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Egg Quality Test: Methods, Importance, and What Your Results Mean

Dr. Varsha Sharma
Reviewed by Dr. Varsha Sharma ,
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This information has been reviewed and approved by an experienced fertility specialist at Indira IVF to provide accurate and up-to-date guidance for our readers.

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Last updated: October 10, 2025

Overview

The quality of a woman's eggs is a crucial factor in her ability to conceive naturally or using assisted reproductive technologies, such as IVF. Even though a woman may hear a lot about her egg count (the quantity of her eggs), it is the quality of her eggs that determines whether fertilisation can lead to a healthy pregnancy implanting into the uterus or not. When a woman has higher-quality eggs, she has the best chances of developing an embryo, having that embryo implant to establish a pregnancy. Many women would like to know if there is a good egg quality test available and how doctors assess an individual's reproductive potential.

In this article, we discuss how to test egg quality, egg quality considerations, typical tests used for egg quality, common signs of poor egg health, and what your results mean for your journey towards parenthood.

Introduction

One of the most important questions for many women who are considering becoming pregnant, naturally or with IVF, is how egg quality affects fertility. Although it is important to have enough eggs, the quality of those eggs is what actually matters when it comes to conception. Numerous tests can help evaluate egg quality, assist fertility specialists and patients in understanding the fertility potential as they undergo IVF.

Such egg quality tests tell your doctor or IVF specialist about the amount of time left to conceive and the number of mature eggs that made it past the blastocyst period of development.

What Does Egg Quality Mean?

Egg quality means the health of a woman’s eggs, which indicates whether or not they are fertilisable and capable of growing into a healthy baby. A good-quality egg has the right genetic material and enough endurance to support early stages of development. An unhealthy egg can be fertilised, but it won't develop correctly, making it hard to conceive or maintain a pregnancy. One of the most crucial factors in both IVF and natural conception is the quality of the egg.

Key points about egg quality:

  • Healthy eggs have normal chromosomes; this will give you the best chance of forming a strong embryo that is capable of growing into a baby.
  • Poor-quality eggs often have genetic mistakes within them, and this can lead to failed fertilisation, early pregnancy loss, or miscarriage.
  • Egg quality declines with age naturally, and particularly after 35, which makes trying to conceive more difficult as time moves along.

Also Read: At what age is IVF most successful?

Is There a Direct Egg Quality Test?

At present, there is no one test that can measure egg quality directly. While sperm can be viewed and measured under a microscope, eggs cannot be looked at in this way until after fertilisation to check for genetic health. Doctors cannot just look at an egg and identify whether that egg will develop into a healthy embryo.

Fertility specialists use indirect testing to provide clues regarding a woman's ovarian reserve (the number of eggs left) to assess her fertility potential. Different blood tests are done, like Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH), and ultrasounds can be used to examine the number of follicles growing. These tests can be useful in guiding fertility treatments, but they do not measure the quality of the egg itself.

Common Tests Used to Assess Egg Quality

To evaluate ovarian reserve and forecast healthy eggs, a doctor will suggest a number of additional tests. Here are the most popular techniques for evaluating the quality:

Common Egg Quality Tests Evaluation Purpose
Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) Measures ovarian reserve (egg quantity)
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Evaluates ovarian function on cycle days 2–3
Antral Follicle Count (AFC) Counts ovarian follicles via transvaginal ultrasound
Estradiol (E2) Levels Assesses estrogen levels on cycle days 2–3
IVF/ICSI Response Observes egg behavior during IVF/ICSI cycles

1. Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) Test

The AMH blood test is likely the most commonly used egg quantity test. It determines ovarian reserve (how many eggs are remaining in the ovaries).

  • High AMH levels usually suggest more eggs are available.
  • However, AMH is not a direct measure of egg health or genetic quality.

2. Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Test

FSH is a hormone that stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles containing the eggs. This test is done on days 2–3 of the menstrual cycle to assess ovarian function.

  • High FSH levels may reflect decreased ovarian reserve and diminished egg quality.
  • It may also imply a risk of suboptimal quality eggs.

3. Antral Follicle Count (AFC) via Ultrasound

AFC is part of ovarian reserve testing done by transvaginal ultrasound; it is a way of counting the number of follicles in your ovaries.

  • The higher the follicle count, the better the quantity of eggs.
  • Like AMH, it reflects numbers but not actual quality.

4. Estradiol (E2) Levels

Estradiol is a type of oestrogen produced by the ovaries. Blood levels of E2 are checked on cycle days 2–3.

  • Higher levels can indicate suboptimal ovarian response to stimulation.
  • This can potentially influence fertility treatments.

