Poor Egg Quality and IVF

Women are born with all the eggs they’ll ever have, and the average woman has about two million eggs at birth. However, when you reach puberty, you have about 400,000 eggs. By the time you reach age 25, your fertility rate starts to fall as the drop in egg count ramps up. Around age 40, you’ll have 25,000 eggs at the most. 

Egg count is a huge indicator of fertility, but it’s not the only factor. The quality of your eggs also plays a part. As you age, the quantity and quality of your eggs go down, increasing your risk of not being able to conceive or carry a child to term. 

For some women, this drop in quality egg count happens earlier than usual, a condition known as diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). While DOR can make it difficult to get pregnant using your eggs, it’s far from impossible. 

At the Center for Human Reproduction located on the Upper East Side of New York, New York, infertility specialists Norbert Gleicher, MD, FACOG, FACS, and David Barad, MD, MS, FACOG, lead our team in helping women with DOR get pregnant with their eggs through in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Understanding DOR

Aging will naturally cause your ovarian reserve to diminish; however, when you have DOR,  that low egg count happens much earlier than it should. You may not even realize you have DOR because it doesn’t present with any symptoms other than having difficulty getting pregnant. 

To determine if you have DOR, you’ll need to undergo different rounds of testing. Blood tests look at hormone levels that correspond to fertility, and an ultrasound can look at your ovaries to determine their volume and follicle count.

While it isn’t always known what causes DOR, some common factors that can trigger an early drop in egg count include:

• Endometriosis
• Cancer treatments like radiation or chemotherapy 
• Autoimmune conditions
• Genetic disorders such as fragile X syndrome 

Smoking and tobacco usage could also cause your egg count to drop prematurely. 

Why IVF is the best course of action for DOR

Unfortunately, there’s currently no way to reverse DOR. So if you’re having difficulty getting pregnant, it’s best to seek fertility treatment sooner rather than later.

In many cases of DOR, fertility clinics suggest using donor eggs to have a successful pregnancy. While donor eggs are certainly an option, we believe IVF gives you the best chance at conceiving with your eggs. Even though intrauterine insemination (IUI) is a more affordable alternative, it’s often unsuccessful for women with DOR and can waste precious time. 

When you undergo IVF, you’re given medication that stimulates your ovaries. Depending on your hormone levels, we can superstimulate your ovaries and even administer a dose of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA can supply your ovaries with a youthful environment rich in androgens. We’ve been using this technique for over a decade with incredibly effective results. 

Learn more about your fertility treatment options

If you suspect that DOR is inhibiting your ability to get pregnant, don’t delay in seeking infertility care from our Center for Human Reproduction team. We want you to feel heard and thoroughly discuss all your treatment options.

Schedule a consultation by calling our office or using our convenient online booking tool today.