosis leads to the formation of adhesions formation, especially in the pelvic area or the fallopian tubes. These adhesions may block the passage from which the egg moves from the ovary to the fallopian tube. This could prevent fertilization.
Endometriosis and hormonal abnormalities: Research has shown that Endometriosis has a significant impact on the timing of hormonal secretion changes in the timing results in abnormal balance of hormonal secretions which directly affects luteal phase, egg maturation, and ovulation .
Modifications in hormone and cell-mediated function- affect biochemical molecules in these processes. This may lead to alteration in endometrial responsiveness mediated activities of the endometrium. Endometrium plays a very complex role, especially its hormonal and immune functions that provide help in embryo implantation. Numerous studies suggest that these alterations affect endometrial implantation.
Effect on ovarian function:Folliculogenesis can be badly affected when the endometriosis tissue grows in the ovaries. This could lead to a decrease in egg health. Ovarian surgery for the removal of Endometriosis also increases the rate of loss in ovarian reserve.
Increased inflammation: During the periods, the endometriosis tissue bleeds just like the lining in the uterus. This cyclical bleeding is seen by the immune system as an injury. It triggers an inflammation/immune response to heal the “”injury.”” Lower egg quality has been associated with it.
What is the correlation between egg quality and Endometriosis?
Research (1, 2) reveals the high success rates of women who have Endometriosis when the IVF is performed with the donor eggs from a female who doesn’tdoesn’t have Endometriosis. When the IVF is performed on a female without Endometriosis with donor eggs who actually have endometriosis results in Much lower success rates. ““significantly reduced.””
One another study shows lower fertilization and development in the embryos during IVF, which are made from the eggs of females who are suffering from Endometriosis. Research has also revealed that pregnant women who have Endometriosis tend to lose their babies earlier than those without. It is common for the miscarriage to be due to poor egg quality (eggs that are genetically abnormal).
An inflammatory environment for eggs
Endometriosis may provide an inflammatory environment in the reproductive system, which might explain the link between Endometriosis and a decrease in egg quality. Endometriosis has been linked to higher levels of certain inflammatory substances, including macrophages (a type of white blood cell that helps your body eliminate cellular debris and foreign organisms) and cytokines (molecules that can promote inflammation as part of your body’sbody’s immune response).
Endometriosis could be a factor in egg quality decline. Studies have shown that Endometriosis leads to raised levels of certain inflammatory substances, such as the cytokines produced by the macrophages in the immune system.
Experts believe that these inflammatory chemicals promote negative effects on the reproductive system and are considered toxic for the eggs affecting their quality. According to one report, females with Endometriosis show lower pregnancy rates and raised levels of these inflammatory chemicals. Suggesting that defective embryo production is related to toxic exposure, which is due to Endometriosis related. It could explain the low rate of implantation and high rates of spontaneous abortions [miscarriage] early in the pregnancy. Researchers refer to here are “”defective embryos””, which are caused by abnormal eggs.
Endometriomas
Endometriomas occur when cysts form on or in the ovary of women suffering from Endometriosis. Endometriomas are also known by the name of “chocolate cysts” because they contain a dark brown mixture of menstrual waste, endometrial tissue fragments, thickened blood, and other substances. Endometriomas are linked to an increased chance of premature pregnancy loss and lower embryo quality. They may also be one reason for the link between egg quality and Endometriosis.
Hormones like estrogen and progesterone are produced by Ovaries. Both are important for the development of the egg. Endometriomas may cause hormonal imbalances within the ovary that can impact egg development and quality. Endometriosis can also be a cause of egg quality decline, and Endometriosis may affect Endometriosis. Women who are suffering from endometriomas tend to have fewer eggs in their surrounding ovarian tissue.
Decrease Blood flow
The scar tissue which is present in the reproductive systems of women is one another potential causes of Endometriosis. The scar tissue in the reproductive system of a woman with Endometriosis can reduce blood flow and cause ovaries to get less oxygen. Low levels of oxygen ultimately affect the maturation of eggs and lead to immature egg formation that is not mature correctly, which could lead to them being unable to develop to the implant, fertilize, or otherwise develop well.
How to Improve Egg Quality with Endometriosis? The natural way
There is no proven scientific method known that delays the ovarian aging process and improves egg quality.omega-3 fatty acids, which are known for their positive health benefits, may helps in improving egg quality by delaying ovarian aging.
Foods
Adding certain foods and eliminating others from your diet helps you with symptoms and in decreasing the severity of Endometriosis. These foods may help to reduce inflammation, which can make them more welcoming for babies ( Healthline 2016).
