What you need to know about egg quality

What Is AMH and Does It Indicate Egg Quality?

Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) is often misunderstood. Many women assume it reflects the quality of their eggs, but the truth is more nuanced:

• AMH is not a direct indicator of egg quality. It primarily reflects the number of small follicles in the ovaries.
• High AMH may indicate PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), a condition linked to poor egg quality.
• Extremely low AMH can indicate hormonal imbalance, which also affects egg quality.

In short: low AMH does not always mean poor egg quality, but very high AMH might.

Can a Scan Determine Egg Quality?

No. Antral follicle counts from scans measure quantity, not quality.

To assess egg quality, we at TCM Healthcare evaluate a comprehensive set of hormone markers: FSH, LH, oestradiol, AMH, prolactin, and testosterone.

What Determines Egg Quality?

1. Intrinsic (Age-Related) factors

Scientific studies estimate that more than half of egg quality is influenced by age-related biological changes:

• Chromosomal instability increases with age, raising the risk of genetic abnormalities.
• Mitochondrial decline reduces energy production needed for healthy egg development.

They are largely non-modifiable, understanding them helps set realistic expectations.

2. Extrinsic factors

• Oxidative stress and inflammation accumulate over time, impacting egg health.
• Hormones regulate the egg development

While Oxidative stress may be modifiable, there is no easy to use clinical tests available for measuring oxidative stress in the reproductive system.

Roughly 30% of egg quality is influenced by hormones — and these are modifiable.

Hormones regulates egg development and impacts on mitochondrial energy supply, chromosomal behaviour, and the oocyte’s environment.

Key hormones involved:

• FSH, LH, and oestradiol: Regulate the menstrual cycle and ovulation.
• Prolactin: High levels suppress ovulation.
• AMH and testosterone: Indicators of PCOS, which can impair egg quality.

What We’ve Learned in 25+ Years of Clinical Practice

At TCM Healthcare, we’ve seen firsthand that:

• Women with irregular or missing periods often have hormonal imbalances that compromise egg quality.
• Improving hormonal balance consistently leads to better periods — and by extension, better egg quality.
• Every treatment plan is guided by hormone testing before and after — to verify real change.

Can Egg Quality Be Improved?

Yes — through hormonal balance. While we cannot change age, we can improve:

• Hormone levels
• Ovulation regularity
• Menstrual cycle quality

Through tailored herbal prescriptions, we support reproductive function naturally and holistically.

What About Supplements Like DHEA?

Many patients arrive already taking supplements, including DHEA, believed to improve egg quality. However:

• DHEA raises testosterone, which may worsen period irregularity.
• Most patients don’t measure hormone levels before and after — so the effect on egg quality is unknown.
• Combining many supplements can lead to unknown interactions.

At TCM Healthcare, we always ask:

• Are you tracking hormone levels to verify improvement?
• Do you know how each supplement is impacting your cycle?

If not, supplements may be doing little or nothing — or worse.

What Do We Do When Patients Come to Us?

We educate and empower our patients:

1. Why egg quality matters more than quantity for fertility.
2. What determines egg quality: age + hormones.
3. How to measure it: via hormone markers and menstrual health.
4. How to improve it: through hormone-focused herbal treatments.
5. How to track progress: before/after hormone testing and cycle observation.

Many patients who followed this process have reported better hormones, regular cycles, and — most importantly — successful pregnancies.

FAQ:

Q1: Does AMH level reflect egg quality?
AMH reflects egg quantity, not quality. However, high AMH may indicate PCOS, which is linked to poor egg quality.

Q2: Can egg quality be improved naturally?
Yes. While age-related damage can't be reversed, hormonal balance can be improved through diet, lifestyle, and herbal medicine.

Q3: What tests can show egg quality?
Hormone blood tests (FSH, LH, oestradiol, AMH, prolactin, testosterone) and menstrual cycle tracking provide useful insights.

Q4: Are supplements effective for egg quality?
Most supplements lack direct evidence. Without before-and-after testing, their impact on egg quality is unclear.

Q5: What is the best indicator of fertility health?
Regular periods and balanced reproductive hormones are strong indicators of good egg quality and fertility potential.

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Research evidence for hormones impacting egg quality can be found in our resource page — please click here. 

If you want to find out more about our treatment for improving egg quality, please click here.

To test your egg quality, please click here.

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