Does egg quality really decline that much over three years?!

[Seren0119]

Just about to have my sixth egg collection (yes; I am insane).

My fourth cycle I got great eggs (age 36), the fifth cycle a year later my eggs were very fragmented (age 37) and now my fifth cycle my eggs are even worse and not responding well (age 39). It’s not the protocol as this is the best protocol for me.

Does egg quality really deteriorate that rapidly?! Any experiences and/or hope to share?

❤️❤️

[Marisa32]

Unfortunately, it does. It goes down a lot after 35 and around 39/40, it deteriorates pretty rapidly. I wish this was something we all were taught in school at a young age. It doesn't mean you are done and out by the time you hit 42 but it's not easy to hit a good egg. Good luck!

[Seren0119 in reply to Marisa32]

I guess realism hurts 😂

I very much agree with you about more teaching. All they tell us is to not get pregnant! X

[Hidden]

I am afraid like Marisa says it does. We lost 18 months due to covid shutting our clinic and I went from 41 to 43.. and the quality dropped off a cliff x

[Seren0119 in reply to Hidden]

😭 so hard to accept! X

[Hidden]

I think it has to be on a case by case basis?

I read about the importance of good sperm in an article, it was saying usually a women's egg quality makes up for anything lower quality in the sperm....so as women age their eggs are unable to do this...but I am pregnant at 42 with my own eggs thinking that my partners sperm was rated highly so must be the reason?!

Don't lose hope! You are still under 40.

X

[Ell493]

Every woman is different, but yes, it's possible the quality went down that fast.

[AnnieAnnie]

As a few have said, egg quality substantially declines for the average woman after the age of 35. Unfortunately for a few of us, me included, I was in my late 20s when mine were already in decline. My husband has super sperm (literally above average in everything and we get over 80% fertilisation) but that can't make up for my crappy aging eggs. I have moved to doner eggs after 3 cycles with my own. Definitely wish I would have known how bad they were in my early 20s, I would have got on with ttc!

[Ranchu90]

It does deteriorate rapidly but (there is a but) the right protocol can help you to produce quality eggs but not necessary quantity eggs, sometimes this is the case in younger ladies as well. Take care 💕

[alockie]

Unfortunately, it might happen. Now there are no 100% proven methods to improve egg quality but you might consider taking DHEA or having RPR/PRP, or PGS NGS. Hope this helps.

[hoping2021]

Hey for my 6th cycle (I am 38 and started IVF when I was 33) I had 3 months of DHEA, and other vitamins from it "starts with an egg" book. I also switched to long protocol, and we used donor sperm. We got 14 eggs (which compared to cycle 4 and 5 is amazing as we got not that many and zero fertilsation with one of them). Fresh cycle didn't work, but I have 6 in the freezer, so hoping one of those will stick

[LadyM2019]

I think it can vary from cycle to cycle.. I noticed the level of fragmentation increased with increasing follicle stimulation medications. I.e no fragmentation on a dose of 225 at 33 years and 9 months to a bit fragmented at 34 years and 2 months on a dose of 300. My latest cycle was age 36 and my embryos were more fragmented and half died on day 3 and this was on a dose of 450. I did get two blastocysts. All my embryos got to say 5 in previous cycles (although not always frozen).

My wife was prescribed 225 menopur for her first cycle aged 35 and 3 months. She had 4 great looking embryos on day 3 with no fragmentation but only one blastocyst graded 4BC. Second cycle aged 36 exactly on 250 gonal f we got a day 5, 4BB and 4BC then a day 6 4BC. Was never given a day 3 update for that one..

I think that high doses of medications in my case have been no good for my egg quality.. There is a branch of UK clinics that bases it’s whole treatment approach based on focusing on quality over quantity with conservative doses.