Making sense of supplements

[HoneyB11]

hi everyone,

having been on the forum now for four days and reading lots of posts about various supplements that may help with improving egg quality - I have a few questions:

- I’m currently taking CoQ10 (as recommended by my doc) but just one 200mg tab once a day as it suggests on the bottle, whereas I’ve seen some posts on here suggesting taking it three times a day with each meal?

The only other thing I’m currently taking is folic acid but have seen various other posts listing lots of others that could help; Vit D, B12, magnesium etc…

My question is whether it’s best to take these individually or as part of a combined pill (eg pregnacare for conception)?

Also only just started the audio book for it starts with the egg… only a couple of chapters in so know it will become clearer but she mentions DHEA supplements but I can’t seem to find this - any help here?

Sorry I’m being a bit impatient but appreciate any advice!

Thanks

Lisa

[Tarasunny]

My consultant recommended 600 mg on Coq10, so best ask your doctor. The only other things they wanted me on were vit d and folic acid . At one point I was on so many tablets I was rattling, that cycle I got 0 eggs collected. I stripped back to basics and got 9 eggs and 2 blasts. For me I've found less is more, also saved me money as those supplements are expensive. Was on DHEA for my first 3 cycles for me it didn't really work. You can't get it in the UK you have to purchase it from the US. I would say check with your clinic before going down that route and wouldn't recommend if you have a good AMH or something like PCOS.

I would say the amount of vit d in the multi vitamins is usually only very low - check yours to see. I take high dose tablet every day on top of my multi vitamin.

[Hidden in reply to Tarasunny]

Did you take 600mg coq10 in ubiquinol form?

[Tarasunny in reply to Hidden]

Initially no it was ubiquinone, then I found one that ubiquinol which was better.

[Eswyn]

It’s great that you’re reading ‘It starts with the egg’ as that’s where a lot of the supplement advice stems from. I would say it all depends on the cause of your fertility challenges. I’m 38 and have low AMH and AFC, partner has borderline high sperm DNA fragmentation. We decided to do a 3 month prep before starting IVF to give ourselves the best chance. I was tested for Vitamin D and testosterone and both came back low, so clinic prescribed Testogel instead of DHEA. I took 2,000iu Vitamin D, PregnaCare (with folic acid), 600mg CoQ10, 500mg Vitamin C, 200ui Vitamin E, Omega 3 and Melatonin (from 2 weeks before stims). Partner took Impryl, Omega 3 & Vitamin D. Taking all as individual tablets as couldn’t get high enough levels in combined pills. It’s my first cycle and I’ve only just started stims so no idea if it was worth it or a total waste of money.

[HoneyB11 in reply to Eswyn]

thanks Eswyn,

I have low AMH but not been tested for vitamin or testosterone deficiencies.

I will start taking vit D and my husband is already taking impryl. I’ll ask my doc about the others at my next appt.

good luck for your first cycle!

Lx

[Runcaptain]

Just make sure that the folic acid you take is the folate version. Lots of multivitamins include the synthetic version which is not always absorbed by everybody so it could be that you are taking it & it’s not actually doing anything. The folate is the natural version which I read can be absorbed by everyone.

Vitamin e is good for enabling you to better absorb hormones such as estrogen in treatment.

We definitely saw an improvement in our 2nd fresh round when we read up & took supplements compared to our first round where we went in blind. Good luck x

[Annjali]

My consultant recently suggested Q10 at 300mg a day and also the T gel if cannot get hold of DHEA. I hope that helps.

[NemoFish]

Most people take 600mg of CoQ10 a day either 2x 300mgnor 3x 200mg), so that is normal! Vitamin D is important as well. DHEA isn’t recommended unless there is a specific need for it, usually at your consultants recommendation. It has to ordered from the USA, but it’s not a good idea to go taking it without being told otherwise.

As for the rest of the stuff in that book, I’m a bit sceptical. If they were all that necessary then our clinics would be suggesting it but they don’t. Take that book with a pinch of salt. I dread to think how much anxiety has been caused for readers over the years! I’ve not opened it again since my first cycle failed x