Supplements

I started supplements this week. Below is a list of what I'm taking for any of my fellow TTCers that want to add supplements to their treatment plan. I am following the recommendations of  Rebecca Fett author of  "It Starts with the Egg", which I highly recommend if you're considering adding of the below supplements.

Ubiquinol There is an entire chapter in the book with the explanation and benefits of Ubiquinol which is the active form of COQ10. Other versions of COQ10 are not as easily absorbed as Ubiquinol. It is a natural molecule in the body, and plays an important role in energy production throughout the body. The energy that is needed during egg maturation plays a huge role in the quality of our eggs. If you're interested in the exact scientific function in has on your eggs.... get the book... read it, it explains it all in detail. Recommended dose: 600mg daily.

Vitamin E  is believed to be helpful for people dealing with unexplained infertility, which is the category that I fall into. I was initially diagonsed with PCOS by my obgyn, was told later by my RE that I probably do not have PCOS. We were then diagnosed with low sperm motility and count which was corrected with supplements. So now I fall into the unexplained infertility category. Vitamin E is believed to compensate for the antioxidant levels that decline as women age. The book recommends no more than 200IU daily.

Vitamin C  is a natural antioxidant that is found in large amounts in ovarian follicles. Studies were dones on mice that proved that Vitamin E & C were shown to prevent ovarian decline with age. Vitamin C also improved quality of pig embryos in a lab study. Recommended dose: 500mg daily.

Alpha Lipoic Acid also has antioxidant properties which can play a role in egg quality. Best forms to get are R Lipoic acid or R-alpha lipoic acid which is more easily absorbed. Studies have shown that in women with PCOS it has regulated ovulation. Recommended dose: 100mg or 600mg daily. (I'm doing 100mg)

N-acetyl Cysteine This one may be the one that impressed me the most. There have been studies that showed women undergoing fertility treatments pregnancy rated increased by 20% when taking N-acetyl Cysteine. It was also proven in studies to increase the quality and number of fertilized eggs in mice. It also acts as antioxidant. It is also recommended for women who have suffered recurrent miscarriages. Recommended dose: 600mg per day.

Prenatal Vitamin is nothing new for me, I've been on it for almost 3 years now. The folic acid contained in prenatal vitamins are play a HUGE role in preventing birth spina bifida and other neural tube defects. Most doctors recommend any woman of child bearing age to take folic acid daily.... I know this not only from the book but from working with a doctor who prescribes it regularly for women.

I will take this combination for at least 4 months before attempting another IVF cycle. We are looking towards another fresh cycle this summer or early fall. I'm also cutting out all plastic cookware due to the effects BPA has on fertility, do the research it's proven to cause infertility. I'm also trying to cut out a lot sweets and foods that contain preservatives.