This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Read more.
Mr Efstathios Theodorou
Independent Doctor's Federation
Why does the quality of eggs decline with age?
Efstathios Theodorou explains that the quality of eggs declines with age because a 40-year-old oocyte has decreased quality. The egg loses its capacity to divide appropriately and to make embryos that have normal genetic material inside.
Transcript
To give an easy answer is, the egg's age with a woman. Therefore, a woman that is 40 years old, her eggs are 40 years old. Now, a woman that is 40 years old is young and feels young. Nevertheless, for reproductive purposes, a 40-year-old oocyte has decreased quality. That means, the chances of that egg achieving a life birth are lower compared to someone that is less than 35. Now, the chance is mostly declined because the egg loses its capacity to divide appropriately and to make embryos that have normal genetic material inside. That is the most common reason of age-related decline in fertility.