Starting IVF in 3 months with the NHS. Please share tips on how I can prep my body.

[MissB22]

Hello Ladies,

I am 28 and husband is 30 we are due to start our first IVF cyle in 3 months time with the NHS. So far it is deemed ‘unexplained’ as tests have come back fine. My AMH is 21.6 and I have been ttc for 2 years now. Never missed a period, have a regular cycles of 31 days.

My CCG only offers one cycle so I really want it to work and ensure that I am in the best health I could be before I start.

I am currently taking OVUM supplement (it has most of the things mentioned in the book it starts with the egg), I am also taking coQ10 200mg and Omega 3. Should I take vitamin E 200IU? has anyone taken that?

Husband is taking coQ10, omega 3, vitamin C and D and wellman multivitamin.

I would be grateful if you ladies could could please share your tips and experiences for a successful IVF. Supplement advise would be helpful! Trying my best to eat healthy for the next 3 months too I normally do eat quite healthy anyway but being more careful now. Food advice would be helpful too. Anything I could basically do to help my chances and prep my body.

Thank you x

[Hidden]

I took a right cocktail 😆 bump and glory pregnancy safe fish oil, methal folate - basically folic acid in a pure form, in additon to my pregnancy multi vitamins. Co enzyme q 10.....magnesium, selenium!! Vitamin D spray very important....

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh and optibac women's probitoics.....

[HollyT7]

I'd suggest speaking with your consultant about what best supplements to take. I ate healthy with our first that ended in chemical, pigged out with our second which was positive and did the same with our third which is 29 weeks cooking. a loads of larger women get pregnant and eat smoke drink whatever they like, so as long as your sensible you should be fine. I know we do all we can to see those two lines, but a lot of this is down to luck too! I say eat healthy, don't restrict yourself too much and do what you have to to get through. all the best x

[Rollercoastersmiles]

Hey, my consultant told us that we should just try to eat a balanced diet and that there was no need to completely stop alcohol, as long as we are staying within government guidelines (I asked specifically, because like you, I wanted to do all I could to have this work!!) We were also advised to take prenatal vitamins (a female one for me, and a male version for hubby) and I was advised to take vitamin D. I also took omega 3, and probiotics before transfer.

It can be quite a long process on the NHS, so you want to be realistic about any lifestyle changes. I had my first appointment with the consultant at the beginning of May last year, egg collection at the end of November, and due to a freeze all cycle, had my first transfer at the end of March this year. It was a long, stressful, emotional process. I’d have really suffered without a few glasses of wine over all that time! (Currently 18 weeks, and officially off the sauce now but the wine beforehand 🤞🏽didn’t seem to do too much harm)

[Twiglet2]

Best thing you can do for your body is relax, if working out and eating healthy helps you be in a positive place then do that. If, like me, walks with the dog and eating a balanced diet with treats at the weekend and glass of wine keeps you sane and calm then do that! Thats what worked in my experience, oh and binning that book ‘it starts with an egg’ lol I stopped taking the cocktail of vitimins and just took a pre conception multivitamin and made sure I got lots of vitimins D from the sunshine ☀️ To me it sounds like you are both doing more than enough so I wouldn’t do anything more except spend some relaxing time together before it all starts. Wishing you the best of luck xx

[Olive12345]

With eating healthy focus on nutrient dense foods and just eat shed loads of them. Lots of root veg, green veg, meat and fish, nuts and seeds if you tolerate them - all as natural as possible! Season with herbs, olive oil, salt, lemon etc Get a big pot of natural yoghurt and some berries for sweet treat (with a drizzle of maple syrup if you need more sweet 😂)! Or dark chocolate is better than milk and tastes much better once you’re over the initial shock! The best way to eat kale is to remove the stalks and wash it, then drizzle olive oil and sea salt over it and scrunch it up so it softens - then eat! I make a big batch to keep in the fridge and add handfuls to meals! Butternut squash roasted with garlic granules (spice isle) and nutritional yeast (vegan bit) is a winner too and can be kept in the fridge and added to meals for a nutritional boost! The more you focus on adding nutrient dense foods, the less space there is for less nutritional foods!

[Bluediver]

Hi I haven’t yet started IVF and may not need to but I had some obviously improvements with increased follicles and then naturally got BFP .

After finding out I have very low AMH and very high FSH for my age (29) and told any conception was going to be difficult. Drs were taken by the improvements and said it was likely to be the supplements .

- when out found out my situation I did a lot of research including reading research paper and trails.

-Ubiquinol 300mg (it’s the active ingredient of CQ10- or if your taking Cq10 it needs to be 600mg)

-Pregnacare pre conception multi Vit

- highest dose Vit D you can buy (4000 iu)

- DHEA 50mg - 75mg depending on how you respond if you get headaches and sweaty then drop for 75mg to 50mg .

- I also do think that acupuncture helped, my periods where a lot more consistent after just 4 acupuncture sessions. I went 2 weekly . Day before ovulation and when period was due.

- didn’t drink for 6 months.

- clear blue 2 day ovulation tests.

Hope that helps.