Fun Fact: All the eggs you will ever ovulate, you had while you were still a fetus in your mother’s womb!
Though the number of eggs you have is predetermined, their quality has yet to be determined, and is affected by a number of factors, good and bad. This is why Acupuncture, your diet, and lifestyle are so important! Don’t discount your ability to influence your egg quality just because the eggs you have were there long before you were conscious of them. SIDE NOTE: This is especially encouraging for women who have been diagnosed with Diminished Ovarian Reserve, which is an indication of limited quantity, not necessarily quality, of your eggs. Even if your number of eggs is limited, there’s no limit to what we can do with their quality!
The maturation of an egg, the 3 months leading up to ovulation, or release, of the egg, is a major time of transformation for that egg. During this period, the environment in which the egg matures, has a critical impact on the quality of that egg.
The greatest influenceable determinate of egg quality is it’s ability to produce energy (ATP).
In the 3 months before ovulation, the egg gets its battery pack (mitochondria). Eggs depend on adequate energy at specific points during egg maturation to organize the chromosomes properly. Eggs with inadequate ATP for this process are more likely to develop chromosomal abnormalities. In turn, eggs with chromosomal abnormalities are less likely to result in a pregnancy and/or are more likely to result in miscarriage. It is the development and optimal function of mitochndria, the energy producing part of the egg, that we target in our approach to improving egg quality.
Exposure to toxins, like BPAs, phalates, and other hormone disruptors can interfere with energy production, resulting in diminished egg quality. On the other hand, creating a nutrient rich environment with diet, supplementation and acupuncture can provide critical energy to the maturation process and consequently improve egg and embryo quality.
Despite what our partners would like to believe, its not the bedroom, but the 3 months prior to ovulation, where the real magic happens!
During this time we can have the greatest impact on your egg and potential embryo quality with acupuncture, supplementation, and some diet and lifestyle tweaks. By supporting the development and function of mitochondria we can help prevent miscarriage, and increase the likelihood of conception and a healthy pregnancy (during which the ATP continue to play a critical role).
Here’s what you can do:
Increase your nutrient exposures:
Acupuncture increases blood flow to the ovaries, bathing them in nutrient rich blood and enhancing energy for ATP production
Supplementation with CoQ10 to increase the production of ATP
A diet rich in antioxidants, energy-rich carbohydrates, high quality proteins and fats
Supplementation with a Prenatal Vitamin that includes: folate, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin D, zinc, and selenium
We recommend: Garden of Life, Nordic Naturals, and Rainbow Light for supplements
Decrease your toxin exposures:
BPAs in plastic products, lining of cans, sales receipts
Phalates in plastics in toys, footwear, food packaging, and personal care products
Pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides
Heavy metals (i.e. aluminum, arsenic, lead, and mercury) in air pollution, dental fillings, industrial and household products
This is by no means an exhaustive list and there’s a lot more to be said. If you want to discuss your particular needs and how we can help, don’t hesitate to reach out at hello@yintuitionwellness.com