Tips on diet, nutrition and methods to improve Fertility!!!

[Emmi]

Really??? That's interesting?? Will have to look at Dr Google

 

[jen379]

Hey all,
Can I join in?
Im 36, and recently went through two miscarriages (July and October 2013)
Im hoping to start ttc-ing again asap, and am just waiting to O at this stage!

Ive changed by diet/supplements slightly.. No Diet Coke, no Alcohol at all, etc

As for Supplements I take:

Pregnacare Conception
CoQ10
Magnesium
B Complex
Folic Acid

I know Zinc is v important too, but according to the Pregnacare box, there is 100% RDA of Zinc, so Ive decided not to supplement my supplement with Zinc!

The Magnesium in the PRegnacare is only 16% RDA, so Im adding in a magnesium supplement daily!

Im not thinking two much about dosage etc yet... Im going to try these at the general recommended dosages for this month and see what happens!

xxx

Welcome Sofaqueen! i'm so sorry to hear about your mc's. i've had two myself although a full yr apart. i don't know how you've done it so close together--emotionally, that is. so hard.

I hope you get another BFP soon and it sticks!!

Just wondering if Pregnacare is a prenatal vit? if only 16%, should you take more comprehensive prenatal with ttc?

I take Thorne Prenatal--my naturopath says very good quality and can get through amazon, if interested. i'm also taking the following:
calcium
coq10
fish oil or flaxseed oil, depending on what's in stock
5000 to 10,000 Vit D (i've been deficient range in past, vit D supports progesterone)
vit c
royal jelly, bee propolis, bee pollen blend
Pregnitude
baby aspirin

and now trying to clean up my diet doing Paleo!!

 

[Briss]

I agree with Blythe re peas, cant remember last time I had them

There is Pregnacare Conception which is very good as a basic multi vitamin complex but I usually add quite a lot of stuff to it as we need much higher doses of certain vitamins.

Once a day:

Pregnacare Conception
800 Folate (not folic acid!)
400 COQ10
1,500 EPO (before O)
1,000 Fish oils
1,000 L-Arginine (after O to help implantation but there is some negative research so treat with caution)
25 Zinc (a few days before AF is due)
50 Selenium (a few days before AF is due)
800 Calcium (from time to time)
1,000 Vitamin C (after O to help progesterone)
800 Vitamin E (only before O)
4,000 Vitamin D (if it's not sunny outside)
Vitamin B complex (helps LP)
1,000 Maca (optional)
1,000 Ginseng (helps with energy levels, optional)
Fresh royal jelly, bee propolis, bee pollen (optional)

but as it says in my signature I've been taking tonnes of stuff over the years and cant really say it works for fertility (although my immune system definitely got much stronger). these days I try to chose natural options rather than supplements. I eat lots of greens and make veg juices and drink raspberry leaf (before O)/red clover (before O)/nettles/ mate/ fresh mint tea

 

[Emmi]

Crikey - that's a good stock that you have got there! Not sure that I can afford all of that so am trying to figure out which ones are really vital......I am seriously poor after IVF and what we really need is a holiday but alas, our pockets are empty

 

[Briss]

Emmi, I used to be obsessed with vitamins and supplements and was convinced they were going to make my eggs brilliant and I would get pregnant in no time. My husband was on much longer list of vitamins. amazon is the best place to buy stuff, so much cheaper than retail. higher nature brand is good but again it's cheaper from amazon. I'd get Pregnacare Conception/ Folate/ Coq10/ Vit D/ Vit E/ Fish Oil. these days I do not take much at all but as I said greens are the best and the cheapest (from a market) and they have all the vitamins you need. add them to smoothy with bananas if you cant swallow much greens. it really helps you cant taste them at all.

I get my coq10 from here (I think it's the cheapest but the quality is still very good) - https://www.naturesbest.co.uk/co-q10-200mg-p730/ take it together with Vit E for better absorption

I used to buy Fish Oils from H&B but last time I got it from nature's best and they are fine - https://www.naturesbest.co.uk/fish-oil-1100mg-p516/

I would not recommend buying stuff from H&B as some of it is not as potent as some other brands.

Higher nature's vitamins smell funny but that's cos they are not synthetic and supposed to have higher potency - https://www.highernature.co.uk/ShowCategory.aspx?CategoryID=92 but cheaper over here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Higher-Nat...34029&sr=8-1&keywords=higher+nature+vitamin+e

 

[Emmi]

Thank you for those Sourcing cheaper but just as affective pills are so important. I do go to Holland and Barrett sometimes especially when they have their penny sales - you can get some great bargains.

