I am just back from a much-needed break from everything fertility related following my first disastrous attempt at IVF which ended in an early miscarriage.
Trying to get ready for a second attempt in May/June, and wondering what I can do to improve the results (first round was 20 follicles, down to 6 eggs, down to 4 morulas, down to 1 single blasto).
Last time I was on preconception vitamins (Boots) plus extra vitamin D (25ug, I was deficient). This time I added Omega 3 (1000mg) and coenzyme Q10 (ubiquinone, 200mg 3 times/day) to the mix.
I have been reading about extra folic acid, and I am now wondering whether I should add 400ug to the 400ug already included in the preconception pills, or if I will be doing more harm than good...
Any suggestion, wise and knowledgeable ladies?
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MofM
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Hi. My fertility vitamins already included 800 ug folic acid and I also took vitamin D and iron. Not sure about a difference in folic acid. For me overall it worked well (considering also stims), 39 years, amh 0.94 with one ovary, 1 ivf cycle, got 5 follicles (and 5 eggs), 4 eggs fertilized, 2 made it to day 5 blasts, 1 transferred and implanted, 1 frozen.
You can ask your doctor if there would be any harm in taking more folic acid.
My clinic abroad suggested 5mg but this dosage exists in the UK only on prescription (and the GP would not prescribe it). Which fertility vitamins are you taking?
When posed with this dilemma, the consultant said that 4mg should be OK, and I could also take 8mg if I wanted and was making me feel better --that is not a great answer I must admit
I am from Romania and took Fertilovit (made in Germany for a Swiss-Austrian company). After bfp I switched to folic acid and vitamin C. The doctor did not indicate the folic acid dose, but the pharmacist indicated the most used is the 5mg one.
Hey. If you take 400mcg twice a day it does not equate to 5mg. These are prescription only and 400mcg is an eighth of this strength, so it will not make to 8mg just 800mcg if you take two normal 400mcg tabs. Just to let you know! I don’t think there is much to suggest higher folic acid if you are trying as it is a preventative not a booster for fertility xx
You are indeed very right. So why my IVF consultants first suggested 5mg pill, then, when I told him I was taking pills with 400 µg said it was ok? This thing is turning me crazy...
Last time I went only for a multivitamin which included 400ug of folic acid and 10ugs of Vitamin D plus 25ug (for a total of 1400IU) since I was badly deficient (<30), as suggested by my IVF clinic and the GP. I believed that everything else was just commercial crap.
However, after spending >£5000 in a failed attempt and after looking at what all other people here are doing (that is, taking every supplement they can get their hands on) I just tough: "ok, they may make no difference, but what if they do?". Therefore, I also went for what everyone else is doing, with my IVF clinic not being too fussy about it. Their policy seems to be: "if it makes you feel better, do it".
Now, reading here and elsewhere that most of the clinics and oby/gyn moved from 4mg to 5mg, with someone suggesting as much as 8mg of folic acid, makes me wonder whether 4mg is an old estimate, and it needs to be upgraded to 5mg.
Problem is that all pills in the UK are 4mg, and I cannot really sum up to 5mg, but only to 8mg. Still not sure of what I will do.
DianeArnoldPartnerNurseFertility Network UK in reply to MofM
Hi MofM. 10 micrograms of vitamin D each day throughout your pregnancy - you should also carry on taking this after your baby is born if you breastfeed
•400 micrograms of folic acid each day – you should take this from before you are pregnant until you are 12 weeks pregnant
These are the latest recommended amounts to take. Some women do need extra, but you would need a blood test to verify that. Good luck! Diane
With my first son 4yrs ago I was on standard 400ug for folic acid . But I’ve heard from my colleagues for last two years they’ve been prescribed 5mg dosage per day. As such when I’ve attempted my last two FETs last year I’ve been given that prescription too and I’ve been continuing with 5mg dosage with my recent pregnancy as this seems to be more of standard these days.
My clinic abroad also suggested 5mg but this dosage exists in the UK only on prescription (and the GP would not prescribe it).
When posed with this dilemma, the consultant said that 4mg should be OK, and I could also take 8mg if I wanted and was making me feel better --that is not a great answer I must admit
My GP was happy to prescribe this on request back in jan 2018 and that was well before my recent FET attempt. I’ve just said I’m TTC and need this dosage of folic no issues with this at all. I was on follow up prescription really on this dosage of folic for some time before I fell pregnant
I know my friends got with no problems the prescription too, surprised you have an issue with it.
I don’t know about this guideline maybe another change?? But never heard about folic in 4mg dosage being prescribed. I suppose 4mg is still better anyway in compare to 400ug XX
Hi, my clinic in Spain have me on 500ug folic acid. I asked if I could still take my multi vitamin which contains 400ug of folate acid and they said that would be fine. Hope this helps. I’m also on Vitamin D xx
My clinic in Greece said the same thing: 400ug is fine also because you get folate from food, but if 800ug makes you feel better and gives you peace of mind go for it. Not very scientific (and quite frustrating).
Yes I’m on 500ug of folic and then 400ug of folate, total of 900ug. The folate comes within 2 multi vitamin tablets. I take the 500ug folic acid in the morning and then a multi vitamin afternoon and evening. The clinic said this was fine and the lady I go to for acupuncture also said this was fine. Hope this helps xx
Yes, it does help, giving me some peace of mind on the overdoing side
I think I will move to 400ug+400ug, morning+evening. Let's hope I am not messing up
Folate is in your food too so you can have really as much as u want, I’ve took 2 400ug tablets a day aswel as eating avocados black kale cereal has folic acid etc
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