5. IVF/ICSI Response

Perhaps the most relevant way to assess egg quality in IVF is to see how eggs respond when they are stimulated in IVF or ICSI cycles. This real-time observation allows us to see directly the reproductive potential of eggs.

  • Doctors are able to see what happens to the fertilised egg, how it grows and develops into embryos.
  • This gives us the most precise understanding of how to evaluate egg quality practically.

Signs of Poor Egg Quality in Women

Even though medical tests offer a more accurate diagnosis, there are some clinical signs to watch for that could indicate declining egg health:

1. Age-Related Decline

The egg quality declines with age, particularly after 35. While chromosomal abnormalities are common in eggs, they typically increase significantly with age.

2. Irregular Menstrual Cycles

Irregular periods can be attributed to a hormonal imbalance or other imbalances that can impact egg quality. Long or short menstrual cycles, having no periods, and having heavy or light bleeding can be signs of poor egg quality.

3. Repeated IVF/Embryo Transfer Failures

If a woman has had multiple IVF cycles without successfully implanting an embryo, it may indicate poor egg health.

4. History of Miscarriages

A miscarriage occurs when an embryo is unable to continue to grow and dies in the early stages of pregnancy. The quality of an egg is critical to be able to develop into an embryo and sustain a pregnancy to term. A poor quality egg may struggle to survive, and in turn develop into a healthy embryo. This can lead to recurrent miscarriages.

Can You Improve Egg Quality?

While the number of eggs cannot be changed, there are some lifestyle and medical measures that may be helpful in improving egg quality and supporting good fertility.

Ways to support egg health include:

  • Nutrient-dense, healthy food contributes to your overall health, including helping you keep your eggs healthy and of great quality, and improving your overall fertility. Follow a diet that includes antioxidants, folate and omega-3 fatty acids, and avoid refined carbs, processed foods or meats, and excess salt and sugar.
  • If you smoke tobacco, now is a good time to consider quitting. And as far as alcohol is concerned, it might have a negative effect on egg quality, so consider limiting your intake as much as possible while you are actively trying to conceive.
  • Stress can produce prolactin and cortisol, two chemicals that can hinder or stop ovulation, which in turn decreases the generation of eggs. You may start doing yoga, meditation or exercise to help reduce tension and irritation.
  • Keep your body weight within a healthy range. Overall, obesity has been connected to lower fertility as well as poor-quality eggs due to oxidative stress and alterations in mitochondrial activity.
  • When it comes to supplements, be sure to consult your OBGYN or fertility specialist to talk through the ones suited to you. Always use supplements under the supervision of a physician.
  • In regard to fertility treatment options, IVF treatment with ICSI could be considered in cases of poor egg health.

When Should You Consider an Egg Quality Test?

Women may require an egg quality test in the following circumstances:

  • Age 35 or older, and trying to conceive for six months or longer.
  • History of recurrent miscarriage.
  • Difficulty conceiving naturally despite regular attempts.
  • Preparing for IVF, or when wanting to look into a fertility preservation option, i.e, egg freezing.

Conclusion

Egg quality is core to fertility and pregnancy outcomes. Although there is no one perfect egg quality test, indirect measures of egg quality like AMH, FSH, scan, or IVF outcomes have become important means to evaluate ovarian health.

At Indira IVF, we provide advanced, thoughtful fertility assessments and personalised care that help women assess and improve reproductive health. Indira IVF combines medical expertise with an empathetic, supportive environment to empower women to make informed choices about their path to becoming parents.

Common Questions Asked

Can a blood test show egg quality?

 

Not exactly. There are blood tests like AMH and FSH that tell about ovarian reserve, which relates to egg quality, but they don’t specifically measure it.

What is the most reliable test for egg quality?

 

There isn't just one effective egg quality test. To assess the health of an egg, doctors check for AMH, FSH, AFC, and IVF response.

Does AMH indicate egg quality or only quantity?

 

AMH does not evaluate genetic quality; it measures egg quantity (reserve).

Can an ultrasound detect poor egg quality?

 

Ultrasound will show follicle count but not genetic quality. However, ultrasound does help with estimating how many eggs are available.

Can lifestyle changes improve egg quality?

 

Yes. Better egg health can be achieved by diet, exercise, supplementation, and abstinence from alcohol and tobacco.

At what age should women consider egg testing?

 

Women who are over 35 or who are having trouble becoming pregnant should get tested as soon as possible.

What if tests show poor egg quality?

 

To increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy, doctors may suggest fertility treatments like IVF + ICSI, donor eggs, or egg thawing/preservation.

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