It starts with the egg

Justone13

Ok who read this book? I feel like I was doing everything wrong. Really wishing that I would have read about this 6 months to a year ago. I'm using the coq10 now. Switched out my cleaning products to honest and method and am trying to use only bpa free stuff. I plan on calling my nurse tomorrow to discuss DHEA and adding the melatonin when I start my injections. Doing some more clean eating. I feel like a crazy lady now. I'm in the zone. 8-} Thoughts ladies? Did I just jump on the crazy train?

ronniesgirl1981

Not at all! What's the deal with melatonin?

przemosbabe

I haven't read that book but I'm an all natural body products, cleaning supply, laundry soap , organic eating type of girl. Chemicals and toxins in no way can be good for a person period so I can only imagine the damage it could do to your reproductive system!

Pintobean39

I took melatonin a month before I started stims for my IVF, I quit taking it the first night of stims. I can't say if it worked our not because I've only done 1 IVF, but my RE did tell me as far as the number of mature eggs retrieved I was in the upper 10% of cycles for people my age. I was a little over a week away from my 40th birthday and had 18 mature. I only had 10 make it to 5-6 days and only 3 genetically normal, but I was pretty damn impressed especially since he expected 6-8 eggs to be mature when the cycle started.

From my understanding in the research for melatonin it doesn't increase pregnancy success exactly just helps with the estrogen level for mature eggs. I thought I saw mixed stuff about taking it before or during stims.

I also started taking Coq10 last November and switched to ubiquinol (because it's suppose to be more easily absorbed by your body) sometime in the beginning of the year.

Justone13

@ronniesgirl1981‌ Pretty much what pp said. From what I read was to take it starting the night of stims and ending it 2 days before the retrieval.
@Pintobean39‌ uh that is AMAZING results. My eggs are rotten.

Pintobean39

@Justone13‌ Good luck! I hope this works for you.

Frenchteachermama

I read the book too and it scared the crap out of me.  I took away a lot of really great things from the book but I can't make all of those changes all at once.  I decided to focus on a few things that I can easily change, supplements, exercise, and eating.  My IVF is in August and if it's unsuccessful then I'll change to natural cleaning products and cosmetics.

jlb902

I read it and have done some things like switching cleaners and detergents and staying away from BPA. I am not as good with the diet. I am feel like I need to have control and IVF is pretty much hard to control so I think that's why I like these types of books.

RunCC37

I read it and also wish I had read it a year ago before starting IVF. At this point, I give up on my ovaries and don't think there's anything out there to help!

Justone13

@RunCC37‌ I totally understand. At this point id do anything to get them better.

Twinkie0612

I'm late to this discussion, but I took melatonin during IVF #3 (CD 1 through trigger) and it was my best cycle (no BFP though). I had 8R, 8M, 8F and 2 made it to blast for transfer (1 more made it to early blast by day 6, but was too low quality to freeze). IVF #1 was 6R, 5M, 3F, and 0 blasts and IVF #2 was 8R, 7M, 5F, and 1 early blast on day 5.

I did take other supplements as well though. I took Myo-Inositol, Ubiquinol (Advanced active CoQ10), L-Arginine, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and DHA. I plan on the same supplements this upcoming cycle as long as both my new RE and RI sign off on them. I do plan on switching from a non-fish based DHA to Fish Oil because I have read that Fish Oil in high doses has some benefits for lowering NK cell activity.

Justone13

@Twinkie0612‌ that's great results! I'm going to check these other ones out too. Thanks!
@Hoping4LO‌ hey girl!! Yes I'm starting again in September. I am so ready to go again. I hate the wait. I told DH I know all this is a little extreme but if it works I don't care how crazy it is. I just want to get this over with. Stupid bad boobs, rotten eggs and broken balls!! )

Sigh202

When I asked about this, my RE told me take CQ10 (200 mg 3 times a day) and DHEA (75 mg).  I'm willing to try anything.

