I don't personally take any supplements besides a prenatal vitamin. I know that I've read on here that some of the supplements out there can do more harm than good. The best advice would be taking a prenatal vitamin, eat healthy, and exercise. If you need to lose weight, do the best you can to get in better shape.
I understand the desire for a pill to improve your chances, but temping and a healthy lifestyle are your best behaviors for TTC.
Me: 33 DH: 31 DS: 5 years old TTC #2 since August 2015 July 2016: Testing cycle with 100 mg Clomid = BFN August 2016: 50 mg Clomid + IUI = BFN October 2016: IVF#1 - 13 retrieved / 12 mature / 9 fertilized / 2 blasts November 2016: FET#1 = chemical January 2017: FET#2 = chemical March 2017: IVF#2 - 18 retrieved / 18 mature / 16 fertilized / 5 blasts
April 24, 2017: FET#3 - BFN May 24, 2017: FET#4 - BFP! - Beta #1 151 - Beta #2 503 - Due date 2/9/18
I take prenatals and drink raspberry leaf tea. I have also started on low dose aspirin once daily as this was recommended to me by an RE. I wouldn't add low dose aspirin unless you speak with your doctor.
I also do some things with my diet, like eat lots of asparagus (although now I can't remember the reason why... it might have more to due with sperm for DH) and pineapple after O that supposedly might help with implantation. I try to eat organic and avoid processed foods whenever possible, but not to the point where I am driving myself crazy.
Even with all that haven't had a successful pregnancy, so who knows if it's really helping. I wouldn't just start taking random things without looking into it.
Taking prenatal and eating healthier are your best options. I also am taking EPO since I tend to have little to no CM production.
Unfortunately there's not any magical pill that will get us KTFU. Your best bet is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and start temping so you can be well informed about your cycles.
It might be anecdotal, and there would have to be a subfertility issue to start with, but I put H on zinc and folate supplements and the following cycle we got a BFP (which ended in a cp sadly). I read the study below and it seemed like it would maybe help, but wouldn't be harmful.
I wonder at what point are we kind of hurting ourselves instead of helping with supplements and stuff. Specifically with aspirin/pineapple, having had a MMC I personally don't really want to help any faulty eggs out with implantation. Survival of the fittest I guess is what I'm thinking. It might be prescribed if an actual genetic issue with blood supply is suspected, but I don't think it's a good idea to take it just in case.
However if you're interested in this kind of stuff, the book Making Babies is supposed to be good and it's on my to-read list. When I get around to doing some more research, I might consider adding chasteberry or something, which is supposed to help support progesterone. Again though, that could just be prolonging the inevitable. I do think that TCM can be helpful and it's starting to be utilized in a lot of hospitals around here for a lot of things, so why not TTC.
Debbie Downer out.
LFAF/Nov 16 challenge: Bad TV moms that shouldn't be celebrated
BFP #1 10/30/15 MMC found 11/30/15 D&C 12/11/15 EDD 7/9/16
healing comes in waves, and maybe today the wave hits the rocks and that’s ok, that’s ok, darling. you are still healing, you are still healing- Ijeoma Umebinyuo, be gentle with yourself BFP #2 3/21 EDD 11/28/16
The researcher in me is dying to read these books (I actually almost bought both Making Babies and It Starts with the Egg last night on Amazon) but I just have so many doubts. I really wish there was a magical vitamin that would boost my fertility. I figure eating healthier, getting in shape, drinking more water can only help so that's our focus right now.
Me: 28 DH: 28
TTC #1 since Nov. 2015 Dx: Both tubes blocked, PCOS, DOR, RPL IVF Cycle #1 Dec. 2016 - 11R·11M·5F - Transferred 2 - BFP - Miscarriage - 0 Embryos Left
IVF Cycle #2 March 2017 - 5R·4M·3F - Transferred 1 - BFP - Miscarriage - 0 Embryos Left
There are supplements that can help some women, but you shouldn't take them without consulting your doctor. My RE told me today to start taking Ovasitol, because studies indicate that it can help women with PCOS. If you don't have PCOS, though, taking that particular supplement may not help, and may make things worse.
It might be anecdotal, and there would have to be a subfertility issue to start with, but I put H on zinc and folate supplements and the following cycle we got a BFP (which ended in a cp sadly). I read the study below and it seemed like it would maybe help, but wouldn't be harmful.
But mostly I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and HIO during my fertile week.
Zinc has been shown to improve sperm quality - but your BFP one month after starting this supplement is completely coincidental since it takes up to 3 months for new sperm to be produced. Meaning you wouldn't seen an effect from the zinc until at least three months after starting it.
Do you know how many MG of zinc DH should be taking?
@MamaPerkins In the study I read it said that "Folic acid was given at a daily dose of 5 mg, and zinc sulfate was given at a daily dose of 66 mg." The study WAS for subfertile men, so I'm not sure if it helps if your partner has normal fertility, but by all accounts it won't be detrimental to anything.
Be very very careful with herbs. Alot of them are only supposed to be taken during specific times during your cycle (like black cohosh - it causes uterine contractions and is very important NOT to be taken after ovulation). also, Vitex didnt do anything for me but delay my period. Vitex is not a miracle herb, and you will only see benefits at a minimum of 6 months of taking it. All studies show it takes AT LEAST 6 months for it to fully be absorbed into your system. So definitely not a quick fix.
