What are the best supplements to take in preparation for a cycle?

[Sunny39]

Hi all, I have a low AMH 4.2 and last November I had ivf and ICSI. I felt so blessed when we had two fertilised eggs. One day five, top grade, which was a fresh transfer that failed. To be honest that broke me, we were told all along how unlikely I would be to even react to stims, let along get two eggs as a result. When it failed at the last hurdle I was broken.

It took me until now to try our second frostie, this was a day 6 blast but very poor quality, however the clinic agreed it was good enough to freeze and try. I was on my way to the clinic yesterday for the transfer when I got the call to say it didn’t come through the thawing process. Completely devastated is probably an understatement.

I’m speaking to the dr tomorrow, hoping they give me another try.

This was my first cycle so I naively just took a pre natal. If they allow me to try again I want to go at it full throttle as it will be our last try.

Sorry to waffle on! Any help would be very much appreciated x x x

[GrayEyesinEgypt]

You could try taking CoQ-10 or melatonin. I've read much greater things about melatonin. Many women with poor egg quality have had their egg quality improve after taking melatonin. It supposedly a powerful antioxidant that works specifically on the fluid surrounding the eggs I think? I am not a doctor and please read and maybe ask your doctor before trying anything. However, I took it and we got 6 very good quality eggs, all of which fertilized and made it to day 5 blastocysts. On our fresh cycle, we inserted 3 and I now have two year old twins. We recently did a frozen transfer with the other 3 and I am currently 15 weeks pregnant with one healthy baby. I took melatonin up until I started the stunning I jections. You can also try taking vitamin E as it increases your lining which is extremely important for conception.

Best of luck to you, I know what a desperate feeling it is to want a baby. I sincerely hope you are successful!

[Sunny39 in reply to GrayEyesinEgypt]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.That’s really helpful, congratulations on your success ☺️ Wonderful news x x x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Sunny. So sorry to hear this. However I wouldn’t go too overboard with supplements, providing you stick to a healthy diet. Speak to your specialist about the benefits of melatonin and perhaps DHEA. I wouldn’t overdo it andspeak to him/her. Good luck! Diane

[Sunny39 in reply to DianeArnold]

Hi DianeArnold, thank you, we all have such hard journeys don’t we 😞I never in a million years would of thought it was this hard. Having this site though is such a help.

I’m speaking to my Dr this avo, so I will ask them too, but I imagine most health care professionals won’t say incase of come backs or rare contra-indications that are unknown to them.

I just hope they don’t advise me to stop trying.

[luthien]

I'm just starting my first cycle so nothing to add to here as I don't know how things will go.

My fertility specialist has suggested Folic Acid and VitaminD. So I'm on those. Anyone in the UK doesn't get enough sunlight for sufficient amounts of Vitamin D in the bloodstream.

I also take Vesisorb Coenzyme Q10 - the vesisorb is patented and shown to assist with absorption.

Just an important note if in the UK you cannot get melatonin over the counter, so you'll need to be prescribed it:

In the UK, the Medicines Control Agency has banned the high-street sale of melatonin after it was decided the compound was "medicinal by function," and as such requires a drug license. The MCA has written to all relevant suppliers, which comprise mainly health food shops, ordering them to stop selling the product.

thepharmaletter.com/article...

I know it's a while back but it's still a prescription only medication

The BNF does not state a use for pre-pregnancy:

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/melato...

There is however studies, so if you go to your doctor, based on the studies they may be able to prescribe you it:

conceivehealth.com/blog/can...

[Sunny39 in reply to luthien]

Hi luthien, I know the melatonin thing is so annoying in the uk, I buy it online, but am going to speak with my GP as the prices online are so expensive! I understand what your saying, it’s so hard to know what to do or believe really. I know everyone wants this, but I want no regrets and to know I did all I could.

Good luck to you, I wish you every success on your journey x x x

[Papillonblue]

Hi sunny, Im in a similar position, low AMH, 3 egg on first collection 2 fertilised and one made it to transfer. I'm on my second cycle now having done 3 months of it starts with the egg supplement recommendations (no melatonin as mention above) early signs are better - 7 follicles on todays scan (5 last time) weather thats the change in stims or the supplements I'm not entirely sure, time will tell if we get more eggs and hopefully more blasts.

[Sunny39 in reply to Papillonblue]

Thanks Papillonblue, I have just received the book and I can’t put it down, it’s so helpful!! Thank you so much for replying and good luck with your journey x x x

[Koala365]

I had a poor first cycle with an AMH of 6.9 or 8.3 depending which one you go by. They retrieved 5 eggs and I had no embryos to transfer. I then read It Starts With The Egg and took 3 months to prepare for my next cycle by eating a healthier diet cutting out sugar and sweet stuff and reducing bad carbs and eating fewer carbs but good carbs and eating more fruit and veg and less processed food, cutting out chemicals such as Phthalates in my skincare and haircare and make up and washing power and washing up liquid etc by going organic, replaced all my non stick cookware with stainless steel, cut out caffeine and reduced alcohol to max 2 glasses of wine a week. I took Co enzyme Q10, pregnancy friendly Omega 3, vitamin D, DHEA and Impryll. After that in my next cycle, I got 6 eggs retrieved and 2 blastocysts to transfer. Still didn't get pregnant though but felt like I had improved egg quality somewhat with everything I was doing. It was pretty tough though. I would read It Starts With The Egg and speak to your consultant re supplements!

[Sunny39 in reply to Koala365]

Thank you Koala365, I have just got the book, and I’m finding it all so interesting. I’m having my AMH rechecked Wednesday to see what my number is a year on, but the clinic has already suggested DHEA, which I’d never heard of, so have that on order now and will order the other bits in the book. Good luck with your journeyx x x