I think I'm taking 11 types of pills a day, it's costing me a fortune and I am starting to think I might have some sort of addiction! Even though it's pretty clear that I am never going to have my own baby (and hubby is merrily drinking and smoking away without a care in the world and not taking anything despite his low count), I just can't give up the various pills because I worry that I won't have any chance of getting pregnant then. Is anyone else in the same boat or does anyone have any advice? I'm currently taking the following:-
Royal Jelly
Maca
Spirulina
Fish oil
Vit E
Vit D3
Evening primrose oil (days 1-14)
Coq10
Pregnacare Conception
Agnus castus
And finally, I'm also back on the serrapeptase!
I honestly can't keep going like this but I feel like if I stop taking something then I'll ruin my chances! I know that you are only supposed to take agnus castus for 3-6 months and I'm nearly finished my 3rd month now. Agnus castus has been amazing though, my first month was a bit weird (better than the 60 day cycle I had before I started it) but the following month my cycle was perfect and again this month things appear to be going well.
When should I just give up and how do I stop taking these pills?? I'm already panicking a bit about stopping the agnus castus in case everything goes wrong again.
I feel a little ashamed to admit it but I really feel like some sort of obsessed addict!
I wasn’t aware that Agnus castus (vitex) needs to be limited to 3 months? My medical herbalist had that in my mixture for 9 months ish?
I know what you mean about thinking you’re taking too much, but it was only once I was taking everything really consistently for a year that I suddenly conceived twice and started getting better embryos! I think ubiquinol 600mg per day and inositol and dhea were the things that helped! But I take most of what you have listed plus a few more!
I totally get it, but you will have to do more research yourself to decide what’s best to do, or see a fertility nutritionist? Some clinics have that service. Personally I will be keeping up with all of my supplements as they seem to have helped XX
Oh that's interesting! Not sure where I read about the 3-6 months thing but sounds like I can continue taking it for a while!! It's amazing how quickly it kicked in and how different my cycle was last month.
I was going to try DHEA but I had read lots of people's cycles went a bit crazy after taking it. We have given up with the IVF treatment now so I would like to keep my cycles regular if possible, have you had any changes in your cycle since taking this? xx
I’m not a supplement taker (except for folic acid and vitamin D) but just to point out that you should be careful of your vitamin D intake from the list you have written. Pregnacare often has vitamin D in it so not sure you would need extra vitamin d on top- also check your fish oil if it contains vitamin D.
Unfortunately the supplement market plays on our insecurities- the proof of their effectiveness is not clear as there are so many different formulations out there. Good luck - I hope your hubby is more responsive. Xx
in reply to
I must admit that when I went to buy the D3 the lady in Holland and Barrett warned me that you can take too much so she checked on how much was in the Pregnacare. I haven't checked my fish oil so thanks for the advice, will take a look at that in a minute!!
My hubby has been through periods of responsiveness but I think he's given up now. He did give up smoking for four years but has recently started again. I hate it and I've been trying to encourage him to stop again but he says there's no point anymore. I think the IVF "journey" has ruined any hope he once had xx
in reply to
No D3 but apparently it does have Vit E in it so perhaps I could quit the Vit E supplement...!! xx
I used to take about 10 different supplements a day, religiously. Having been doing ivf on and off for two years and previous to that ttc for two, I’m passed the point of thinking they will actually help anymore. I just couldn’t be bothered with them. It was becoming such an expensive chore. Now I just take the Pregnacare conception. Be careful what you’re taking. Perhaps seek advice from Diane or your gp? xx
You'd think that after 5 years I might have given up all hope of them helping me too but apparently I am just an addict!! I probably ought to see someone to check I'm taking the right things, it's just so expensive to see nutritionists, etc xx
I'm sat reading this whilst waiting for my accupuncture appointment. I also take a whole lot of supplements. The evidence except for vitamin d and folic acid is limited. I worked it out the other day between me and my husband we are spending over £100 a month on supplements then the accupuncture cost! We are all desperate and companies know they can profit form it. It's hard to know when to stop. If my next cycle is equally as bad as the first I think I'm going to stop them. Good luck with your decision.
