Hi, Dr. Fiona.
My name is Beth, and I am 43 years old. Other than my age, I do not have any fertility issues, but my husband's vasectomy is the reason for our IVF treatments. We have one two-year-old son from IVF, and we have been trying for #2. My issue, as expected due to my age, is with my egg and embryo quality. I average about 3-6 eggs each cycle, and they usually all fertilize and look good on day 2. By day 5, I typically end up with one or two of not-so-great quality. And in the past two cycles, we have only been able to transfer back a morula.
My clinic does not believe in supplements, acupuncture, etc. and I cannot get any good advice from them. I have done a lot of research on my own, and I read the book "It Starts With The Egg" which was totally inspiring. I have been seeing an acupuncturist once a week since September, and she has had some input as well.
As a result, I am on a lot of different supplements, and I want to make sure I'm on the right path and not actually sabotaging myself somehow. If you wouldn't mind, would you please review my protocol and let me know if I should change anything?
Prenatal Vitamin with Folate
Vitamin B Complex
Vitamin D3 - 2,000 IU
Vitamin C - 1,000 mg
Vitamin E - 200 IU
Selenium - 200 mcg
Melatonin - 3 mg
Fish Oil Capsule - 1,450 mg EPA, 550 mg DHA, 2,600 mg Purified Fish Oil
DHEA - 75 mg
N-Acetyl-L Cysteine - 600 mg
Ubiquinol - 600 mg
My acupuncturist also wants me to take Chinese herbs.
With the little background you have on my specific situation, is any of this too much, not enough, counterproductive, etc.?
I would appreciate your insight very much.
Thank you,
Beth