How are you doing Briss?? Hope that you are okay.

 

[Briss]

I had my DH on larger doses of arginine to improve sex drive and there was no difference while he was on H&B brand but once we moved to "higher nature" the changes were quite noticeable. I think H&B's potency is not that good so I only buy basic vitamins there like zinc and selenium and seeds/nuts/dry fruit.

spotting is just getting darker and more brown

 

[Blythe]

I had my DH on larger doses of arginine to improve sex drive and there was no difference while he was on H&B brand but once we moved to "higher nature" the changes were quite noticeable. I think H&B's potency is not that good so I only buy basic vitamins there like zinc and selenium and seeds/nuts/dry fruit.

spotting is just getting darker and more brown

thats so odd....i still think it could be a good thing...if it was bright red i would be more concerned. that temp leap looks so encouraging but you only have a short while now to find out. thinking of you

 

[vermeil]

I think there is an important omission in this thread - just plain old being healthy! That means a good weight, exercise and of course eating well. I think these improve blood circulation to the ovaries which is a big factor in egg quality. You can take all of the supplements in the world, it won`t compensate for poor blood circulation due to excess weight and no physical activity.

Also COQ10, 300mg twice a day. I know it can get expensive but with a bit of research there are cheaper sources of it. I personally don`t believe the hype that ubiquinol is more bioavailable that the standard coq10 (ubiquinon). Hours of research have just not convinced me. the standard is cheaper and just as good I believe. It takes 3 months to improve egg quality, the time it takes for ovocytes to mature.

Though like all supplements, egg quality remaining a mystery even to specialists. So many of these are suggested out of conjecture, not based on solid scientific research. Do your own research!

Lots of good info here - read the great article on improving egg quality.
https://www.fertility.ca/

Research the heck out of things! I know it can take time but it beats just thinking about fertility 24/7

For my second ttc at age 41 I lost 40 pounds, started exercising etc. We got pregnant on our first IVF cycle (the first FET from that cycle to be exact). I'm not saying it was a miracle solution but my FS and ob/gyn etc all said it definitely helped. I'm 30 weeks along now

Good luck!

 

[Emmi]

I had my DH on larger doses of arginine to improve sex drive and there was no difference while he was on H&B brand but once we moved to "higher nature" the changes were quite noticeable. I think H&B's potency is not that good so I only buy basic vitamins there like zinc and selenium and seeds/nuts/dry fruit.

spotting is just getting darker and more brown

How are you Briss - I have been thinking of you and have been really hoping that all is okay.

 

[Briss]

I agree with vermeil re COQ10 vs. ubiquinol but I'd just add that taking Coq10 together with Vitamin E is important (from my research) for its absorption and as long as you take it with Vitamin E you do not really need a more expensive ubiquinol. Although after being on coq10 for 1.5 years frankly I am not sure it does anything at all. My DH was on it for ages as well but it did not change anything in his SA. I still take it though.

My FS said to us 2 years ago that IVF is our only chance but I did not believe her and went on to read tonnes of books and research on lifestyle etc and made very dramatic and long term changes for myself and DH – no luck what so ever. I only came close to getting pregnant just now while doing out first natural cycle IVF. unfortunately it is ending in chemical but this is closer to getting pregnant than we ever were. Healthy lifestyle, Chinese medicine, vitamins etc is all very well and obviously improves your chances but with low sperm count IVf seems to be the only real way. Unfortunately I came to accept it the hard way. I am now thinking that the last year I spent on Chinese medicine and the rest of it was a bit of a waste of time, I should have moved to IVF sooner. I am now going to continue with healthy lifestyle, juicing, alkaline food etc for 1-2 cycles while we are preparing for our next attempt. I want my body to get back to normal so it's in the best possible shape.

Emmi, I know that you are trying to get BFP with natural and healthy approach and I really hope it will work you as it worked for many others. I do not want to discourage you, the fact that it did not work for me has no reflection on your chances. I think in our case it's just all down to sperm quality, no matter how great my body is as long as I do not get good sperm it makes everything else irrelevant. and the main damaging factor to my DH's sperm is his beer addiction which he cannot bit. but even when he did not drink any beer for 3 months his sperm was much better but still not good enough for natural conception. I wish you every luck on your journey and really hope we will hear about your natural BFP very soon!

I am off for my daily fresh wheatgrass double shot

 

[Emmi]

I think there is an important omission in this thread - just plain old being healthy! That means a good weight, exercise and of course eating well. I think these improve blood circulation to the ovaries which is a big factor in egg quality. You can take all of the supplements in the world, it won`t compensate for poor blood circulation due to excess weight and no physical activity.

