Scientists discover what’s causing reproductive complications: It’s ‘more common in older women’

Egg quality is one of the most critical factors influencing a woman’s reproductive health. But what causes poor egg quality in the first place?

New research from the University of Missouri-Columbia points to DNA damage as a major culprit—and more importantly, reveals a potential way to reverse its effects.

DNA damage happens all the time due to exposure to ultraviolet rays, environmental toxins, chemicals, and natural aging. In female eggs (oocytes), this damage can compromise fertility, increase the risk of miscarriage, and raise the chances of genetic conditions like Down syndrome.

This kind of cellular breakdown becomes more pronounced with age. As study author Ahmed Balboula, PhD, explains, DNA damage in female eggs is ‘more common in older women.’ This may help explain why fertility often declines in the late 30s and early 40s.

But there may be a solution. Balboula and his team are focusing on a natural repair mechanism within cells called autophagy—a process that clears out damaged components and recycles healthy ones. When autophagy works well, cells maintain balance and function. When it doesn’t, things go wrong.

Their study found that in eggs with moderate to severe DNA damage, autophagy doesn’t function properly. This leads to a higher risk of aneuploidy—a condition where eggs have the wrong number of chromosomes, which is the leading genetic cause of miscarriage and congenital disorders.

Promisingly, the team discovered that stimulating autophagy in damaged eggs helped repair DNA and reduce the risk of chromosomal abnormalities. This suggests that boosting autophagy could improve egg quality and, ultimately, fertility.

This breakthrough could reshape how we approach age-related infertility and egg quality challenges in both natural and assisted conception..

Reference:

University of Missouri-Columbia. (2025, February 12). What causes reproductive complications?. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 1, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212134831.htm

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