IVF Supplements! I’ve been getting this question a ton! AND IT IS A GOOD QUESTION! You don’t know what you don’t know – amiright!?
When I first knew that we were going to pursue fertility treatment [IUIs then IVF] I was pretty surprised at how much info there was available to me! There is actually a lot out there you can read about nutrition and supplements that may help fertility.
It can be very overwhelming though!
I’d love to share with you all what I am doing – and then you can do your own research.
This is actually what I did with my fresh IVF cycle in 2016 and still love this tribe of supplements for 2021’s FET.
Conception Prenatal by EU Natural
I take one capsule twice daily. I’m not partial to this brand necessarily, but let me tell you what I love about it – first the ingredients I love most, and then a little about this brand. My FAV ingredients of this blend:
- Myo-Inositol: you could get lost in all the research and benefits here! A big impact is in ovarian stimulation – which I am not doing this round. A superpower of this antioxidant is improving insulin resistance + egg quality. It’s also called the “ovary vitamin” – so there’s that. It also reduces inflammation which allows for better implantation of the embryo.
- Vitamin D: mixed data here too – but some studies show higher vitamin D levels are associated with higher pregnancy rates.
- Folate: most know about this as an important prenatal component. What many do not know is that it’s best to begin folate before conception to prevent neural tube defects. What many also do not know, according to the questions in my Instagram DMs, folic acid is a synthetic form of folate – meaning, folate is best!
- Iodine: in a study with American women trying to get pregnant – those with moderate-to-severe iodine deficiency were 46% less likely to get pregnant. Iodine is tied to our thyroid which is tied to ovulation as well as brain development once pregnant.
- Zinc: some studies show zinc deficiency correlating with pre and post embryo implantation developmental delays. Zinc is also important for ovarian function & the production of fertile eggs & embryos.
- Selenium: plays an important role in developing quality embryos as well as implantation success. Selenium can help thicken the uterine wall – which could help an embryo during implantation. It is an antioxidant that protects your egg and embryo from oxidation and other damaging effects.
There are more ingredients in this and they are ALL great – but these are my favs AND the ones that are less known before diving into research.
Why I chose this brand to be included in my routine: their blends are lab tested, there are no fillers, binders or artificial ingredients.
THORNE Omega-3 with CoQ10
CoQ10 supports egg quality and Omega 3’s are anti-inflammatory fatty acids and could assist the embryo with implantation. This is one of my favorite supplements!
Barukas
These super-powerful nuts are in my daily routine because of the selenium content. But the other health benefits are amazing too! Do some research! Selenium, again, can help with thickening the uterine wall which is ideal for embryo implantation.
THORNE Vitamin E
Could improve endometrial thickness [uterine wall] which would help with embryo implantation.
Magnesium [CALM supplement]
The mineral magnesium lowers the overall inflammation in your body which increases the chance of embryo implantation. [In 2016 for my fresh IVF cycle I actually took an ionic Magnesium supplements]
Pomegranate Juice
No scientific evidence for this one – but supposedly it can also help with thickening the uterine lining to get it ready for implantation.
I personally only drink a little bit of this daily – because I don’t have much faith in its effectiveness. But, you never know, right!?
If you don’t like the taste of pomegranate juice [it can be pretty strong] – pour some lime or coconut sparkling water and add a splash of the pomegranate!
Daily Superfoods and Whey
The most important thing I’ve always been committed to is healthy overall nutrition. A balanced diet. Supplements can definitely help – but it’s important that we are eating healthy foods! I’ve been drinking this superfood smoothie for 8 years now – and it is a huge part of my overall health. It fills in the gaps in my nutrition. Whether we want to admit it or not – the nutritional quality of today’s food is not the same as it once was. Pollution, soil quality, and even just availability can really limit the nutrition in our food. This is a whole food shake [with over 70 superfoods] and has ingredients that I simply cannot get in my regular diet. This is a big part of keeping my body healthy on the INSIDE and the outside. [adaptogens, plant-based protein, vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes, fiber, pre, and probiotics] I drink Chocolate every single day and it’s something I wish everyone knew about!
When you go through something like IVF – I think you begin to approach health differently. If it ever was, it quickly STOPS being about physique or solely an outward appearance. You start to understand that what we put IN our bodies can very much so dictate how our bodies can PERFORM.
I’m not a doctor. I am a nurse – but more than that, I’m an IVF mama who did her research and found what I love and feel really good about. I wanted to get this written down so that others can consider what may be right for them.
If it’s not clear already – please do your own research and talk to your medical team about what’s right for you!