Also COQ10, 300mg twice a day. I know it can get expensive but with a bit of research there are cheaper sources of it. I personally don`t believe the hype that ubiquinol is more bioavailable that the standard coq10 (ubiquinon). Hours of research have just not convinced me. the standard is cheaper and just as good I believe. It takes 3 months to improve egg quality, the time it takes for ovocytes to mature.

Though like all supplements, egg quality remaining a mystery even to specialists. So many of these are suggested out of conjecture, not based on solid scientific research. Do your own research!

Lots of good info here - read the great article on improving egg quality.
https://www.fertility.ca/

Research the heck out of things! I know it can take time but it beats just thinking about fertility 24/7

For my second ttc at age 41 I lost 40 pounds, started exercising etc. We got pregnant on our first IVF cycle (the first FET from that cycle to be exact). I'm not saying it was a miracle solution but my FS and ob/gyn etc all said it definitely helped. I'm 30 weeks along now

Good luck!

Of course it's all about being healthy - totally agree! I don't think supplements etc take away from that but just add to it. The heartbreak diet of a failing IVF has found me 14lbs lighter - I have been eating a healthy diet and not overeating on the bad stuff that I can sometimes do. I will never be a high energy exercise kinda gal but walking the dog and swimming regularly keeps me ticking over.

Congrats on your getting your BFP - fabulous news.

 

[Briss]

Lots of good info here - read the great article on improving egg quality.
https://www.fertility.ca/

good article but there is a catch, from my reading and research (over the last what seems like hundred years), you cannot improve egg quality per se. egg quality is going to decline with age and there is no way to turn the clock back. You can slow it down though by improving blood flow to your reproductive organs which in turn can improve the supply of nutrients etc to the follicle i.e. the environment where the egg is growing giving it additional boost and indirectly improving its quality. exercise is certainly a great way to get your blood moving but I am convinced that regular orgasm is the best and the cheapest way to get your blood to the follicle and uterus (Lewis also suggest some exercise for directing the blood there but I found it hard to figure out whether I am pressing on the right vein and I just think orgasms are so much easier to achieve, sorry if I sound like a broken record but one thing everyone commented on during my IVF cycle is that I have excellent blood flow to uterus and dominant follicle so I know it works). but of course you want the blood to have the right nutrients hence healthy eating, supplements etc.

 

[Emmi]

I agree with vermeil re COQ10 vs. ubiquinol but I'd just add that taking Coq10 together with Vitamin E is important (from my research) for its absorption and as long as you take it with Vitamin E you do not really need a more expensive ubiquinol. Although after being on coq10 for 1.5 years frankly I am not sure it does anything at all. My DH was on it for ages as well but it did not change anything in his SA. I still take it though.

My FS said to us 2 years ago that IVF is our only chance but I did not believe her and went on to read tonnes of books and research on lifestyle etc and made very dramatic and long term changes for myself and DH – no luck what so ever. I only came close to getting pregnant just now while doing out first natural cycle IVF. unfortunately it is ending in chemical but this is closer to getting pregnant than we ever were. Healthy lifestyle, Chinese medicine, vitamins etc is all very well and obviously improves your chances but with low sperm count IVf seems to be the only real way. Unfortunately I came to accept it the hard way. I am now thinking that the last year I spent on Chinese medicine and the rest of it was a bit of a waste of time, I should have moved to IVF sooner. I am now going to continue with healthy lifestyle, juicing, alkaline food etc for 1-2 cycles while we are preparing for our next attempt. I want my body to get back to normal so it's in the best possible shape.

Emmi, I know that you are trying to get BFP with natural and healthy approach and I really hope it will work you as it worked for many others. I do not want to discourage you, the fact that it did not work for me has no reflection on your chances. I think in our case it's just all down to sperm quality, no matter how great my body is as long as I do not get good sperm it makes everything else irrelevant. and the main damaging factor to my DH's sperm is his beer addiction which he cannot bit. but even when he did not drink any beer for 3 months his sperm was much better but still not good enough for natural conception. I wish you every luck on your journey and really hope we will hear about your natural BFP very soon!