Here is what I DO take: pre-natal vitamins, B complex w/ vitamin C. I also drink 2 tbsp of ORGANIC apple cider vinegar mixed with some stevia and water (to me it tastes like lemonade) - this concoction improved my CM production better than anything else (including mucinex). It balances the ph balance in your body and creates a better environment for sperm.(as well as aiding in digestion, cleansing the liver, improving sugar levels, and helping the absorption of vitamins) I also do light yoga and a self fertility massage.
Met DH - 9/2003
Dating - 9/18/2012
Married - 8/16/2014
NTNP - 7/2014-5/2015
TTC #1 - 5/2015 (CP October @ 4w2d)
*PCOS/Hypothyroid/Ectopic Kidney/High DHEA-S* HSG - All clear, ectopic kidney didn't affect uterus (yay!) CT Adrenal Scan - no tumors! SA - sperm count excellent, 2% Morphology March/April IUI scheduled - surprise BFP w/ help of Progesterone - 3/18/2016 Beta #1 @ 11dpo - 45.7 #2 @ 14dpo - 163 #3 @ 18dpo - 997 #4 @ 21dpo - 3799 EDD 12/1 based on O, 11/28 per Ob/Gyn (but he's wrong lol).
I also had the same problem. I had tried different fertility medication but didn't had any luck. A friend of mine suggested ovulat fertility supplements. I took them and it helped to regulate my irregular monthly cycle and balance hormones and at last I got pregnant. Today I am a blessed mother of a healthy baby boy. Good luck
Re: improving fertility
Me: 33 H: 36
Married: 12/14/13 DS: 1/29/09
BFP2: 10/9/15 MMC: 11/12/15
BFP3: 4/6/16 DD: 12/12/16
Eta I know it is not proven or scientific but, it is relaxing and I feel great afterwards. I used it when I was TTC #2.
I understand the desire for a pill to improve your chances, but temping and a healthy lifestyle are your best behaviors for TTC.
DS: 5 years old
TTC #2 since August 2015
July 2016: Testing cycle with 100 mg Clomid = BFN
August 2016: 50 mg Clomid + IUI = BFN
October 2016: IVF#1 - 13 retrieved / 12 mature / 9 fertilized / 2 blasts
November 2016: FET#1 = chemical
January 2017: FET#2 = chemical
March 2017: IVF#2 - 18 retrieved / 18 mature / 16 fertilized / 5 blasts
May 24, 2017: FET#4 - BFP! - Beta #1 151 - Beta #2 503 - Due date 2/9/18
I also do some things with my diet, like eat lots of asparagus (although now I can't remember the reason why... it might have more to due with sperm for DH) and pineapple after O that supposedly might help with implantation. I try to eat organic and avoid processed foods whenever possible, but not to the point where I am driving myself crazy.
Even with all that haven't had a successful pregnancy, so who knows if it's really helping. I wouldn't just start taking random things without looking into it.
Unfortunately there's not any magical pill that will get us KTFU. Your best bet is to maintain a healthy lifestyle and start temping so you can be well informed about your cycles.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11872201
But mostly I try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and HIO during my fertile week.
However if you're interested in this kind of stuff, the book Making Babies is supposed to be good and it's on my to-read list. When I get around to doing some more research, I might consider adding chasteberry or something, which is supposed to help support progesterone. Again though, that could just be prolonging the inevitable. I do think that TCM can be helpful and it's starting to be utilized in a lot of hospitals around here for a lot of things, so why not TTC.
Debbie Downer out.
BFP #2 3/21 EDD 11/28/16
LFAF Summer 2016 Awards:
We both also have a goal of drinking more water.
The researcher in me is dying to read these books (I actually almost bought both Making Babies and It Starts with the Egg last night on Amazon) but I just have so many doubts. I really wish there was a magical vitamin that would boost my fertility. I figure eating healthier, getting in shape, drinking more water can only help so that's our focus right now.
Dx: Both tubes blocked, PCOS, DOR, RPL
IVF Cycle #1 Dec. 2016 - 11R·11M·5F - Transferred 2 - BFP - Miscarriage - 0 Embryos Left
Do you know how many MG of zinc DH should be taking?
Here is what I DO take: pre-natal vitamins, B complex w/ vitamin C. I also drink 2 tbsp of ORGANIC apple cider vinegar mixed with some stevia and water (to me it tastes like lemonade) - this concoction improved my CM production better than anything else (including mucinex). It balances the ph balance in your body and creates a better environment for sperm.(as well as aiding in digestion, cleansing the liver, improving sugar levels, and helping the absorption of vitamins) I also do light yoga and a self fertility massage.
HSG - All clear, ectopic kidney didn't affect uterus (yay!)
CT Adrenal Scan - no tumors!
SA - sperm count excellent, 2% Morphology
March/April IUI scheduled - surprise BFP w/ help of Progesterone - 3/18/2016
Beta #1 @ 11dpo - 45.7 #2 @ 14dpo - 163 #3 @ 18dpo - 997 #4 @ 21dpo - 3799
EDD 12/1 based on O, 11/28 per Ob/Gyn (but he's wrong lol).
*TEAM BLUE!*