To coQ10 or not.

[LavendarGreen]

My fertility clinic is strongly evidence based and I get that. However, it doesn’t stop me from wanting to believe it’s possible to improve egg quality. I’m also well aware that something scientifically predicted to have positive effects in humans may in fact have a negative impact once clinically tested (like high doses of vitamin E). Any arguments for/against taking coQ10? I’m 42, normal AMH and antral follicle count, two previous miscarriages.

[Twiglet2]

I’m 42 and quite a few miscarriages and had a child in 2021 via IVF (1 round) and was struggling for a sibling after 4 rounds I took COQ10 600mg for 3 months prior to collection (had tried it previously lower dose for around and impyrl on another round but made no difference) . Had my lowest egg collection numbers yet but made 2 blasts one of which I’m currently 35 weeks pregnant with.

No idea if the increased dose and religiously taking coq10 helped at all and I am not one for all the hundreds of vitamins and scaremongering tactics/money making schemes (IMO) in the it’s starts with an egg books etc but there is so much mounting evidence on COQ10 and embryo quality from different sources around it giving older eggs a little more ‘energy’ and quality that I thought it was worth a go and it wasn’t too expensive on Amazon. I couldn’t find any evidence of it having negative effects, especially in over 40s really but it can slightly mess with your cycle when you first start taking it.

Like you said it’s not ‘evidence based’ so my clinic didm’t/couldnt recommend it but when I asked one of the consultants she did say many women she has seen had taken it and she didn’t not recommend me to take it or to stop it etc.

not sure if that helps you at all just my experience of it 🤗 xx

[Oliveivy3]

I have read a few scientific papers that indicate that COQ10 improves egg health. I am not aware there is any negative effects so I continue to take it ( I am 40). I have had five IVF transfers without success (two chemical pregnancies) and then I fell pregnant naturally a year ago which unfortunately resulted in miscarriage due to a chromosomal abnormality. Following investigation at a highly regarded recurrent miscarriage clinic I was told to take vitamin D ( higher dose then I was as range was lower end of normal )and folic acid.

Good luck with ur journey 😊

[BBHH1]

I’ve talked to many doctor that are researchers, director, chairman and none have ever said there is a risk with CoQ10. We can never say it’s zero but I would say risk is pretty low and benefits potentially high so taking it make sense. Best,

[MBean0813]

I was informed by my clinic to include it with other vitamins, etc as part of a cocktail regimen for egg retrieval to help with quality. They gave my husband a list as well. However, was instructed that once pregnant you don't take it anymore.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi. I’m on the side of the liver.this organ doesn’t like too many vitamins etc to sort out.unless you know you are depleted in it/some. Best to trust your clinic, I suppose. Good lock. Diane.