Melatonin for egg quality?

[The Anchor]

So I got some bad news yesterday, no h/b on ultrasound, and while I am devastated the doc said nuchal fold indicated possibility of downs or chromosomal defect. I haven't even miscarried yet, and this may seem heartless, but I am already looking at ways to improve egg quality for our next attempt. I read the essay on boosting egg quality, but melatonin isn't mentioned...just wondering why, my girlfriend tells me her fertility doc put her on melatonin years ago to boost egg quality. Anyone heard of this? Maybe it's been proven ineffective...I can't seem to find any research on it...

[Northern_Shutterbug]

I thought eggs were made before we're even born!

[The Anchor]

I thought eggs were made before we're even born!

They are, but you can still improve the quality of them...it takes about 90 days for an egg to "mature" for release...

[nuthinbutpink]

You're a Dream Member so you can check out the HT forum. We have lots of discussions on egg quality and supps.

I used DHEA. If you have PCOS you shouldn't take it but you can read all about its affect on egg quality especially in older moms.

Coq10, b-complex, bee pollen, there are lots you can take for egg quality.

It may not work with swaying though.

[myGirl]

Hi Anchor, I'm so sorry for your loss. I totally understand wanting to try again right away.

**UPDATE** please read my post below about melatonin and ttc naturally- I've decided to drop it****

I just turned 41 in Sept. and I have been researching egg quality supplements. My top ones are CoQ10 at least 600 mg. per day and Melatonin 3 mg./day. I would have tried the DHEA, but I don't want to risk raising Testosterone, because I'm hoping for a girl.

Other supps I'm taking now are:
Royal Jelly/Bee Propolis
Pycnogenol
L-Arginine
Maca
High dose Folic Acid (4000 mcg.)

Looking at my supps you'd never think I was a girl swayer LOL

I tried for 6 months doing LE diet/ no vitamins, etc, but now I feel the clock is running out and I want a baby of either gender.

A good resource to get ideas is naturalfertilityshop.com but they don't have CoQ10 there. I read about a study showing that taking 600mg. daily may reduce the incidence of oocyte chromosomal abnormality in older women. Google CoQ10 and egg quality.

Melatonin has been shown to increase fertilization rates and pregnancy rates in IVF patients. This is due to melatonin's ability to counteract damaging oxidizing agents thereby improving egg quality. Again google it for more info.

There are quite a few other supps and regimens women are doing to improve their chances as "mature mamas," but the above is just what I have started so far. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.


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[michaela]

I am so sorry for your loss :(:( :heart:

I took 3mg of Melatonin for my first and second cycle and I am not sure that it made a difference but it didn't hurt either. One of the doctors I consulted with is a big fan of it so I took it.

If you have PCOS I would highly recommend at least 4g of Inositol and at least 1200mg of DCI (more if you are overweight). I believe these two supplements were what made the difference in my egg quality from my first cycle to my second. You can get inositol in the powdered form by Jarrow and you just put it in some water. I couldn't taste it at all and it was much easier than taking 8 pills just to get to 4 grams.

I also increased my CoQ10 dose from 200 to 600mg.

HTH!


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[myGirl]

Ok, I need to update what I said above about the Melatonin.

While it seems to be helpful for women going through IVF, apparently it can actually inhibit ovulation by lowering LH (for those of us trying naturally). I'm coming across this information just through Google... Not any studies per se, just reading message boards where members post their experiences.

Also, mayoclinic.com says to avoid it avoid if trying to become pregnant due to hormonal effects.

*sigh* I guess I'm going to get rid of the melatonin. It probably works well in IVF because they use injectable hormones and don't rely on the body's own production of LH.


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[The Anchor]

I am so sorry for your loss :(:( :heart:

I took 3mg of Melatonin for my first and second cycle and I am not sure that it made a difference but it didn't hurt either. One of the doctors I consulted with is a big fan of it so I took it.

If you have PCOS I would highly recommend at least 4g of Inositol and at least 1200mg of DCI (more if you are overweight).

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Thanks Michaela...can I ask, what's DCI?

[The Anchor]

Thanks Mygirl...one more question for you...is there a difference between Ubiquinol and CoQ10? A friend mentioned that you should take ubiquinol if you are older (although she didn't qualify what she meant by "older") because it gets harder for your body to convert the CoQ10 into ubiquinol (not sure if I got that right).

[michaela]

Thanks Michaela...can I ask, what's DCI?

D-Chiro-Inositol

Another form of Inositol that differ from the powder I mentioned.


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[myGirl]

Thanks Mygirl...one more question for you...is there a difference between Ubiquinol and CoQ10? A friend mentioned that you should take ubiquinol if you are older (although she didn't qualify what she meant by "older") because it gets harder for your body to convert the CoQ10 into ubiquinol (not sure if I got that right).

I have read that somewhere too... something about over 35 we should use ubiquinol. It makes sense b/c your body has to turn regular CoQ10 (ubiquinone) into ubiquinol to be able to use it. I take both kinds mainly because the ubiquinol comes in big fat pills, but the ubiquinone (regular CoQ10) is in delicious peach flavored gummies! I get them both at Costco- I don't know if you have one where you live.

Either way it is expensive. The regular CoQ10 gummies are made by Vitafusion (about $20 for 150 100mg gummies). The "Mega CoQ10 Ubiquinol" is made by Qunol (about $35 for 120 100mg. pills).

I hope this isn't too confusing :)


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[atomic sagebrush]

I thought eggs were made before we're even born!

They're like tiny seeds that then develop into fully formed little eggs before they're released.

[atomic sagebrush]

I'm so sorry Anchor.

Melatonin is not safe during pg and no one knows how or when it can harm a fetus so best to take a pass on it.

Best thing to take is higher dose folic acid 2000+.

[michaela]

I'm so sorry Anchor.

Melatonin is not safe during pg and no one knows how or when it can harm a fetus so best to take a pass on it.

Best thing to take is higher dose folic acid 2000+.

Definitely! We stop taking it at retrieval so that it is out of our system so I am not sure how effective it would be if you were going on and off it.

[atomic sagebrush]

Great point, Michaela - the HT ladies KNOW they can't get pg and so are safe to continue the Melatonin, but for those who are swaying, you would have to start at AF and stop it at every ovulation to prevent taking it during pg.

I would also worry that going off and on it that way could cause depression/anxiety/insomnia because Melatonin governs certain functions of your brain and starting and stopping it can't be a good thing.