Justone13

@Sigh202‌ My re said to follow the bottle and it said 200mg 1x a day for the coq10.
@Hoping4LO‌ Yep bad boobs too! lol. I have a prolactin issue. MRI showed my pituitary gland was fine so "unexplained" blah!! Nothing like lactating with no reason!!

Canuck13

I read it and hopped on that crazy train too...just kidding! I actually found the book SO interesting and really took a lot of the advice (even my SO jumped on board) getting rid of all plastic storage containers and basically replacing any plastics in our kitchen that didn't say BPA free...changed my shower curtain liner...eating organic and using organic beauty products and cleaning supplies. I was already taking Coq10 but upped my dose and started taking all of the supplements/vitamins recommended in the book. Here is an excerpt for any DOR girls: “Advanced Plan: Trying to Conceive Through IVF with Diminished Ovarian Reserve: If you have been diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve or age-related infertility, you have the most to gain from an aggressive plan to improve egg quality. In addition to the steps listed above for the basic plan: • You may benefit from a higher-dose of CoQ10 (ubiquinol), such as 300 mg. You may also want to take one or more additional antioxidants in the form of vitamin E (200 IU), vitamin C (500 mg) or alpha-lipoic acid (as R-alpha-lipoic acid, 100 mg to 600 mg per day on an empty stomach) for three months before your next IVF cycle. • To increase your egg numbers and prevent chromosomal errors in eggs, consider also taking a DHEA supplement for three months before your next IVF cycle. The formulation of DHEA is particularly important because if not formulated correctly, it will not be absorbed. Look for a brand that is pharmaceutical grade, micronized, and potency guaranteed, such as Fertinatal. The typical dose is 25 mg, three times per day. • To further boost egg quality, consider taking a melatonin supplement at the start of your next IVF cycle, when you begin injectable medications. The typical dose is a 3 mg tablet shortly before bed. If side effects bother you, take a smaller dose. • Ask your doctor to test you for underactive thyroid, a common cause of diminished ovarian reserve in younger women. • Carefully limit sugar and refined carbohydrates in your diet and maximize vitamins and antioxidants. • Make sure your male partner is also taking a daily multivitamin and has a diet rich in antioxidants.” Excerpt From: Fett, Rebecca. “It Starts With The Egg.” Franklin Fox Publishing, 2014-03-26. iBooks. This material may be protected by copyright.

Canuck13

I forgot to mention my AFC went from 3 in April to 8 for current cycle...and I've only been following this "cocktail" for 2 months. Not positive it helped, but I'll try anything. For the record, my Re only recommended 600-800 mg of CoQ10 and said the DHEA findings were unproven but I decided to try it anyway.

Mozzarella13

@Justone13‌ my RE increased me to 200 of co q10 twice daily from the once daily rec on the bottle.
I may look at that vit E, c, and alpha lipoic. If I recall correctly, dHEA can be harmful if testosterone is normal. And it's either that or melatonin that are not good for thyroid patients...sorry I can't remember, if just know I was instructed not to take either of those!
ETA: I got one of those juice/smoothie blender things today, and lots of fruit to start making smoothies, in addition to my natural deodorant and other natural products, so apparently I'm on this bandwagon!

Justone13

@Mozzarella13‌ Hey sweets! I put a call in to my re yesterday so I'm sure I'll hear something this week about it all. My thyroid and pituitary are okay just have the unexplained prolactin issue. Yay me! Lol. I've never heard of trying any of these things from my re only on this board and my own research so it makes me think he hasn't don't the research on the stuff. Idk. What kind of natural deodorant did you get? And does it actually work? I'm on a fruit kick too since it's summer and I can take advantage!

Mozzarella13

@Justone13‌ my RE was familiar with the dHEA and recommends it for some, just not me. As far as the other supplements, he just said there's not a lot of conclusive research so he isn't opposed, just not sure how much it helps. I got the Lavanilla "the healthy deodorant" and it works! Maybe not for running a marathon, but for most everything else it works just as well as degree, and it smells wonderful. They even have fruity ones for summer. It's pricey but I think I will get bored of the scent before it runs out!

Justone13

Totally checking it out!! Thanks!!