If you’re preparing for IVF, one of the most important steps you can take is to improve egg quality for IVF. While it’s common to focus on numbers — the quantity of eggs retrieved or embryos created — research shows that egg quality matters far more than quantity. Many early embryo losses or abnormal embryos happen due to tiny errors during egg development, often linked to oxidative stress inside the eggs.
Understanding Oxidative Stress and Egg Health
Oxidative stress occurs when free radicals in your body overwhelm its natural antioxidant defenses. Over time, this imbalance can damage mitochondria, the tiny energy factories in your eggs that power early embryo development.
When oxidative stress accumulates, it can:
- Reduce egg energy (ATP)
- Interfere with chromosome division
- Increase the risk of abnormal embryos and early miscarriage
Research indicates that higher oxidative stress in the follicular fluid surrounding the egg is associated with more chromosomal errors and abnormal embryos.
Antioxidants: Protecting Your Eggs Naturally
Your body has built-in repair systems, and antioxidants help them function optimally. Certain nutrients directly support mitochondrial health and reduce the likelihood of chromosomal errors in eggs.
Important antioxidants include:
- CoQ10: Enhances mitochondrial energy and protects DNA
- Melatonin: Supports egg maturation and serves as a potent ovarian antioxidant
- NAC (N-acetyl cysteine): Helps detoxify and reduce oxidative stress
- Vitamin C + E: Work synergistically to stabilize cell membranes
By incorporating these nutrients, eggs remain energized, stable, and more likely to develop into healthy embryos.
Lifestyle Strategies to Improve Egg Quality for IVF
Optimizing your egg health isn’t just about supplements — lifestyle choices make a significant difference:
- Support mitochondrial health: Consider CoQ10 (ubiquinol form) supplementation under professional guidance.
- Prioritize sleep: Deep sleep boosts mitochondrial repair; melatonin naturally rises during this stage.
- Eat antioxidant-rich foods: Include berries, colorful vegetables, and omega-3s to combat oxidative stress.
- Reduce oxidative triggers: Limit alcohol, smoking, excess sugar, and exposure to environmental toxins.
- Test and personalize: Collaborate with your fertility or functional medicine provider to tailor a plan to your needs.
Start Preparing Before Your Next IVF Cycle
The best time to focus on improving egg quality for IVF is 8–12 weeks before egg retrieval. By supporting antioxidant levels, mitochondrial function, and overall egg health, you can increase your chances of producing healthy embryos and achieving a successful IVF cycle. Of course, the environment that you transfer that beautiful embryo back into is super important, but that’s for another article!
👉 If you want to find out how you can optimize your upcoming IVF cycle, the Strong Fertility method provides 1:1 step-by-step guidance.
Step 1: Screen, test, and analyze. Understanding health history and current health status is critical for plan design.
Step 2: Curate a plan for hormone and inflammation management using a strategic 10-tier set of tactics backed by science
Step 3: On-going modifications to plan based on transformations achieved, one-on-one mentorship, group support, and accountability
See for yourself, what is being said…
Your next cycle deserves the strongest foundation possible. If you want learn if the Strong Fertility method is right for you, fill in this quick form and I will reach out.
xo Michelle
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