I am off for my daily fresh wheatgrass double shot

Hi Briss, until we save enough money for another IVF, we have choice to try ourselves We had started looking at the fertility tests as soon as we started trying for a baby as our age was always against us so I feel that we have done everything the right way in terms of not wasting time and researching what's best for us. At 8 grand a pop at IVF I have to do everything possible in the mean time to increase chances. My hubby is a total beer and gin addict but once we started IVF and we had to pay extra to have his sperm frozen when all he had to do was cut the crap he puts in him - he promised that he would keep at it. He is allowed 2 cans on a Friday and maybe a Saturday - but that's it!!!!
I just need to know that we are just trying our best as time just seems to be running out, supplements, exercise, healthy eating etc are small changes that make a big difference.
Sorry to hear that you had a chemical - can't imagine all you have been through....

 

[skimomma]

I agree with Blythe re peas, cant remember last time I had them

There is Pregnacare Conception which is very good as a basic multi vitamin complex but I usually add quite a lot of stuff to it as we need much higher doses of certain vitamins.

Once a day:

Pregnacare Conception
800 Folate (not folic acid!)
400 COQ10
1,500 EPO (before O)
1,000 Fish oils
1,000 L-Arginine (after O to help implantation but there is some negative research so treat with caution)
25 Zinc (a few days before AF is due)
50 Selenium (a few days before AF is due)
800 Calcium (from time to time)
1,000 Vitamin C (after O to help progesterone)
800 Vitamin E (only before O)
4,000 Vitamin D (if it's not sunny outside)
Vitamin B complex (helps LP)
1,000 Maca (optional)
1,000 Ginseng (helps with energy levels, optional)
Fresh royal jelly, bee propolis, bee pollen (optional)

but as it says in my signature I've been taking tonnes of stuff over the years and cant really say it works for fertility (although my immune system definitely got much stronger). these days I try to chose natural options rather than supplements. I eat lots of greens and make veg juices and drink raspberry leaf (before O)/red clover (before O)/nettles/ mate/ fresh mint tea

Say, I didn't realize there were 2 of these threads!

Briss, can you spill the beans on the L-arginine? I've read good things only but is there something out there that says something different?

 

[Briss]

skimomma, I agree there is plenty of research confirming arginine's positive properties but there is also one that showed it can have negative effect.

here you are: https://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/dissertations/2009-0406-200411/boomsma.pdf

You have to go to Chapter 2.1, What can the clinician do to improve implantation, go to bottom of pg 27, "Adjuvant Pharmaceutical therapies" after aspirin is discussed, they discuss L-Arginine (=Nitric Oxide Donor). The article is highly technical but it gives good insight of the whole process of implantation.

" Moreover, a recent prospective study of women undergoing IVF for tubal or male factor infertility reported an association between high follicular NO (i.e. L-Arginine) levels and advanced embryo fragmentation and implantation failure "

 

[Briss]

Emmi, I sure you've come across this thread but just in case, there is lots of interesting information in here - https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/t...fp-dhea-coq10-vitex-black-cohosh-low-amh.html

 

[Emmi]

Emmi, I sure you've come across this thread but just in case, there is lots of interesting information in here - https://babyandbump.momtastic.com/t...fp-dhea-coq10-vitex-black-cohosh-low-amh.html

Amazing thread - thank you!!!

 

[jen379]

i think we're all on to something wonderful here.

i've been eating paleo all this week and it has been great. although i've tried losing weight or cleaning up my diet for several yrs now, i always given up, which makes me feel/know that i'm forcing fruit to grow in poor soil. yet knowing it still left me unmotivated. i'm so pleased with how it has left me feeling. i hope i can keep it up! i know that everything i have put in my mouth this week serves a nutritional purpose. and, i've been doing smoothies almost every day with spinach, parsley, apples, blueberries, coconut water. just a small glass to give me what i need.

if anyone's looking for some paleo recipes check out www.elanaspantry.com.

 

[skimomma]

skimomma, I agree there is plenty of research confirming arginine's positive properties but there is also one that showed it can have negative effect.

here you are: https://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/dissertations/2009-0406-200411/boomsma.pdf

You have to go to Chapter 2.1, What can the clinician do to improve implantation, go to bottom of pg 27, "Adjuvant Pharmaceutical therapies" after aspirin is discussed, they discuss L-Arginine (=Nitric Oxide Donor). The article is highly technical but it gives good insight of the whole process of implantation.

" Moreover, a recent prospective study of women undergoing IVF for tubal or male factor infertility reported an association between high follicular NO (i.e. L-Arginine) levels and advanced embryo fragmentation and implantation failure "

Thank you for posting the link, Briss! I'm slowly working my way through the article. Lots of interesting stuff on implantation and endometrial receptivity though I wish I had a MD instead of a PhD. I suspect my problem is implantation (endometriosis) so every piece of information I can get my hands on re: implantation/receptivity is invaluable.