Preparing for final ICSI - Vitamin recommendations

[wish1111]

Hello, this is the first time I’ve ever posted. I’ve found this network helpful in the past but I’ve never actually posted myself, so hi 👋🏻

I’m currently preparing for my final ICSI round due to start in July. This will be my 4th round of IVF, I have a beautiful 3 year old miracle baby from my first ever ICIS back in 2017. Second time round is proving to be a real challenge, I’ve had a biochemical pregnancy followed by 2 BFN. Back in 2017 when I began my IVF journey I kind of went in blind and hadn’t really done my homework. I gave up caffeine, alcohol and made sure I was exercising and eating healthy. I didn’t take mountains of vitamins I was just taking pregnacare before conception. Anyway whatever I did worked!

I’ve just turned 39 and the longer my IVF journey goes on the more desperate I’m becoming, I’m sure you can all relate! I’m now preparing for my final ICSI cycle and currently taking Zita West Vitafem and Zita West VitalDHA. I’ve just read It Starts with the Egg and feel completely overwhelmed by the amount of supplements suggested to take. When I cross reference the quantities suggested I get so confused over the different unit measurements that I just feel so overwhelmed. I guess what I’m asking is has anyone read It Starts with the Egg and found a supplement that covers all? I have mild PCOS but have never been advised to take anything for it.

I should probably add that at my last follow up appointment my consultant didn’t feel I needed any other investigations as my first round was successful and I’ve carried a healthy baby full term. She really just feels that I’ve just had a run of bad luck.

Thanks for listening ladies!

[Purpledoggy]

Sadly there isn’t one supp that covers it all. I think from the literature and universal repro guidance the most effective things for egg quality are ubiquinol, omega3, N-acetylcysteine, and melatonin. You’re already on DHA (an omega 3) so maybe just add ubiquinol 400mg a day and N-acetylcysteine 600mg a day (check if these are in your supps and decrease accordingly if so). Melatonin 1.5-3mg at night also helps with sleep. There are also a number of studies on vitamin E and uterine/ovarian blood flow so if you’re up for one more supp 200IU a day vitamin E as well. TBH I just accept I have like 10 bottles of various supps on my kitchen table and rattle when I walk 😜 Best of luck to you! Xx

[ZessB]

Hi, no idea how much supplements help to be honest, nor if there is a perfect formula. I also have PCOS and I think for us, following a low GI diet with plenty of wholesome food is best. I personally take Omega 3, CoQ10 100mg, vit D3, conception vitamins from Seven Seas and Infolic. The fact it worked first time around with nothing other than prenatal stuff means that it really does not matter so much I think though and it costs so much money too. I wish you a successful round.

[wish1111]

Thank you for the replies this has been really helpful. I’ll review what’s already in my multi vitamin and figure out what’s best to add in on top. Best of luck to you both! xx

[Jam-master]

Hi, I don’t think I’ll be much help but I just wanted to say I’m in a very similar situation. Had ICSI in 2017 and now have a beautiful 3 year old. Had 3 embryos frozen all of which failed, the most recent last week. I’m out of embryos now and will need to do a whole new ICSI round but need to save first. I went into that very 1st round very naive as I seem to be doing more now to try and make it work and it just hasn’t!

I literally just got It starts with the Egg yesterday and like you say, quite overwhelming! I’d like to make some changes though before we even think about another round. I’m waiting to hear feedback from my consultant this round but I’m sure it’ll just be a case of ‘bad luck’ which will be unbelievably frustrating! I’m in a very deflated mood and can’t seem to shift it.

So apologies, I’m not much help but wanted to say hi and it’s nice to see someone in a similar situation xx

[McQueeny]

Hello I also have a gorgeous little boy from IVF 2.5 yrs ago, we had one frozen left which failed. So going in for a fresh IVF next month. Same as you, because we’ve been successful before consultant thinks we just need to go again and hope for good luck.

As far as supplements go, last time round I just took pregnacare conception with additional folic acid and zinc - this time round I’ve also added ubiquinol 400mg in the hope that it will improve egg quality , cause last two times we did IVF we had really good egg numbers (15 and 17) but then only 2 embryos made it to blastocyst each time. I don’t know if it’s an egg issue or a sperm issue (I’m 38, hubby is older) but I figured it can’t hurt trying !

Wishing you the best of luck 🤞 xx