Omega-3 Fats
The study has found that Omega-3 fats (found mostly in oily fish, nuts, and seeds) can be used to reduce inflammation, and it also provides protection against Endometriosis.
Consuming a diet that is abundant in omega-3 fatty acids throughout the life results in being fertile later in life, as the study reveals, which is conducted on a mouse model. On the other hand, no promising reproductive success has been achieved in older animals by consuming omega-6 fatty acids [6]. Mega-3 fatty acids can be found in fish, seafood, and soya products, while omega-6 fats are found in oils and vegetable nuts. The study also revealed that mice receiving a high-quality diet rich with omega-3 fatty acids when they were experiencing declining reproductive functions due to age could improve their egg quality, while those who received a low amount of omega-6 fatty acids had very poor egg quality.
If you want to know the ideal ratio between omega-3 and omega-6 fats, then you need a higher ratio of omega-3 as compared to omega-6 ( Healthline 2016). These fats are found in foods like eggs, chicken, turkey, and sunflower oil. You should prioritize foods high in omega-3 fats to achieve that balance.
Antioxidants
Studies have shown that chronic pain related to Endometriosis can be reduced by antioxidant-rich foods and supplements (NCBI 2013).
Two months of supplementation with antioxidants led to a decrease in inflammation, oxidative stress, and chronic pelvic pain. So antioxidant-rich foods may be a great option for improving fertility. (NCBI 2013).
Consider berries as dark berries. You can also eat dark leafy greens like beetroot and spinach, as well as dark chocolate. All of these foods are rich in antioxidants.
Foods with anti-inflammatory properties
Certain specific diets, such as a Mediterranean-style or anti-inflammatory diet, have been proven to reduce the severity and symptoms of Endometriosis. This could be useful for improving fertility (Sage Journals 2018).
This diet consists of vegetables, beans, and legumes, as well as nuts, seeds, seafood, and foods that are packed with omega-3 fatty acids daily. Limiting red meat, sugars, and poultry consumption to a smaller extent.
The Mediterranean diet is a fantastic option for improving fertility as it has been suggested to improve endometriosis-related pain from periods, sexual intercourse, and bowel movements.
Cruciferous vegetables
Broccoli, cabbage, turnips, and kale are all excellent sources of fiber. They have also been proven to lower the estrogen level – which can be so helpful for endometriosis sufferers (NCBI 2016).
These can also help increase fertility by decreasing inflammation and balancing the sex hormones. This is crucial if you want to get pregnant.
Healthy Weight
By doing regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight have been proven to reduce symptoms and possibly aid fertility ( Healthline 2016).
Studies have shown that exercise can improve endometriosis-related symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and quality of life. Exercise has also been found to reduce inflammation, which is a key component of Endometriosis.
Coenzyme 10 (Q10)
Coenzyme Q10 is an energy-promoting agent and a potent antioxidant that is thought to improve egg quality in females [7]. Foods like:
Meat, fish, spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, oranges, strawberries, soybeans, lentils, peanuts, sesame seeds, pistachios, soybean, and canola oil is a good source of Coenzyme Q10, and It is also available in supplement form.
Other ways of improving egg quality
Taking Supplements of Antioxidants
It could be advantageous to take antioxidant supplements in addition to receiving enough of them from food. Antioxidants can aid in preventing free radical damage to the eggs, which can enhance their quality. CoQ10, vitamin E, and N-acetyl-cysteine are some of the most efficient antioxidants for enhancing egg quality. (NAC). You should see your doctor, though, before beginning any new supplements.
The use of acupuncture
The practice of acupuncture, which originated in traditional Chinese medicine, involves putting needles into particular body sites. By increasing the blood flow to the reproductive organs and lowering inflammation, it has been demonstrated to increase fertility. Additionally, studies have shown that acupuncture increases the number and quality of mature eggs produced throughout a cycle, which has been shown to enhance egg quality.
Considering Fertility Treatments
You may want to reconsider fertility treatment if you have been unsuccessful in conceiving for some time. One of the most successful treatments for endometrium is in vitro fertilization. This bypasses damaged ovaries and selects the best eggs to fertilize. There are also egg donations and intrauterine insemination.
Monitoring Your Hormones
Endometriosis sufferers should be aware of their hormone levels. Poor egg quality can be caused by hormonal imbalances. It’sIt’s crucial to monitor them. You can do blood tests and other diagnostic procedures to confirm this.
Conclusion
Improving egg quality with Endometriosis might be difficult, but it is not impossible. A healthy lifestyle, taking antioxidants, trying acupuncture, monitoring your hormones, and following fertility treatment protocols can all help increase your chances of getting pregnant. Your egg quality may improve, and you will be able to achieve your goal of having a child with perseverance and determination.
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