I think I had (maybe still have) a similar addiction. After I started seeing a fertility nutritionist I got totally hooked up on the supplements and as you said it costs a fortune. This was for me and DH but he couldn’t take anything due to his gut issues. I’m now taking food based fertility multivitamin from Vitamin Code, extra zinc, vitamin C, magnesium and omega 3. I also take ubiquinol and R-alpha-lipoic acid to improve egg quality. It is probably still too many but nothing comparing to the amount I used to take. In terms of vitamin D I have it checked and usually top it up only during the winter. I think I would ditch spirulina and royal jelly. It is hard to stop taking them as it gives some kind of illusion of control over this uncontrollable situation. The supplements certainly haven’t helped me to get pregnant. Maybe see if you could remove some. Good luck x
I think I'm just going to have to do it, as hard as it is...!! Maybe I'll just not buy more as I run out of each one. I've done it before, I can do it again... I think! xx
When we got our last bfn, I was the opposite to you and couldn’t face taking anything (I was only taking ubiquinol and pregnacare). I had also been going to weekly acupuncture sessions for a year. I felt compelled to carry on in case it did make a difference. When our cycle didn’t work I just couldn’t face going anymore and decided to spend the money instead on membership to a swanky gym to treat myself. I’ve really enjoyed getting involved in lots of different exercise classes there and begun to feel more like me again. So, I guess what I’m saying is do what feels right for you, if someone had tried to get me to stop Acupuncture before I was ready, I might have always though, ‘what if’ but after our last cycle wasn’t successful, I just knew I didn’t believe in it anymore. Hope you reach a decision that you’re happy with xxx
It's good to hear that you managed to get a handle on it and treat yourself to something enjoyable in the meantime but I'm sorry about the circumstances. I keep thinking of all the things I could spend my money on instead, I need to keep focusing on that! xx
I really think it sounds like there’s a bigger problem with hubbie’s attitude tbh... if he’s drinking and smoking with a low count and not taking any supplements then that’s much more of a difficulty. Is there any hope of him changing his lifestyle? Xx
I have this prob with mine smoking he stopped for a bit and started again we’ve naturally got pregnant twice but mmc both times I want him to quit but I’ve asked and asked. He does take supplements but I still think should at least make an effort I have to do everything else. Grrrr
in reply to
Maybe our men are addicted to the smoking as much as we are to the supplements...!! xx
I think he's just given up He stopped smoking for 4 years but recently started again as he said that it didn't make any difference. Stopping drinking didn't seem to make much difference to his count either so I guess he just doesn't see any point. It's so hard! xx
in reply to
Yes I millions of people smoke and drink and get pregnant it’s not the point I want the healthiest sperm fertilising my eggs.
Do you take agnus castus on each day of your cycle? I started last month bit my acupuncturist only suggested I take it when i finish my period up until ovulation? Not sure why this is. All the info i read online talks about taking it daily x
Hi, there seems to be so much conflicting advice on this!! I am just taking it twice a day, every day. I haven't spoken to anyone about what I should or shouldn't take though - self-medicating!
Since writing this original post, I have managed to quit the vitamin E and am trying very hard not to think about it...!! x
My consultant was insistent that I only take folic acid and Vitamin D3 and nothing else so I have pretty much followed that advice except for period of 6 weeks or so when I was taking Q10 as well. He said that there is no proven research to support some claims (or at least not at my clinic) and it's better not to take them. xx
Mine consultant said exactly the same thing. I am a believer that if you’re going to doctors for advice and help you should follow what they say. I’m 24 weeks now
Congratulations!! Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy.
Unfortunately my fertility clinic weren't very helpful with things like supplements. My NHS clinic suggested DHEA after my second round - when I was due to start paying for treatment - but before then said that absolutely nothing would improve either the quality of eggs or sperm. Strange how they suddenly changed their mind after two rounds of treatment... We're no longer pursuing the IVF route, just hoping for a natural miracle but I think I need to just give up now. I keep saying it but then somehow fall back into the obsessive pattern. Something inside me doesn't want to give in x
I would speak to your GP about all these supplements. Some supplements can interact with medication so your GP would need to be aware of what you're taking and can also offer advice of where to go to get good professional help regarding nutrition and the use of supplements. If you have a healthy balanced diet you only need to take folic acid as a supplement, everything else can come from your diet. Also they can take (non fertility related) blood tests to give you a bit of an MOT to see if there's anything underlying that can be treated which will also help in the long run. Good luck and I hope you find a balance that works for you x
Thank you My GP nearly had a heart attack when I told her I was taking maca a few years back, she doesn't believe in taking anything at all!
Luckily I'm not taking any medication as we've given up on IVF treatment now but I have quite all supplements that were not approved by my clinic during previous rounds.
