Vitamin D deficiency

[Anonymous]

I apologize if most people already know about vitamin d but I haven't seen much on the subject in this forum the last 6-9 months I have been following this forum.

Today I just found out that I have a Vitamin D deficiency. I most likely have PCOS and my primary care doctor suggested that I be tested for it (of course SG recommended no such thing although I given them blood on several occasions for all types of tests). After I received the call from my doctor with my test results in the low range, I googled vitamin D deficiency and infertility. Surprise, surprise!!! There is definitely a link between the two. Up to 97% of infertile women could have a vitamin D, deficiency, especially those with PCOS. In one study, all women with PCOS tested in the low or severely deficient range for Vitamin D. Also, some infertile women started ovulating regularly and became pregnant taking by increasing their vitamin D levels alone (by 20 minutes direct sunlight or supplementation by pills)

So the moral of this story is, have your vitamin D checked early in the process because its a heck of a lot more economic to pay for vitamins than for gonadotropins. And if you're far into the fertility treatment process like me, apparently vitamin D supplementation improves ivf success rates (presumably by supporting healthy uterine lining growth).

[Anonymous]

Wow I didn't know any of that! My first cycle of Ivf failed, I do have PCOS and this cycle one of the changes was adding vitamin d...had no idea of the benefits though! Thanks for the info.

[Anonymous]

Low Vitamin D is also linked to low sperm motility and progression, so guys need to get checked, too!

[Anonymous]

OP here. @19:05-How much vitamin D are you taking with your IVF cycle? I also presume you're taking D3 correct?

Good luck on your cycle!

[Anonymous]

Wow so glad I can cancel my IVF treatment and start taking massive amounts of vit D and ALL will be cured........HOGWASH

[Anonymous]

Recent studies have suggested that a huge percentage of the North American population is chronically Vitamin D deficient. Deficiencies are linked not only to fertility problems but also to an increased risk of illnesses like cancer and MS. Most people just don't get enough sunlight anymore.

My doctor said pretty much everyone in this area should be taking a daily Vitamin D supplement in the winter (i.e. 1000mg daily of D3) and many people need it in the summer as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow so glad I can cancel my IVF treatment and start taking massive amounts of vit D and ALL will be cured........HOGWASH

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's not what the OP was suggesting. There's really no need for the snark.

[Anonymous]

PP 19:05, he told me to take 50000 IU vitamin d once a week... I'm not sure what u mean by d3? Are there different types?

[Anonymous]

Actually I just checked and mine is D3

[Anonymous]

Are we not getting enough vitamin D in our prenatal pills??

[Anonymous]

I'd been on prenatals for months when I had my Vitamin D levels checked. They were in the low range and my gyno recommended I take 1600 to 2000 IU daily in addition to my prenatal.

[Anonymous]

Same story with me (had been taking prenatals, also came back with low D levels.) I'm black, which also contributes to having low level, since I'd have to spend a lot of time in the sun to make sufficient Vitamin D naturally. But I think that it's challenging for most of us to get enough sun exposure in this part of the country, and particularly in the winter.

I got a D3 supplement from NatureMade -- 2000 IUs in one small gelcap.

[Anonymous]

I had slightly low levels and was not taking any chances given the investment I'm making in IVF, so my OB gave me a 50,000 once a week vitamin, and I'm also still supplementing with about 2,000 units a day to keep it going in steadily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow so glad I can cancel my IVF treatment and start taking massive amounts of vit D and ALL will be cured........HOGWASH

Shame on you. If you don't like what you see posted, just shut up.

This is a sensitive time for those of us dealing with this, you have no business here. Go be bitter and snarky with people who choose to be with you.

[Anonymous]

NP here. Anecdotally, I was one of three of my friends who had a surprise pregnancy within weeks of going on prescription doses of vitamin D3 after struggling with unexplained infertility (in some cases for years; one friend had multiple failed IVFs and had started the adoption process). So yes, for some people it does seem to be the mystery cause.

Prescription dose is 50,000IU/week for 12 weeks. I took that and continued with 5,000IU daily for my pregnancy and through the first 8 months of nursing (after which I probably should have continued but just started slacking and got out of the habit). It is nearly impossible to overdose on vitamin D3, and it's rightly classified as a hormone, not a vitamin/nutrient. Research shows that you can have upwards of 10,000-20,000IU per day without any issues, and other research shows that when women with a deficiency take >4,000IU per day that is also enough for their breastfed babies to not be deficient. 2,000IU per day was enough for some but not all of the women and not enough for the babies. (I supplemented my baby additionally, I'm just saying.)

Basically, it can't hurt you and it might help you. Even if it doesn't turn out to be the miracle pregnancy cure, it can help with dry skin, mood, and your immune system.