Supplements - Egg Quality

MamaLo1216

So, we did IVF about 1 month ago and it worked but then miscarried about a week after we got BFP (3rd m/c).  My dr thinks it was due to my egg quality and wants me to wait until December or January to try again after taking supplements for a while to improve EQ. 

I am curious what those of you have taken and if you've seen improvement.  I am on DHEA, Vitamin C, Inositol, Folic Acid, Omega 3 and Co Q 10. Anything I should add that others have had success with? 

Thanks! 

Edwina.McDunnough

I am on most of those and no success, and most of those supplements aren't for EQ per se.

For success stories you should go to the SAIF or PAIF boards. Everyone here is trucking along trying to get pregnant.

Mayan2011

You also might want to consider: royal jelly, bee pollen, L-arginine, and pycnogenol.

I only took royal jelly and bee pollen as part of my preparation for IVF 2.  There was a big difference in embryos between the two cycles and ER (see siggy), but we also switched from an atagonist to an agonist protocol and I also included electro-stim and laser acupunture.

I have now added the supplements that I listed in the first paragraph to prep for IVF 3.  AND, for the record, I am the 'healthy' one - but want to do everything I can to help make good strong eggs.  I have run all of the supplements by my RE and he is fine with them.

Good luck!

elisem42

i was told...coq10, larginine, and royal jelly...i also have wheatgrass shots in my freezer!!  gL!

Edwina.McDunnough

And some REs (particularly SIRM) prohibit DHEA aross the board, and it's potentially harmful to EQ for some patients, esp younger women and those with PCOS.

There is a Japanese study of pre-cycle use of melatonin is beneficial, and a lot of women do acupuncture, but some REs do not allow the chinese herbs that are often suggested.

Plus going completely gluten-free and eating local/organic etc.

Personally, I've been on a huge gamut of these supplements for over a year, GF and DF, and the things that really made my cycles significantly  "better" regarding response and apparent embryo quality were finding a protocol that I responded to best and adding in coculture. That being said, I'm still here working on IVF5 after a number of excellent cycles and with many beautiful d3 embryos. Our blast transfer made it apparent that even beautiful embryos can be flawed and have a high attrition rate. It comes down to cycling and cycling until you find that one healthy egg when you have true EQ issues. IMHO when I see bad IVF cycles turn around to excellent ones it was a matter of the protocol, not the inherent egg quality. If any of these alternative practices or supplements help a little I'm all for it, but take them with a grain of salt.

Mandy_Lou83

I'm taking CoQ10, metformin, Royal-Jelly/Bee Pollen in honey and DHEA. My DHEA is a compounded Rx that was made for me and not otc.

I have no idea if any of this will work but I'm going to try. They say it takes 3 months to make a difference. I didn't start a couple of them until after my last failed IVF and I don't plan on doing any kind of cycle for a couple of months.

elisem42

Edwina...are you currently at Cornell?  and who do you see there?  if my 2nd IVF cycle is a bust and i am told it's due to poor egg quality, I may be seeking an opinion over there!  thanks!