6DT3DT: Trigger Gone & Thoughts on Co-Q10
Today was the first day that my HPTs showed absolutely nothing in the test area, meaning that my level of b-HCG is finally below the 20mIU threshold. So now the real testing can begin.
My beta is on June 1, thirteen days after transfer. A full week from today. It seems like a long wait. But I'm not stressed ... more curious and mildly annoyed that there's a wait involved. I was thinking of calling the clinic today and scheduling a WTF appointment for the day after my beta (just in case, so I don't have to wait yet another week or two for an appointment). I typically don't bother with WTF appointments and plough headfirst into my next cycle, but this time we've decided to do an MRI of my loins and reassess if I need another surgery to remove fibroids, endometriomas, scar tissue, and figure why my right ovary is constantly cramping. (Can ovaries cramp?)
Last night, while I was sitting at the dining table working on a last minute presentation for my manager (one of many), "D" came up behind me and started to rub my back and shoulders rather hard. I remembered my acupuncturist warning me that there were trigger points in the shoulder area that should be avoided when trying to get pregnant - I remembered this, but I didn't want to seem unthankful that he was doing something so thoughtful. However, within an hour, I noticed that my cramps dissipated to the point of being barely noticeable unless I strained to pay attention. Today, I barely noticed them at all...but on the train, they were back but only fleetingly. I'm sure it's the evil progesterone, but I can't help but note every twinge and cramp and wonder. I can't help but wonder if the acupuncturist was dead on with this one or if the cramps would have gone away on their own.
I've been thinking about all of the supplements that I take and am considering adding in Co-Q10 to my protocol. I've been wondering how much to take and found this reference on FertileThoughts:
[O-105] CO-ENZYME Q10 SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES OVARIAN RESPONSE AND MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION IN AGED MICE.
E. Burstein, A. Perumalsamy, Y. Bentov, N. Esfandiari, A. Jurisicova, R. F. Casper Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samuel Lunenfeld Institute of Research, Toronto, ON, Canada; Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, TCART, Toronto, ON, Canada
OBJECTIVE: Increased maternal age is accompanied by changes in metabolic activity of oocytes. As mitochondria are exclusively maternally inherited, alterations in their activity may severely compromise future embryo development. The objective was to compare the effects of maternal treatment with CoQ10, resveratrol or R-alpha lipoic acid (ALA), known mitochondrial nutrients, on MMP, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial DNA copy number in oocytes from aged ICR mice with placebo treated (aged control) or 10 week old (young control) mice.
DESIGN: Randomized placebo-controlled in-vivo study.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retired breeder (8 month old) ICR female mice (n = 40) were randomized to receive coQ10, resveratrol, R-ALA or vehicle alone via SC injections for the period of 18 weeks. Upon completion of treatment, mice were subjected to superovulation with gonadotropins, and oocytes were analyzed for mitochondrial membrane potential (JC1) and accumulation of ROS (H2DCFDA). The fluorescence of both dyes was analyzed using a deconvolution microscope and fluorescent signal was quantitated using the Delta Vision software (Silicon Graphics). Absolute mitochondrial DNA copy number was obtained by real-time PCR. All values were compared to oocytes obtained from young mice.
RESULTS: Compared to aged controls, CoQ10 treatment significantly increased the number of ovulated oocytes (11.7 vs. 19.2) while R-ALA and resveratrol had no significant effect. Oocyte MMP (JC1 red to green ratio) was reduced and ROS levels were significantly increased by coQ10 treatment to levels comparable to those detected in the young oocytes. These parameters were not affected by the treatment with resveratrol or R-ALA. In addition, mitochondrial DNA copy number was elevated in old mice, CoQ10 treated females oocytes had lower mitochondrial copy number albeit still significantly higher than those found in the young oocytes (p]0.05).<
CONCLUSIONS: CoQ10 supplementation appears to improve ovarian response and oocyte mitochondrial function in old mice. Supported by: CIHR Tuesday, October 20, 2009 5:00 PM Oral Presentation: The Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
A girl on the same post put up this comment about dosaging in humans:
One girl mentioned that she gets 300mg gel pills at Costco but I'm not seeing that any of their pills have rice bran oil (only soybean oil),. I bought a bottle of 90 - 100mg gels at Trader Joe's for $17 and change, but I guess if I need 8 a day, I'm going to run out quite fast. The 300mg pills at Costco are $27 for 75. So, about a month's worth.
My beta is on June 1, thirteen days after transfer. A full week from today. It seems like a long wait. But I'm not stressed ... more curious and mildly annoyed that there's a wait involved. I was thinking of calling the clinic today and scheduling a WTF appointment for the day after my beta (just in case, so I don't have to wait yet another week or two for an appointment). I typically don't bother with WTF appointments and plough headfirst into my next cycle, but this time we've decided to do an MRI of my loins and reassess if I need another surgery to remove fibroids, endometriomas, scar tissue, and figure why my right ovary is constantly cramping. (Can ovaries cramp?)
Last night, while I was sitting at the dining table working on a last minute presentation for my manager (one of many), "D" came up behind me and started to rub my back and shoulders rather hard. I remembered my acupuncturist warning me that there were trigger points in the shoulder area that should be avoided when trying to get pregnant - I remembered this, but I didn't want to seem unthankful that he was doing something so thoughtful. However, within an hour, I noticed that my cramps dissipated to the point of being barely noticeable unless I strained to pay attention. Today, I barely noticed them at all...but on the train, they were back but only fleetingly. I'm sure it's the evil progesterone, but I can't help but note every twinge and cramp and wonder. I can't help but wonder if the acupuncturist was dead on with this one or if the cramps would have gone away on their own.
I've been thinking about all of the supplements that I take and am considering adding in Co-Q10 to my protocol. I've been wondering how much to take and found this reference on FertileThoughts:
[O-105] CO-ENZYME Q10 SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES OVARIAN RESPONSE AND MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTION IN AGED MICE.
E. Burstein, A. Perumalsamy, Y. Bentov, N. Esfandiari, A. Jurisicova, R. F. Casper Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samuel Lunenfeld Institute of Research, Toronto, ON, Canada; Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, TCART, Toronto, ON, Canada
OBJECTIVE: Increased maternal age is accompanied by changes in metabolic activity of oocytes. As mitochondria are exclusively maternally inherited, alterations in their activity may severely compromise future embryo development. The objective was to compare the effects of maternal treatment with CoQ10, resveratrol or R-alpha lipoic acid (ALA), known mitochondrial nutrients, on MMP, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial DNA copy number in oocytes from aged ICR mice with placebo treated (aged control) or 10 week old (young control) mice.
DESIGN: Randomized placebo-controlled in-vivo study.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retired breeder (8 month old) ICR female mice (n = 40) were randomized to receive coQ10, resveratrol, R-ALA or vehicle alone via SC injections for the period of 18 weeks. Upon completion of treatment, mice were subjected to superovulation with gonadotropins, and oocytes were analyzed for mitochondrial membrane potential (JC1) and accumulation of ROS (H2DCFDA). The fluorescence of both dyes was analyzed using a deconvolution microscope and fluorescent signal was quantitated using the Delta Vision software (Silicon Graphics). Absolute mitochondrial DNA copy number was obtained by real-time PCR. All values were compared to oocytes obtained from young mice.
RESULTS: Compared to aged controls, CoQ10 treatment significantly increased the number of ovulated oocytes (11.7 vs. 19.2) while R-ALA and resveratrol had no significant effect. Oocyte MMP (JC1 red to green ratio) was reduced and ROS levels were significantly increased by coQ10 treatment to levels comparable to those detected in the young oocytes. These parameters were not affected by the treatment with resveratrol or R-ALA. In addition, mitochondrial DNA copy number was elevated in old mice, CoQ10 treated females oocytes had lower mitochondrial copy number albeit still significantly higher than those found in the young oocytes (p]0.05).<
CONCLUSIONS: CoQ10 supplementation appears to improve ovarian response and oocyte mitochondrial function in old mice. Supported by: CIHR Tuesday, October 20, 2009 5:00 PM Oral Presentation: The Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
A girl on the same post put up this comment about dosaging in humans:
"I'm a Canadian and deal with both Dr. Bentov and Casper (co-authors of the study quoted). I have been told to take 800 mg/day in the morning. It is also important that it is in soft gel form. If you read the label it should say that rice bran oil is an ingredient. I hope this helps! it is supposed to improve egg quality and quantity!
One girl mentioned that she gets 300mg gel pills at Costco but I'm not seeing that any of their pills have rice bran oil (only soybean oil),. I bought a bottle of 90 - 100mg gels at Trader Joe's for $17 and change, but I guess if I need 8 a day, I'm going to run out quite fast. The 300mg pills at Costco are $27 for 75. So, about a month's worth.
Labels: IVF8, POAS, The Hell that IVF Is, Trigger
posted by linda at 8:07 PM
Comments on "6DT3DT: Trigger Gone & Thoughts on Co-Q10"
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Anonymous said ... (12:13 AM) :
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Adele said ... (9:51 AM) :
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Anonymous said ... (6:03 PM) :
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Julize said ... (6:37 PM) :
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linda said ... (10:01 PM) :
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Roccie said ... (11:13 PM) :
post a commentHi there, I was told by a fertility naturopath to take CoQ10 as it's a super-antioxidant and helps give cells energy, which can help with (in theory) egg quality and cleaner cell division, which supposedly might reduce the odds of aneuploidy. I really don't know if it makes a difference but it was just another thing that I thought we may as well try. You just get to the point where you think if it won't kill me I'll do it don't you?
But, like your research shows it's really important to get the bio available gel caps. I hadn't heard anything about the rice bran component but I was just told to make sure it says it's highly bio available and that its in gel form.
Good luck for the last week of your 2ww, it's a special kind of torture isn't it?
I've also been taking Coq10, but Ubiquinol which is supposed to be a more "bioavailable" form. I think that it can't hurt but who knows if it helps? Like Egghunt, I'm hoping it will give a bit of a boost to egg quality/cell division. Not sure about the amount, though.
Good luck getting through these next few days. The waiting is so very terrible. I also tested out my trigger and seeing that line go was a strange feeling, even while I knew that now I could read a positive with confidence. Fingers so very crossed for you.
Hi, just answering your questions that you left on my blog.... As far as I'm aware its fine to take during pregnancy but then i am on a much lower dose (only 100mg) so I'm not sure about the higher doses. I have heard a few people say they have been told to take it in higher doses like you mentioned so maybe higher is better. There really doesn't seem to be a lot of research to prove things either way unfortunately. wishing you all the best!!!
I read somewhere just the other day that CCRM is now prescribing CoQ10 for all their patients. Specifically, they're recommending:
Myo Inostol 2gm twice a day
Melatonin 3mg at night
Co Enzyme q10 200mg twice daily
So I say why not try it?
@Adele: Aha! The one that I bought from Trader Joe's (100mg, 90 gels for $17) is the ubiquinol variety that you mention.
@Egghunt: OK, I'm going to start taking it now as it doesn't seem like it can hurt.
@Julize: Thanks so much for posting those supplements. I don't know anything about these but I know that CCRM is at the forefront of IVF research that WORKS, so I'll get these ordered right away. Do you know if CCRM has patients stay on these levels after transfer?
good stuff on the CoQ10. thank you.