If you used supplements to improve egg quality for IVF

[Anonymous]

You should have your DHEA-S level tester before starting DHEA. Mine was higher than the normal range already, so I did not use it.

[Anonymous]

COQ-10, Vitamin C, melatonin. I was at CCRM Nova and my dr didn’t really think supplements would do anything but he didn’t feel like they would hurt hurt either. Ended up with 3 PGS normals across 2 cycles.

[Anonymous]

One poster mentioned the book It Starts with the Egg by Rebecca Fett. I found this so helpful because the author has specific recommendations backed by the latest research. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Ditto for CoQ10, and a water and fat-soluble form will absorb better. I will also second what a PP mentioned about DHEA: It is better to have this level tested and work with your doctor on dosage before beginning the supplement.

[Anonymous]

I was on CoQ10 for a while and it didn't seem to improve my egg retrievals (my issue was DOR at age 33) at all. Added DHEA in preparation for one more IVF attempt and got spontaneously pregnant. Sorry, I don't recall doses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was on CoQ10 for a while and it didn't seem to improve my egg retrievals (my issue was DOR at age 33) at all. Added DHEA in preparation for one more IVF attempt and got spontaneously pregnant. Sorry, I don't recall doses.

DOR at 33 here too and got spontaneously pregnant after starting DHEA. Two back to back miscarriages, but maybe it did something, just not enough? Or maybe DH had particularly robust sperm at that time, but I still had the same poor quality eggs.

[Anonymous]

I did the whole cocktail. It did nothing for my egg quality. I have always had lots of eggs but they are poor, per my RE. (couldn’t possibly be the sperm...)

[Anonymous]

My doctor is telling me to start DHEA without checking my levels first. I’m not DOR, but I don’t respond well based on my previous ivf rounds. Is that weird? Should I push to get them to test me first?

[Anonymous]

I take the Theralogix Ova Vite. It comes as a blister pack with three tabs in it: CoQ10 x2 and a preconception vitamin with folate. Each little daily packet of three tabs is labeled with the day of the week Mon/Tue/Wed etc. I like the convenience.This vitamin was recommended to me during a consult at Shady Grove.

[Anonymous]

I did the whole cocktail for round 3 at age 40 even though Dr. said only the CoQ10 would make a difference. Make sure it is ubiquinol. It makes a difference. Round 1- 13 eggs with only 1 healthy embryo but failed, Round 2- 5 eggs but no embryos made it to day 5 for testing. Round 3 after taking cocktail for 45 days- 4 embryos, 2 made it to day 5 for testing. Both healthy, high quality embryos. I believe that the cocktail made a difference. I was ready to give up because I was told quality was so poor.

[Anonymous]

For any of you who went to CCRM, did they have you take Inositol even if you had low ovarian reserve? The research and recommendations I see online seem to mostly indicate Inositol for PCOS patients, as it lowers testosterone levels. So many DOR patients are told to take DHEA which increases testosterone, so I'm worried that taking Inositol could actually be harmful? I have DOR and my naturpath told me to take Inositol because 'CCRM recommends it' but I'm concerned. Any thoughts?