Healthy eggs can speed up the process of pregnancy. Therefore, the quality must always be maintained. If not, the egg could have problems so that you and your partner will be difficult to get a baby.
The egg or ovum is the female reproductive cell. Together with sperm, these cells play an important role in the process of fertilization and the formation of the fetus.
A healthy egg consists of several layers, namely:
- outer layer (pellucida zone) functions as a protective egg cell
- Cytoplasm plays the role of providing nutrition for the egg cell
- Nucleus or cell nucleus serves as a carrier of genetic material forming the fetus
If the health of the reproductive system is not maintained, the quality of the egg can decrease and this will have an impact on fertility problems and disrupt the pregnancy process. There are many things that can cause women to be more at risk of experiencing fertility problems or difficulty conceiving, such as older age.
Problems with Eggs and Their Effects on Pregnancy
There are several problems with the egg that can affect pregnancy, including:
1. Damage to egg cells
Normally, during pregnancy, the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. When entering the gestational age of about 6 weeks, the embryo has started to grow and develop in the uterus.
This can not happen if there is damage to the egg cell. The uterus will continue to grow without the fetus in it. This condition is called an empty pregnancy or blighted ovum.
This type of pregnancy usually has signs similar to normal pregnancy, such as breast tenderness, nausea, vomiting, no periods, and a positive pregnancy test.
However, in the absence of a fetus, the growth of the placenta will not be maximal and will eventually stop. At this time, pregnancy hormone levels will drop drastically and cause signs of miscarriage, such as bloody discharge or heavy bleeding from the vagina and abdominal cramps.
Miscarriage in a pregnancy without an embryo can't be prevented, but that doesn't mean that damage to the egg prevents a woman from getting pregnant at all. Women who experience this condition may not experience it again and manage to get pregnant later in life.
Even so, if there are repeated miscarriages, you should do further examinations to the obstetrician to find out the real cause.
2. Inherited genetic problems
Genetic mutations are gene changes that occur in the mother's egg or father's sperm cells. At the time of fertilization, the egg and sperm cells will fuse and form a fetus in the womb.
The occurrence of mutations in one of the genes in the egg or sperm cells causes the fetus that is formed in the womb to have disorders or defects. This condition is known as an inherited genetic mutation because it is passed on to the next generation.
Genetic mutations can cause several diseases, including cancers in newborns, such as retinoblastoma tumor or Wilms tumor.
3. Abnormalities in the development of egg cells
Until now, the cause of molar pregnancy or molar pregnancy has not been determined. However, abnormalities in the egg are thought to affect the occurrence of this pregnancy.
Egg cells and sperm cells contain chromosomes that carry DNA from the mother and father. When the two cells unite in the process of fertilization, the egg and sperm cells will contribute half of the amount of DNA for the baby to be born.
If there is an abnormality in the number of chromosomes during this process, either more or less, it will result in a molar pregnancy or a molar pregnancy.
In addition, this disorder can also cause problems in the formation of fetal sex or gametogenesis.
Based on the type, molar pregnancies can be grouped into two, namely:
- Partial molar pregnancy, occurs when the fetus is formed but cannot grow and develop properly into a baby.
- Complete molar pregnancy, occurs when there are abnormal cells that form in the uterus and there is no development or formation of the fetus at all.
In case of a wine pregnancy, a sign that often occurs is bleeding or reddish-brown discharge from the vagina at 8-14 weeks of gestation.
Molar pregnancies often have no symptoms or signs. Abnormalities in pregnancy are usually only detected at the time of ultrasound pregnancy at 8-14 weeks of gestation.
Mole pregnancies that are successfully detected, mostly will lead to miscarriage, so the doctor needs to remove the tissue in the uterus with a curettage procedure to prevent further complications.
The egg cell is an important part of the reproductive process. Abnormalities that occur in the egg can cause various conditions that hinder the process of pregnancy.
If you experience symptoms that are thought to be related to a problem with your egg or if you and your partner are having trouble conceiving a child after a long period of unprotected sex, consult your doctor for further examination.