royal jelly, bee pollen, bee propolis?

zeynsom

I am trying to get my body absolutely ready for the second IVF cycle, which will happen mid-August. I am already on a CoQ10 (600mg), DHEA (74mg_, prenatal, vit D (1000), iron, selenium, fish oil, folic acid, acupuncture, yoga regimen. I am curious about what you think about royal jelly, bee pollen, bee propolis? I'd jump and start getting all but I am concerned about royal jelly being basically an estrogen supplement. I was close to being cancelled before for high estrogen levels for my (then cancelled) IUI. I won't be on BCP before this cycle and would hate to get delayed for the IVF for high estrogen levels at the baseline. Does anyone have experienced artificial increase in estrogen levels after especially having royal jelly?

pblge

No idea, but it sounds bad. Just because a supplement may help some people doesn't mean it would be good for everyone. DHEA is also one that can harm people that don't need it.

przemosbabe

I think if you have high estrogen or normal estrogen that you shouldn't take it. I've read of ladies having their IVF cycles delayed because their estrogen was too high from taking this. I have a personal experience with flaxseed oil making my estrogen too high. I would just stay away from anything that has estrogenic effects

LeggyJeggy

@przemosbabe I'm glad you mentioned that about the flax seeds. I've been eating 1-2 tbsp every day for a couple of years now and my estrogen is high, ie, when I triggered last cycle, I had 3 measurable follies and my E2 was 1800+.  Do you know if chia seeds or anything else (other than soy which I avoid) have the same effect?

przemosbabe

@LeggyJeggy‌ I would definitely stop the flax. Definitely keep taking chia seeds because its almost the same as flax as far as benefits but without the estrogens/phytoestrogens. Also plastic. Try to avoid plastics at all costs. That's where a lot of us are getting these estrogen dominance problems from

poohniki

I'm interested in the reasons not to take DHEA @pblge and @IFinTN. I've read that it causes spikes in estrogen right around ovulation. My RE wants me to take 75mg daily, but since I find it harsh on my stomach my RI tested my levels and we agreed that 25mg was more than enough.

I cannot have high estrogen and have been avoiding soy this cycle as well. Thanks for the info about the flax seeds as well. 

I think I also read that estrogen can be way higher than what it is in your bloodwork. I am not sure if it's related to my PAI-1 mutation, but once I'm on estrogen I gain so much weight (about 8 lbs this week) and I'm curious if a lot of the estrogen is being stored in the new fat I've accumulated.

pblge

@poohniki - Here's a couple of articles:
https://haveababy.com/fertility-information/ivf-authority/dhea-and-ivf-harmful-in-certain-cases
https://natural-fertility-info.com/dhea-and-your-natural-fertility-2.html

I don't know a lot about it, as I've never taken it. FWIW, I regularly eat soy and flax seeds and have never had high estrogen.

AMShark

Fascinating information -I don't know much about supplements - I've just started CoQ10 for the first time (going into cycle 2).  I have a lot of things to ask my RE now.  Thanks.

@przemosbabe - Thanks for the tip on plastic.  I bring my lunch in tupperware almost every day.  I wonder if this is having an adverse effect on my fertility?  Is it time for me to empty the tupperware cabinet? 

LeggyJeggy

Thanks @przemosbabe  I've been taking the flax and chia in my smoothies for fiber as directed by my gastroenterologist so I started just chia this morning.  But I always avoid plastic!  

 @AMShark definitely don't ever heat up your food in plastic, get glass containers instead.  I even take the plastic cover off and put a paper towel on top when heating it up in the mic.

zeynsom

I read more about DHEA today: while the above cited articles say no-no to DHEA, many others encourage it for diminished ovarian reserve, which I have. I was concerned about it and did not take it (and my RE left it to my decision at the time) for the first cycle, and I only had 5 eggs retrieved. I am taking it for 3 months for this upcoming cycle, which is going to be the same protocol only without BCP this time, and we'll see how it will go. I may be a good test case for DHEA effects. I'll let you know.

Regarding royal jelly, bee pollen etc. I asked my RE and she said that the results are controversial and inconsequential and that she does not want me to add those to my diet. So, I'll be on:

CoQ10 (600mg), DHEA (75mg), fish oil (twice/day- 2400 mg), iron (28mg), selenium (200), folic acid (400mg), prenatal vitamin, Vit D (1000) for the next six weeks before my cycle

I also get baby aspirin for implantation just in case we can naturally fertilize an egg

I am also on my thyroid medicine: levothyroxine (112 mg)

And, I do yoga and acupuncture once a week

zeynsom

Ha, by the way, why did nobody tell me that I spelled royal jelly as royal "jerry" in the title? LMFAO.

LeggyJeggy

IFinTN said:

Ha, by the way, why did nobody tell me that I spelled royal jelly as royal "jerry" in the title? LMFAO.

Eh-we knew what you meant:)

And it was funny It made me think of Seinfeld.