FAQ: Should You Use Medications to Improve Egg Quality?
Do you find yourself wondering what medications increase egg quality? Do you wonder if there is one right for you to help with your egg quality?
There are a lot of fertility medications out there and it can be difficult to keep them all straight that’s for sure!
Well today I’m here for you to help you figure out if you should be using medications to improve your egg quality. Are there medications out there that are right for you?
Let’s dive in and figure this out!
What is PCOS?
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is one of the number one top causes of female infertility. If you have infertility and no one has checked you for PCOS, talk to someone right away. PCOS typically shows up as ovulation issues, often irregular cycles or long cycles (ie: you don’t have a period in a few months or a year or two). This is typically caused by too much testosterone or elevated insulin. Because there are different types of PCOS, it doesn’t respond well to a one-size-fits-all approach, make sure you work with someone who provides individualized care.
What is Infertility?
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) defines infertility as not being able to get pregnant within one year of having unprotected sex. And for those who are over the age of 35, not getting pregnant after six months of trying.
Alright, so what is egg quality in the first place?
Egg quality refers to the ability of the egg to have the correct number of chromosomes. This is important because if the egg doesn’t have the correct number of chromosomes, then it won’t be able to survive. If the egg isn’t able to survive, then the egg isn’t able to connect with the sperm, implant and make a baby.
So when focusing on your fertility with PCOS, first it’s important to be sure that you are ovulating. The second step is to be sure that your eggs are of good quality so that when you do ovulate, you are able to make a baby.
To get even more definitive info on egg quality and how it impacts PCOS fertility, jump on over here.
So now that you know what egg quality means, let’s answer your question about whether or not you need a medication to do help your eggs out.
Should you use medications to improve egg quality?
Here’s the honest answer for you: there are no medications that affect egg quality directly.
Wow, a bit anti-climactic? Not really the answer you were expecting?
Yes, I get it! Don’t worry, there are answers to help improve egg quality but let’s talk just a bit more about these fertility medications first.
Metformin is the closest medication to help with egg quality. It used to be the number one go-to med for PCOS fertility. The medical world is moving away from using it so commonly, but it’s still important if you have insulin-resistant PCOS.
Why metformin is so useful with insulin-resistance because it helps with just that. It’s a medication that helps balance blood sugar and reduce insulin-resistance. It was actually developed as a diabetes medication first and then it started being used for PCOS.
Regardless of if you’re using metformin or a natural way to lower insulin and balance blood sugar, what you are doing has a cascade affect for your egg quality and fertility. Lowering insulin levels then creates a happier environment for your eggs so they can develop properly.
So yes, metformin is helping with egg quality but in an indirect way.
But this will only be helpful for you if you have blood sugar issues. In fact, do you know your PCOS-type (or types)? There are four types of PCOS and insulin-resistance is one of them.
Finding out your type of PCOS helps you get the most effective fertility plan in place. Why? Because it cuts through the fluff and ensures that you get an individualized fertility plan for your specific picture. Need help figuring out your PCOS type? Book a complimentary 1:1 call with me here and I’ll help you out.
Okay, so now you know that metformin can be helpful with egg quality in an indirect way by improving insulin-resistance.
What about ovulation-induction medications like clomid or letrozole? Do they also help with egg quality?
Great question!
These two meds basically force your ovary to ovulate and release an egg. But they are not really affecting egg quality. What they are doing is causing hormones that signal your ovary to release an egg to rise so high that your body basically doesn’t have any other choice but to release an egg.
Getting an egg to release is certainly a good thing when it comes to fertility. But we also know it’s not the final answer because if it were, no one would need more than one round of those ovulation-medications, right?
That’s why you want to be supporting both your egg quality and ovulation.
Yup, this lady knows how important that last sentence was! Read it again if you missed it: that’s why you want to be supporting both your egg quality and ovulation.
Because of the process of egg development, you really need to be supporting your body in the three months leading up to ovulation to help with optimal egg quality. Although, I will say that there are some nutrients that have been found to boost egg quality in just a handful of days.
Are you getting bummed out that medications don’t help with egg quality? Don’t be! We aren’t done talking yet.
When it comes to your egg quality, there are other answers than just medications. If improving egg quality is your jam (and if you’re struggling with PCOS and infertility - it should be!) then turn to some other tools.
Supplements really shine when it comes to improving egg quality. And of course you can use food to support your egg quality too but a lot of the research is looking at specific levels of these nutrients in supplement form.
Because we are talking about medications and egg quality, you may be wondering what the big difference is between a medication and a supplement.
Well medications are regulated by the FDA, they are either only available by prescription or sometimes can be bought over-the-counter. Supplements, on the other hand, are typically always over-the-counter. They are usually nutrient-based which means you find common nutrients in them like vitamin C, zinc, iron, etc.
So supplements help by providing your body with specific levels of nutrients. When you are enhancing your body’s level of certain nutrients you’re doing something really important for your eggs.
You are providing your follicular fluid with the healthiest environment you can that is filled with all these juicy nutrients. Antioxidants like CoQ10 and alpha-lipoic-acid, for example, are really important. What you are doing is helping give your eggs exactly what they need in order to divide those chromosomes.
The result?
Happy eggs that are hoping to procreate for you.
Pretty exciting stuff, right?
Alright, so in conclusion - should you use medications to improve egg quality? Potentially metformin if you have insulin resistance. But in general, no! There aren’t any medications that specifically target egg quality so start putting your eggs in a different basket (ha!).
But seriously, egg quality is really important for fertility. Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked. Many fertility clinics jump straight to ovulation-induction medications to hyper-stimulate your ovaries without first helping you improve your egg quality.
If your doctor isn’t helping you improve egg quality, that could be a big mistake. Don’t let this be the one thing standing between you and getting pregnant! If you don’t know where to start in helping improve your egg quality, I’ve got your back. Book a complimentary 1:1 session with me here and I’ll help you get answers.
To find out more about improving egg quality (including specific nutrients that have been positively studied to help improve egg quality) head over and read these helpful articles:
