Hi Ladies, i am posting on behalf of a former board member who wanted me to share her lucky protocol. She had her son a few months ago. hope it will help someone.

Any way-- the vitamin protocol can be used if you are doing natural or IVF too-- its geared toward making the eggs the absolute best quality possible. I don't know when I will have time to post on the board--- but please feel free to post it if you go on there and want to share it (from Kitty)


HERE YOU GO!

First, before you do anything-- check with your Dr. and ask your Dr to check your Vitamin D level-- if it is below 30-- it can make it harder to get pregnant... Vitamin D is so important to fertility, hormone production and egg quality and more Dr's are seeing great results when levels are improved...But if you take Vit. D supplements its very important to get your levels tested regularly to make sure they don't get too high (which is not good either)-- you have to find the balance that is right for you.. I was told that levels should be btw. 30-50...

Here is what else I took daily and I believe it helped me to get PG:
Starting CD1 (when I got my period)
Stopped when I ovulated (only took prenatal, fish oil and extra folic acid after I ovulated):

Prenatal vitamin (has 1 MG of folic acid)

fish oil (DHA and EPA) no mercury (took amount on bottle)

Folic Acid 800 mg (this is in addition to the 1MG my prenatal had)

Vitamin B12 ((took amount on bottle. always take it in the liquid form. The pill form is ineffective b/c stomach acid kills off all of the benefits)

L-Arginine (amino acid-(took amount on bottle)

L-Carnatine (amino acid-(took amount on bottle)

Pycnogenol 100 mg (super antioxidant...its $$$-- but HUGE for egg quality)

UBIQUINOL 100-200 mg (Also $$$- but again,HUGE for egg quality -- It's COQ 10-- but better absorbed and more potent version.. As I got closer 2-3 days before ovulation I upped the dose to 200 mg... It gives the mitochondria of the cells the energy to divide)

Vitamin D 1,000 IU's...From a NON fish liver source.. I took 5,000 IU-which is a huge dose and might be risky... get level tested first, and retest regularly if you take 1,000 IU's or above. If your levels are fine to begin with-- stick with the RDA recommend amount (400 or 800 iu's, per day, I think)- but most women are deficient which plays a big role in infertility and need at least 1,000...But keep a very close eye on the levels if you decide to take 5,000 IU's...

Vitamin E- 400 IU's

Biotin (took amount on bottle--its in the vitamin B family-- great for eggs and for hair skin and nails)

N-Acetyl Cysteine (took amount on bottle)-This is a FABULOUS supplement-- it boosts egg quality, gets rid of toxins from the body and is also great for sperm)

Evening Primrose oil capsules- (took amount on bottle) helps egg quality and boosts progesterone levels....

It may seem complicated but I really believe its what helped me....Esp the amino acids, UBIQIUNOL, Pyncnogenol and Vit. D... I took 1/2 the vitamins in the am and the rest at night... DH also took them -- (with his own multi-- but NO evening primrose or botin)--he had a terrible problem with Morphology.

I found that the best place to get the vitamins was through Puritans Pride ( on-line)... The products are all certified-good quality and offer the best price... I used my FSA account to pay for them-- my dr was kind enough to write a letter of medical necessity which was the only way to have the $$$ covered via FSA...But I did pay out of pocket for a long time until I figured out that loophole!

Please make sure you speak to your Dr before trying this vitamin protocol-- esp be careful when it comes to taking a high dose of Vitamin D, too...

I also took estrace (I think it was 2mg per day-- just enough to keep me from recruiting early follies) and P4 (suppositories) in my luteal phase...

GOOD LUCK AND BABY DUST TO YOU!!!! I hope this helps!!!!
kitty

Of everything she listed the things in common with my BFP are:

Vit D
the B12 (I did intramuscular shots)
pre-natal vitamin
DHA capsule

I currently do Co-Q10. Vits, and maybe hope to pick up courage to try the vit d. Glad I posted. She used to be very active before on the board.

and they were low so that's one that I didn't just do willy nilly.

On the other hand...the B12, never had that b/w done so it was total self-medicating there. Yeah it was an injection but by that time I was sooooo used to shots that I didn't care.

I've been taking floravital http://www.amazon.com/Flora-Floravital-Iron-8-50-Ounces/dp/B0007DHLDO/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1309136241&sr=8-4).It was recommended by my acupuncturist after a loss. It has b vitamins in liquid form, in addition to iron. My luteal phase jumped from 10 to 12 days after taking it.
kerri

My ex-acup reccomended this too..I took it for a couple of months but then gave up coz its kind of expensive in whole foods.... seems a few dollars cheaper on amazon.

Anyone know when to take evening primrose oil? after ovulation? or before..i remember acup saying something about taking it at a particular time and then stopping...

thanks for the very informative post!

gisg

It is expensive (about a $30 bottle lasts me about a month), but this is one supplement where I'm pretty certain I had a visible result from it (increased luteal phase and, therefore, likely improved progesterone levels)
We have a natural food store out west called Henry's and this and other supps is often on sale.I get my vitamin D and E from CVS when they have their buy one get one free deals.
good luck!
kerri

My RE also recommended pycnogenol its a anti oxidant from pine bark.100mg a day was his suggestion

Age=28
FSH=28, AOAB, endo stage 4, right overy very small, left overy covered with endo,1st IVf with 2 follicle failed abnormal egg didnt fertilize, DE speech Ugh...

How long was Kitty on this protocol before BFP?
Why is it important to stop the CoQ10 and Ubiquinol, etc. after ovulation?

Thanks again!
Gi8

but Dr. Check always said to stop supplements after ovulation or by Egg retrieval. I believe she started a month or 2 before her lucky cycle. Hope this helps.

After reading the warning re taking D without getting checked, I went this morning to get tested (PC doctor prescribed it a while ago and I just hadn't gotten to the lab until today. I've been taking 4000 IU per day for a couple of months and 5000 IU per day over the last week or two. Haven't gotten the results back yet... Thanks for asking! Gi8