Improving Egg quality to boost fertility
Acupuncture, Nutrition, and Herbal Medicine for Egg Health and Fertility
Egg quality is a crucial factor when it comes to fertility, and many women struggle with this issue. Yet, improving egg quality isn’t often talked about and women are seldom given instructions from their doctor about how they can do this to increase their fertility and chances of conception. If you’ve been told your egg quality is low- there are natural ways to improve egg quality and boost fertility, including acupuncture, herbal medicine, and nutrition.
Research Shows Acupuncture Can Boost Egg Quality
Studies have shown that acupuncture can be an effective way to improve egg quality. One study published in the Journal of Integrative Medicine found that acupuncture improved ovarian reserve and follicle quality in women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF). Another study published in the Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism showed that acupuncture increased blood flow to the ovaries, which can help improve egg quality.
How Acupuncture Boosts Fertility and Improves Egg Quality
Acupuncture works by promoting blood flow, rewiring the nervous system, and decreasing inflammation, which can help balance hormones and improve egg quality and fertility. With several months of treatment (ideally at least 3-6 months), you can expect to see a reduction in symptoms, regular cycles, and healthy ovulation, which results in increased chances of conception and a healthy pregnancy.
If you're interested in trying acupuncture to improve your egg health and fertility, look for a qualified practitioner who specializes in fertility acupuncture. In Longmont, Colorado, Root & Bloom Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine offers acupuncture for fertility and reproductive health.
Helpful Supplements:
In addition to acupuncture, there are also several supplements that can improve egg health and boost fertility. These include:
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10): CoQ10 is an antioxidant that can help protect the eggs from damage and improve mitochondrial function. This can lead to better egg quality and increased fertility.
Omega-3 fatty acids: Omega-3s are essential for hormone balance and can help improve egg quality. They can also reduce inflammation, which can interfere with fertility.
Vitamin D: Vitamin D plays a crucial role in fertility and can improve egg quality. Many women are deficient in vitamin D, so it's important to get your levels checked and supplement if necessary.
Myo-inositol: Myo-inositol is a type of sugar that can help improve insulin sensitivity and regulate hormones. It has been shown to improve egg quality and ovarian function in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Royal Jelly- In Chinese medicine, royal jelly is a known fertility food and medicine. It’s loaded with nutrients and a small study with rats found that it can increase ovarian levels and follicular development.
Pre-natal Vitamins- Your prenatal might already include omegas, Vitamin D, and COQ-10, but also contains important vitamins and nutrients such as zinc and b-vitamins beneficial for egg quality.
Herbal Medicine For Egg Quality:
Customized herbal medicine is also highly effective for increasing fertility and boosting egg quality. If your egg quality is poor due to inflammation from endometriosis, herbs can address this. If your egg quality is poor due to lack of blood flow-herbal medicine taken daily in conjunction with acupuncture can also be very beneficial as a form of continued treatment at home. Here in Longmont, we specialize in custom herbal formulas for our fertility patients. Sometimes poor gut health can be a contributor- in which case herbal medicine can also help address this.
Lifestyle Suggestions to Boost Egg Quality:
Prioritizing Good Sleep- This means getting a solid 8 hours of sleep and going to bed before 11pm. Avoiding blue light right before bed and sleeping in a cool room will also help improve your sleep quality. If you absolutely must be on a device, try blue light blocking glasses, or the f.lux app to decrease your blue light exposure.
Avoiding Smoking- Smoking (anything) decreases egg quality. Smoking increases inflammation and a known factor of premature ovarian insufficiency.Please avoid smoking to protect your cellular health and boost your egg quality!
Get Morning Sunlight- Morning sunlight helps to regulate your hormones and further improve your sleep quality so that your body’s repair mechanisms are functioning at a high level.
Increase your in-take of antioxidants- this includes fresh organic berries (when possible) and brightly colored veggies. Naturally sweet fruits are great and goji berries in particular are high in antioxidants and also a known food that helps to boost fertility in Chinese medicine.
Exercise and Sweat regularly- the key here is to exercise and sweat to help your body detox, but not to exercise excessively. Doing too much HIIT can actually decrease our fertility by raising stress hormones, especially if we aren’t fueling our body enough nutrients or we’re exercising at the wrong times- such as in our menstrual phase or right before our period.
Reduce Caffeine and Alcohol- Don’t shoot the messenger, but high caffeine intake and alcohol decrease our fertility. Alcohol in particular adds a ton of inflammation and extra work for our liver to process. High caffeine also stresses our adrenals which can weaken our chances of conceiving.
Get Regular Acupuncture- I wish I could do a magic trick and only give you ONE acupuncture session to improve your fertility. But, this simply isn’t how it works. It’s not magic, it’s medicine and regular acupuncture for a minimum of 3-4 months is needed to improve egg quality. You won’t regret it- you’ll get an hour on a heated table to relax and practically float out of my office! :)
If you're considering trying acupuncture, supplements, or herbal medicine to improve your egg health, it's important to work with a qualified practitioner who can recommend the right supplements and dosages for your individual needs as well as someone who can look at your whole health picture in order to treat the root cause of poor egg quality.
If you're struggling with egg health and fertility, there are natural ways to improve your chances of conception. Acupuncture can be an effective way to improve egg quality and regulate hormones, while supplements and herbal medicine can provide the nutrients your body needs for optimal fertility. If you're interested in exploring these options, talk to your healthcare provider or a qualified practitioner who specializes in fertility and reproductive health or submit a request to on my website to book an appointment at my Longmont office.
Sources:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348716320_Impact_of_Royal_Jelly_on_Infertility_A_Review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641457/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5870379/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9797089/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5641457/
