Can emotional health affect egg numbers and quality?

[Eggfreezing36]

Hi lovely forum,

Does anyone have any views or even info, on how much emotional health can impact egg quality and numbers?

Everytime I have had a call with my consultant throughout my egg freezing processes and have asked for all the info and recommendations he has, he mentions diet, good emotional health and good sleep.

Well, I would be lying if I said I had good emotional health throughout this. I am nearing my third and final egg retrieval but I've had a lot of anger and upset throughout the entire process over the last 6 months, consisting of things such as:

Arguing with a friend of 20 years and the friendship is now over - she had said many offensive and hurtful things so not upset about that but do still stew about it a lot and go over things in my mind, I had a male "friend" that I was involved with (not ideal) who didn't want kids, bail on me as i started my egg freezing journey. We were not getting on as his behaviour had been poor but he just ghosted me completely, known him 2 years, and then nothing...did not respond to my messages either. That was a huge shock and sent me into freefall, I am still quite shocked and upset by the callousness of it.

Several friends have announced pregnancies etc during the last 6 months. I was bridesmaid at my best friends wedding which was lovely but of course really underlines your own situation of being single and egg freezing whilst those around you get married and have children. I am even getting emotional as I write this.

I am focusing on my work and the positives that I am lucky to be able to afford egg freezing, have my own flat which I enjoy etc, but I would say there has been a fair bit of anger, hurt, depressive episodes and stress coursing through my veins.

I do believe there is a link between the emotional and the physical and suppose I am just worrying could my poor emotional state mean the eggs are not as good quality? I will not be able to know my egg quality unless/until I use....as I am egg freezing due to being single and not going the donor route. So I guess just thought I'd look for some reassurance or viewpoints?

[Eloquentia]

I am sorry to hear you are stressed and that everything seems to have piled together. It is really hard to tell what affects egg quality, given all the factors at play. Have you considered fertility reflexology or acupuncture? I went down the reflexology route and found it really relaxing and soothing. Very best of luck with your cycle!

[Lamagarden]

Hello, sorry to hear you’re having such a difficult time, this journey is hard. My consultant once told me that he statistically sees no difference in outcomes with women who have been seriously ill (eg. Cancer) when collecting eggs and others who have been on a wellness retreat for 6 months. It made me feel better in a way as it emphasises the science of fertility rather than the ‘mindset’ aspect. He said, an industry has grown around fertility, separate to the science. I suppose what I’m trying to say is, try not to give yourself a hard time, things are already difficult for you, you’re doing the best you can xx

[Eggfreezing36 in reply to Lamagarden]

That's really interesting!! Thanks it does make me feel better, thank you. I have been worrying the stress, anger and upset cursing through my veins has hampered the eggs

[Skittles11]

MorningMy acupuncture therapist said to me about how women get pregnant in the most distressing of situations such as war zones or domestic violence situations. I think her point was that their eggs were still competent to produce a healthy baby in spite of the terrors they were facing. I totally understand why you are concerned though however there is a lot of evidence to the contrary that poor emotional state does not necessarily mean poor egg quality. Hope that helps xx

[Eggfreezing36 in reply to Skittles11]

Thanks that does make me feel better xx

[MrsOrangejuice]

I had two back to back collections for IVF when I was incredibly stressed and not in a great place for a lot of reasons, and got a good number of eggs. Then this year I wanted to try embryo banking and I was barely working, very relaxed and eating well, and got one egg. The quality has always been great but I think there are so many other factors at play and every month and every cycle can be completely different. If I do another round at some point I will go down the overworked and emotionally unstable route as it worked better for me in the past

[Eggfreezing36 in reply to MrsOrangejuice]

So interesting!!! Lol...ok I will keep up the anger and mood swings, hopefully it will work!

[Lilyofthevaley]

Hi! I am so sorry to hear about your struggle and that you’re having such a hard time

I think I could have written these lines myself, I am also witnessing friends and family members around me having their first/second kid (2023 a baby boom), getting married while I am struggling to freeze a single egg

I have ovarian failure which does not make things easier…

May I ask how many freezing cycles you have done so far and the number of eggs you managed to freeze? And do you have any underlying condition such as low ovarian reserve

it’s not common to have someone writing for egg freezing as most of the ladies on the forum are for IVF

[Eggfreezing36 in reply to Lilyofthevaley]

So sorry to hear re ovarian failure. What is ovarian failure? I have not heard of this.

I have done two egg freezing cycles so far, first one I got 7 eggs and froze 6 mature, second cycle 8 eggs and froze 7. So I have 13 eggs in total frozen. I am nearing my third and final cycle at the end of this month and they have kicked up my stims slightly so hoping I can get at least 20 if not more.

I agree re most doing IVF and not doing single egg freezing, and to be honest that just further adds to the rubbish feelings. Whilst it's not a competition, it at least feels like those doing IVF have the support of a partner and are actively trying, whereas I am just watching time go by with no partner. I am picky and don't find many men are of a standard I want to date..

[Lilyofthevaley in reply to Eggfreezing36]

Ovarian failure is when your ovaries do not produce enough eggs

That is what happens you reach the normal age of menopause. But in some women it can happen in their 20’s or 30´s which causes infertility (premature ovarian failure)

In my case my amh is 0.07 ng/ml so freezing is not even a great option but the RE wants to give it a shot as being single that’s the only option I have

Freezing 6 eggs out of 7 collected is a very good succès ration btw. Usually approximately a third of it are not « freezable ». Quality of your eggs must be good

[Eggfreezing36 in reply to Lilyofthevaley]

I don't know how to compare that AMH to mine as mine was only done in pmol but I think it's a good idea to give it a shot for sure.

Your ovaries must have some eggs, we are born with millions, so it's just about harvesting what you can? If you are at a good clinic have they been able to say how many eggs they feel are realistic? I am sorry to hear of this condition, I am fairly new to all things fertility.

That's interesting to know about the % of mature to non mature as well....I asked my clinic and I can't remember what they said. I would be very surprised if mine were good quality tbh, I drink heavily and until the last few years my diet has been so so! But that would be great if they were, as the way online dating is I cannot see myself having great luck so will be 40 + by the time I am with someone it feels like, or mauybe 50 +!!!

Whilst it would be a lot to get our heads around, I do feel that being with someone you are super happy with as a partner is most important, and if we were to solve that and then use a donor egg, I would obviously be upset at first but perhaps I could come to terms with it. I feel like going through life without ever having that great love and relationship seems less easy to come to terms with xx

[Eggfreezing36 in reply to Lilyofthevaley]

No underlying condition, but I am 37 - 38 in January, and single....so I thought I had to freeze my eggs to try and give myself a back up/insurance, as with no partner it is not looking good. Maybe I won't ever meet someone but if I do meet someone in a few years time, having some eggs could help. My AMH was 5.4 pmol and my clinic said that is not good and shows fertility declining...