Antioxidants May Improve Egg Quality In Women With Endometriosis

Endometriosis is associated with infertility in at least 50% of those with this debilitating disease. It is a common condition in women, often associated with pain and infertility. It occurs when tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus (endometrium) grows on the outside of it, mainly in the pelvis, ovaries, and abdomen. 

Egg and embryo quality is poor in women with endometriosis. However, there are ways to mitigate the impacts of endometriosis. Vitamins C and E may reduce some of the inflammation and oxidative damage induced by endometriosis, thereby reducing symptoms. Additionally, researchers from the University of Southampton and Princess Anne Hospitals Complete Fertility Centre in the UK have recently published that antioxidants may improve egg quality in women with endometriosis.

Antioxidants for Endometriosis 

Despite ovulation induction, many women with endometriosis have difficulty making mature oocytes suitable for fertilization. Follicular fluid from women with endometriosis has been found to have high amounts of free-radical chemicals called reactive oxygen species (ROS). These ROS chemicals can cause the eggs not to mature properly and thus fail to fertilize and develop. ROS could be blocked by two antioxidants—resveratrol, found in the skins of grapes and berries, and melatonin, a chemical released during sleep. These findings provide new hope for women with endometriosis-associated infertility.

If you have endometriosis and struggle to get pregnant, we can help. Our doctors have helped countless patients achieve successful pregnancies, and they can assist you in growing your family, too. We offer affordable initial consults for those without insurance at any one of our fertility center locations in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on January 6, 2017, but was updated in August 2022 to reflect more current information.