The poor quality of a woman’s eggs are frequently the cause of an unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle – especially when the patient is at an advanced maternal age.
The quality of a woman’s eggs are the most important factor in fertility treatment success.
Egg Quality
High quality eggs are necessary for a woman to produce high quality embryos that will implant within her uterine lining. Embryos must be strong in order to survive the early stages of development.
Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is the most common cause of infertility for women over 30. The result of poor egg quality results in a woman having difficulty conceiving without medical treatment.
Testing for DOR and the Quality of Eggs
Because fewer eggs remain in your ovaries as you age, your fertility does decline over time. There are blood tests available to determine your ovarian reserve which can reflect your age-related fertility potential.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol levels are tested for in your blood between the 2nd and 4th day of your menstrual cycle. An elevated FSH level could be indicative that your chances for pregnancy may be low.
Anti-mullerian hormome (AMH) levels may also be tested for in your blood – along with FSH – as a means of determining your ovarian reserve. A low AMH level could be indicative of decreased DOR.
A high FSH level does not mean that you have no chance of conceiving.
Likewise, a low AMH level does not conclude that you cannot conceive.
A transvaginal ultrasound can be performed to determine your ovarian reserve and arrive at an antral follicle count (AFC). This is when each follicle in both ovaries are counted by your doctor during the first 4 days of your menstrual period.
Egg Quality and Fertility Treatment Success
Kofinas Fertility Institute’s physicians and embryologists specialize in defining and measuring a patient’s egg quality and determining DOR. Kofinas’ system involves state of the art developments in technological tools and treatment options that successfully cultivate high-quality embryos for patients suffering from low quality eggs who are seeking to become pregnant.
Dr. George Kofinas has been selected by New York magazine as one of the best doctors in the tri-state area for 17 of the past 17 years. Dr. Kofinas is a pioneer in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) and specializes in determining how a patient’s egg quality will affect her fertility treatment success.
To receive the answers to the questions you have about your egg quality and how it may be having an effect on your fertility treatment success, please contact Kofinas Fertility Institute.