Thank you for taking the time to reply and sorry for the delay in my reply x
I can’t tell you how many supplements I’ve bought over the years, at one point my side of the bed looked like a pharmacy there were so many bottles! Like you, my husband has always been a tough sell on the healthy lifestyle and taking supplements, which was even more infuriating when we found out he has 100% anti-sperm antibodies and nothing I was doing could help that. Fertility treatments may focus on the woman but men are 50% of the equation and contrary to popular belief, their sperm quality does decline with age. It really is a two-way street. If he can start with kicking the smoking that would be a big help. Mine takes Condensyl which won’t help with his ASA issue but is proven to improve sperm quality, it’s just one small pill a day so he doesn’t have much to complain about! I think there’s another brand called Menevit that is supposed to be good.
I would really recommend the book “It Starts with the Egg” for a scientific take on the different supplements, what the studies have shown and what’s likely to help. She also goes into what may actually be detrimental. There are tips for healthy living, such as avoiding BPA and phthalates, and the importance of following a healthy Mediterranean diet (something I haven’t been so good at so far but I’m making a concerted effort now!). The last section of the book focuses on the importance of sperm quality and may be worth your hubby looking at.
After reading the book, the supplements I’m going to focus on for my particular case are:
CoQ10
N-acetyl cysteine
A multi-vitamin containing vitamins d, b6, b12 and folate
Omega 3/fish oil supplements
There are other options too, but those are just the main ones I’ve chosen to focus on. The selection can vary if you are trying naturally vs via IVF eg. melatonin isn’t recommended for natural conception as it can interfere with your cycle. The other thing to mention is DHEA - this is still controversial but many IVF clinics do prescribe it to improve quality. The testimonials are compelling but if you are going to start taking it I’d definitely pass this one by your doc as it’s a steroid hormone and can have nasty side effects.
Some of this you probably know already but just wanted to put it out there, the world of supplements is a minefield!
My hubby used to take Menevit but he moaned about the size of the pill, the taste and the after taste. I don't know why men have such a problem with taking pills?!
Unfortunately our IVF treatments have been unsuccessful and we have drawn a line under that for both emotional and financial reasons. Now I am just hoping for a miracle pregnancy but I realise that I am fast approaching menopause and I probably need to give up soon. That's going to be a difficult time
Good luck with everything you are doing, I will definitely take a look at the advice in that book. x
I completely understand drawing a line under the IVF, that must have been a tough decision but it really does take over your life. Hopefully hubby will come around. I will say re the pills that the Condensyl are quite small, my hubby has an issue swallowing big ones too but they seem to work for him. You never know, you may just be blessed with a miracle baby - the journey’s not over just yet 🤞
Well a few are not neccessary. but a baby is going to cost a lot more than these pills. Sounds its not about the pills but you are on your nerves about everything including your husbands behaviour. Take care of yourself. My best xxx
Thank you lovely I think you are right, it's so frustrating when you feel like you are doing absolutely everything but the other half of the equation is not pulling their weight! Think he really has given up, he's had enough of the constant knocks. You'd think out of 14 embryos we might have had some luck - 6 of those were donor eggs
Hi, I was only taking Pregnacare and CoQ10 and my husband took Wellman and Fish Oils. I also do reflexology. I think it really is a 50 50 effort between the man & woman. He's gonna have to give up smoking when babies come along so why not now? I just think it's soooo bad for you. My husband was a smoker, it was a bit nasty but I told him if he didn't give up then we might have to go for donor sperm and how would he feel about this (he was horrified, and stopped smoking that very day). It was nasty to say I know but also I wasnt going to bring a baby into the house with someone puffing away on cigarettes all the time. We both continued to drink alcohol but cut right down (I'd usually have about 2 glasses of wine per week). I know doctors don't know much about nutrition but if I were you I'd probably have a discussion with your fertility consultant or someone at the clinic, this seems like an awful lot of supplements to be on and could be detrimental to your efforts. If anything the cost of all these would be stressing me out!
The cost is certainly stressing me out!! That and the fact that hubby appears to have completely given up and I'm still holding out for a miracle. Think I will need to give in eventually!
Well done to your hubby for giving up. I gave up smoking a very long time ago and it was hell!! xx
Hi 😊 Have a chat to your GP - they should be able to give you some guidance on the interactions and reducing your intake. All of those different supplements will become such a psychological crutch for you... I think it would help you to break that. Also, I know many guys don’t like to talk about their feelings, but perhaps hubby might agree to talk to a doc too, if you tell him how you feel? Good luck with it all lovely xx
He has a tendency to just "get over" things but I know that deep down inside he just doesn't want to think about things that are stressful or that have hurt him. The last five years of knock-backs have really taken their toll on both of us. I really wish that he hadn't given up on our babies though x
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Fertility Supplements 🥑
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