Improving egg quality after 40 naturally is what I focused on during my fertility journey. After having my miscarriage in 2020 and subsequently finding out that all of my eggs that were previously frozen at age 39 were not viable due to some form of trisomy, I knew I needed to focus on the internal. I already lived a healthy lifestyle but I knew I needed to take it a few steps further. I wanted to truly prime my body and give it the best possible chance of a positive outcome when it came to producing healthy eggs.
Please note that these tips and supplements are ones that I took based on my doctor recommendations and on my own research. Please consult with a fertility specialist or your local doctor before beginning any supplement regimen.
FEMALE FERTILITY
If you’re 35 or older, you are classified as advanced maternal age. Essentially what that means for most women is that not only does the number of eggs (reserve) diminish each year but so does the quality of your eggs. A healthy baby consists of 46 chromosomes with 23 of those coming from the woman. If the human eggs produced have less than 23 chromosomes it is considered genetically imbalanced and may not lead to a healthy pregnancy.
With that knowledge in hand, my first step in improving egg quality after 40 naturally was making a fertility appointment to determine what my current egg reserve level was, determine if I had any hormonal imbalance and check my overall fertility health. The first test my fertility specialist did was to check my hormone levels including my AMH level. AMH or Anti-Mullerian Hormone helps know how many potential egg cells a woman has left. This is known as the ovarian reserve. Second they did a day 3 FSH test or Follicle Stimulating Hormone test. This hormone helps stimulate the ovaries to produce eggs. Lastly they did an antral follicle ultrasound to essentially count the number of follicles I produced in that particular cycle to gauge the number of eggs I would potentially produce if I needed to go the route of IVF or In vitro fertilization.
Given I had all positive numbers for my age, I felt confident in moving forward with trying again.
SUPPLEMENT REGIMEN
When speaking with my fertility specialist there were several supplements she recommended I start as a regimen as there has been research that proves they play an important role in egg health, reproductive function and hormonal balance. All of these supplements help improve egg quality after 40 naturally.
PRENATAL VITAMIN: I feel like this one goes without saying. Prenatal vitamins are specifically formulated to provide the nutrients needed to support a healthy pregnancy and overall health. Taking ones that have a folic acid, which supports brain health in a fetus, and vitamin d are important.
VITAMIN C: The first supplement my doctor recommended. Besides being an excellent source to boost your immune system, vitamin C plays an important role in fertility as well. Vitamin C has been proven to increase the levels of progesterone in women which is an important hormone when trying to conceive. Of course you can get your Vitamin C from a supplement however there are many foods that also contain Vitamin C. Incorporate foods such as: Cherries, oranges, red and green peppers, lemons, spinach, and strawberries as they contain the most potent forms of vitamin C.
ACAI BERRY: This supplement my fertility doctor highly recommended based on a new study their clinic, CCRM, facilitated. Essentially, it was found that high doses of Acai berry can improve IVF outcomes. Given (at the time) we thought I would need to do another round of harvesting eggs she recommended I start including this supplement in my overall regimen. The particular antioxidant rich supplement I took was specifically formulated by CCRM and does require a prescription. According to the study: “Oxidative stress, an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in your body, is known to substantially contribute to ovarian dysfunction and subsequent diminished egg quality, especially among women of advanced maternal age.
DHEA: In doing my own research I found that many times women of advanced maternal age suffered from poor egg quality was due to a lack of the hormone DHEA. This particular hormone is a natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands that the body converts into testosterone and estrogen. It typically peaks in your early 20s and then subsequently declines over the years. Studies have shown that this supplement helps balances the hormones levels to those of younger counterparts and therefore increases the quality of eggs and the quantity of eggs.
ACUPUNCTURE – During my fertility journey I spoke with a friend who credits her successful pregnancy was due to acupuncture. Acupuncture was something I was familiar with but not specifically for reproductive health. I figured why not include this in my regimen as (at this point) I truly did not have anything to lose. Worst case, I would just be more at ease and less stressed during the process.
Acupuncture has been known to increase blood flow to the reproductive organs which in turn provides a better chance of positive effects on your own eggs. I did a few sessions with a local acupuncturist that specialized in fertility and she did recommend one supplement in particular (listed below) that I take given how my body was reacting to the treatments. In all honesty, I don’t know how much this played a part in being able to get pregnant as I stopped treatments about 2 months before getting pregnant but I can say that it did tremendously help with my menstrual cycle and reduced the amount of symptoms, such as bloating and cramping, I experienced prior to.
