What does “egg quality” actually mean?
The simple answer: an egg’s capability to turn into a baby. (With the help of sperm, of course!) The complex answer: while there is no ONE true test for egg quality, there are several factors that give us an idea. Is the egg producing adequate hormones? A growing follicle (like the shell around the egg) is what MAKES estrogen. If estrogen is low, the follicle is not functioning very well, and usually indicates a low quality egg inside. This is true for progesterone as well. Is the diagnosis “unexplained infertility,” or “advanced age?” In lieu of other identifiable diagnoses, we can guess that egg quality may be playing a role in infertility. Is AMH and antral follicle count low? These...