CoQ10 was it recommended by your Re?

vballbaby

Hi ladies, so my RE didn't recommend any supplements such as coq10 to potentially help me with egg quality (honestly I don't know my egg quality yet as jan will be ivf #1). I was wondering if yours did or if you decided on your own to take it? All the info I've been reading kinda steers toward not enough studies being done in order for a dr to recommend it, however they don't seem to advise against it either. I'm kind of wondering if I should just take some?! Am I too late in the game for it to make a difference since I start stimming Friday? Maybe I'm overthinking things

ronniesgirl1981

My RE recommends 300 twice a day. My first RE did not recommend any supplements. I wouldn't add any for your current cycle. Hopefully you won't need to, but I'd add them 3-4 months before any subsequent cycles. Good luck.

vballbaby

Thanks ladies, I should have searched first! I am going to ask him at my next appointment what his thoughts are.

vballbaby

@lemonliz thanks! I just noticed your siggy...so this is your first IVF as well? We both have younger hubby's as well although I have you beat by a few years...hehe. And I also have low AMH.

vballbaby

@ronniesgirl1981 thanks for the advice, and I'm so terribly sorry for your losses. My heart goes out to you.

CML11

Yes I take Ubiquinol though

emmuffy

My RE's office published a list of supplements they recommend and CoQ10 is on it, although my RE told me it's generally thought to be more effective for older women

Justone13

My re didn't suggest it but when I asked he said it wouldn't hurt. He was good with me taking melatonin during stims too. The coQ10 needs more time to make changes in your body but the melatonin might help. Ask about that.

shelbeans82

*** siggy warning ****







My RE recommended the Theralogix brand as well (1 cap twice a day).  I took them faithfully before IVF # 2 and that was the only cycle we had frosties.  I took them for a shorter period of time before IVF # 3 and we did not have any frosties (I try not to think about it too much, but kinda want to kick myself for not taking them sooner).  I personally feel like the CoQ10 is what made the difference.  Unfortunately, it would be too late to start now, RE recommended starting them when the cycle started ie:baseline and BCPs through stimming. 

vballbaby

Wow I really, really wish I would have talked to my RE sooner about this! Seems like such a no brainer since it doesn't hurt anything to try from what I've learned.

Cindal

The first RE recommended it for egg quality. I started taking it a week or so before my baseline. I think it was 300 2x a day. The 1 egg that was retrieved was of top notch quality with no fragmentation.

tumbleweed123

shelbeans82 try not to beat yourself up.  Even with taking supplements for both my cycles, they went very differently.  

jbasore1123

I took the Ubiquinol form because I have proven egg quality issues. I do believe it helps somewhat. The first cycle we took it (IVF #3) we got two healthy embryos, which is vastly different than in the first two cycles. This last cycle we didn't have any healthy so it didn't seem to help much then, but we did get 4 to PGS testing. I was told you need to take it consistently for 3 months before ER for it to make any sort of a difference.

tumbleweed123

Buttmonkey34  My RE really believes that melatonin helps -- I would totally push for it if you do end up doing ER again.  

vballbaby

Well I got some coq10 today and I'm gonna take it anyway! Couldn't hurt right?:)

CML11

@tumbleweed123‌ I hear that melatonin can help with quality but not recommended for poor responders due to diminishing quantity and interferring with Estrogen levels. I read that from a previous Bumpie, so I haven't done my own research on it.

tumbleweed123

CML11 interesting!  My RE put me on it for my second cycle (I was already on all the other ISWTE supplements, but he wanted me to add Melatonin for my second cycle) and I ended up getting about 20% more eggs that round, as well as my only normals.  But, I don't have DOR and I seem to have responded fairly well both cycles, so he must not have been worried about that.  At this point, we really are more worried about quality, so that's probably why he advised me to go for it. 

Good to know though, about the worry about poor responders using it -- always good to check with your doc before starting any new meds/supplements  

vballbaby

Was able to talk to my nurse today and she gave me the green light to take coq10. She just said "they don't push that stuff" ie supplements. I guess some drs just stick with mainstream thinking but that doesn't surprise me.

saysjess

My RE said yes to all the supplements I'm on (coq10, vitamin b, vitamin d, omega 3) but especially was enthusiastic about the coq10. The only one he said not to take was dhea because "it does the opposite if what we want for you body" whatever that means

vballbaby

@saysjess, probably makes sense for me too not to take it. They tested my DHEAS levels and they were normal so no need to mess with it.

saratrying

loss mentioned.....

My first RE recommended prenatal vitamin only. No luck. 

My second RE recommended prenatal vitamin and 25mg a day of DHEA. No luck.

My current RE recommends the following in addition to prenatal vitamin: CoQ10 600mg; Myoinositol 2g twice a day; DHEA 75mg a day; vitamin D 4000iu; and folic acid (800mg). I did not do the full protocol my first cycle, and that was unsuccessful. I followed it to the letter the second time, and I had a BFP, but it ended in a miscarriage. 

I have no idea if the supplements led to the BFP, but I am taking them religiously in anticipation of my next cycle. 

Good luck!

vballbaby

@saratrying‌ I so appreciate a dr who thinks outside of the box. I've had to ask about the supps I wanted to take. Good luck with your next cycle!

tptbabe

I was on a myriad of supplements prior to our first cycle, but it didn't include CoQ10. My RE was fine with all of them, but wanted me to stop them before stimming. (My ND had me stop everything before priming even, so it's all good.) This time, I'm only on CoQ10 (Ubiquinol, as reccomended by my RE), Vitamin D (I'm deficient without it), Selenium+E (reccomended by my endocrinologist), and 1mg of folic acid. Well, and my Synthroid, but that's a different story! My DHEAS was in range, so no need to supplement there