7 FORESTS WOMENS TREASURE: This was the supplement my acupuncturist recommended I take. I took this for about 1 month to help clear my kidneys and increase overall blood flow to my extremities. It is known as a Chinese herb that helps with several women’s fertility issues.
BEYOND SUPPLEMENTS
Beyond the supplement regimen I also took it as an opportunity to really focus on my diet as well. I reduced my alcohol consumption and ensured I maintained a balanced diet. I mainly follow a macro based diet which includes eating lean meats, healthy carbohydrates, and variety of vegetables. A sample day of eating would be:
- Breakfast: 2 pieces of toast with avocado and egg whites
- Snack 1: Protein smoothie
- Lunch: Turkey meatballs with whole grain pasta and a side salad
- Snack 2: 2 rice cakes with tuna fish
- Dinner: BBQ pulled chicken breast with sweet potato
- Snack 3: Small salad with shrimp
While your eating style does not have to mimic mine, I would suggest incorporating more healthy foods into your diet and making the necessary lifestyle changes to support a healthy pregnancy.
In addition to eating well, I also ensured I kept up with my daily workouts and maintained a healthy weight. This was a great way to help manage my stress levels and maintain an overall balance.
Lastly, while this isn’t something you can take, I did ensure I kept a positive mindset during my journey. I ensured I kept close family and friends around who could speak positivity into me when I wasn’t able to do it for myself. I listened to countless podcasts and sermons that helped me truly believe that becoming a mother was not out of reach and could happen for me.
Whatever you believe in, God, Universe or a higher power, it’s important that you ask, believe and walk in faith that you have already received it. To those reading this that is still waiting for their miracle, I’m wishing you all the baby dust in your journey.
Feel free to connect with me on my social platforms as I continue to share more of my motherhood journey and healthy recipes! Give a follow at: Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest!
Kim thank you for your words of encouragement. I know that God up in heaven can let me have a healthy baby. Positive thinking is important. Please say a prayer for me that God will give me a healthy child. I am 44 and have never seen my positive pregnancy test.
Chanel you are very welcome. That was the reason I shared my story, to offer hope and encouragement to women my age. I know that God is a God of miracles and exceptions and I’m praying that you soon see your BFP. Sending you all the positive baby dust in your journey. 💓
Kim
I happened to stumble upon your website searching for women who conceived naturally over 40!
I am 41 turning 42 this month.
Where i have had tests done to review everything i was told i had low AMH and high FSH after lots of research i found lots of positive outcomes. Instead of worrying i have now turned to a more positive approach and hopefully with my faith in God, The Universe and changing my diet i will become pregnant naturally.
Thank you for your posts it truly helps lots of people x
Hi Shirley! I’m so happy you were able to find my blog and story. That was truly the reason I shared to give other women over 40 hope that conceiving naturally can still happen. If you haven’t already, please listen to the sermon I reference in my pregnant naturally at 44 post called “number 11”. It provided me so much hope on days I was waning. I’m wishing you much success and sprinkling you with so much baby dust!
Hi,
Im 43 and will be 44 in few months. We want another baby but I had a premature baby at age 39 and we are afraid to go through that again. But at the same time we want someone for our 4 year old to play with. Any thoughts on the risk. Am I too old to have another baby or are there women out there still having babies at my age.
Hi Jasmine! Well I’ll say you’re not too old given I myself had my first biological daughter (naturally) at 44. I found out I was pregnant about 4 days before my 44th birthday. My thoughts on the risks is that medical professionals must tell you what they are based on stats but there are always exceptions to the rule. My pregnancy was very normal with no complications or issues other than she was breech. Within my friend group (all around the same age as me) we all have babies ranging from 4months to 15. So yes it’s still possible to have a baby at our age. Ultimately you and your partner will make the best decision on what’s best for your family. 💕
Hi, I love your story. I live in Australia and have just recently lost a baby at 8 weeks. I am also 44 and already have a nearly 4 yr old son. I did acupuncture and took herbs for my first pregnancy and also did the same for this one, however it didn’t work 🙁 this time. I’d like to know if egg quality can be improved in order to not get chromosomal errors?
Thank you for sharing your story. I first conceived naturally at 41 and again at 43 – both resulting in miscarriages at 6 and 9 weeks. 💔 I froze my eggs at 38 and had one viable embryo, which was transferred last week and resulted in a negative pregnancy today. I have been doing acupuncture with someone who only focuses on fertility for over a year, and have done every test necessary, including a hysteroscopy prior to the transfer to ensure the most optimal conditions. Everything is “normal,” and I’m now one month away from turning 44 with little hope of having an earth side baby. 😭