Can egg quality really be improved? Suggestions please!

[NRW39]

Hi Ladies
I somehow have mustered the strength to have more shot at IVF. Over 2.5 years and still no bubba. (I've had various outcomes). This will be cycle no.6. I've changed clinic for this cycle.
We have MFI (aszoospermia).

I'm healthy. I don't smoke and I gave up booze when I started IVF. I'm lucky enough to be working from home and my commute is non existent- so no pollution in me! I'm also using chemical free products where possible. I'm basically doing all I can.

As this is my last shot and I'm now 41, I want to know if there is anything any one has done that improved their egg quality?? Is this even possible?? - I know it's all a very long shot, I'm just desperate and quite sad today. I basically want to throw everything I possibly can at this cycle.

Thanks for reading.

The book It Starts With The Egg would say yes (although most of what is recommended takes 3-6 months to take effect which may not be ideal at your age). Reducing use of plastic (water bottles, Tupperware etc), taking ubiquinol and eliminating caffeine would be 3 straight forward and safe things you could do which I don't think you've already mentioned? The book recommends a load more supplements and faff, some of which are a bit controversial I think. Personally, I'm not convinced by this book but many swear by it.

Have you spoken with a fertility consultant about what else you can do? I'd be more inclined to trust their advice to be honest. If you are going to do anything more drastic in terms of taking hormones etc I would definitely let your consultant know, as some things eg DHEA can cause other problems and you might need additional monitoring. Good luck 🤞

Thanks @MGee123.

Yeah, I have also ditched the plastic!!

I live quite 'clean', so I tend to steer clear of unnecessary supplements, pain relief etc, the IVF drugs are a big deal on the body as it is.

I didn't think there was really something that made a difference/could make a difference. I just wanted to hear something 'magic' today

I guess It's just down to chance. I'll just keep doing what I'm doing

I found that the quality of my embryos went up once I cut out all sugar dairy and gluten and ate a high protein low carb diet. I didn’t eat particularly badly before but now eat minimum 4 different veg at lunch and dinner and during Stims ate around 70g of protein a day. If it’s your last shot it could be worth doing. I did it for the 3 months prior to treatment and also upped my omega 3 intake.

Sorry I should say I also started taking DHEA based on low testosterone so maybe it’s simply the DHEA that made the difference.

I found a low carb high protein diet also helpful - initially to lose weight and then to help my hormone levels. I had good fats too, like avocados etc. But it could have just been chance.

Another one here who was told to eat a high protein low carb diet. I was also told to take Vitamin D and Ubiquinol. Can't tell you if it's worked yet though, got to wait until after Christmas to start again!

Hi NRW39, sorry to ask this but are you sure you have egg quality issues? I ask because you are dealing with MFI, could the sperm quality not be the issue? We had MFI and it was severe but after taking clomid/anastrozole combo for few months his count trebled and motility etc. It was our fourth cycle and it was successful and we have baby girl now. We transferred 3 day 3 embryos

For me the only thing which made a difference (and it was a huge difference) was changing protocol from short protocol to natural modified IVF

With short protocol I was getting 14 eggs each time but less than 30% fertilised and 2 average blastocysts per cycle. I PGS tested a couple and age 36 neither were normal

I decided to change to natural modified focussing on far fewer follicles (between 2 and 7) and fertilisation shot Up to 100% and top quality blastocysts- I'm now pregnant with twins

I did all the supplements etc It starts with an egg suggests and made all the lifestyle changes etc and it made bugger all difference so I'd take what it says with a pinch of salt

I’m the same age as you and fairly sceptical on how significantly we can improve our eggs at 41, I think they mostly are what they are at this age. I’ve done the ‘easy’ go to dietary things of cutting caffeine right back to 1 tea per day - will stop completely after ET, increasing protein and veg, taking a folic acid and vitamin supplement and no alcohol at all so far during my 2 cycles and drinking at least 2 litres of water a day, I’m generally a healthy eater anyway, so this hasn’t been a big stretch. I feel like given all the expense of IVF, keeping my diet extra healthy is a small sacrifice and better for the baby if I am successful, but I’m not really conceived anything beyond normal healthy eating is that effective.

I’m doing mild IVF and feel that’s best in terms of not over stressing the body, when there are generally a lower amount of eggs available at our age. Quality over quantity as others have said.

Thanksfor all of the replies.

Nothing new/different has been raised that I haven't done/am doing. However I haven't tried Ubiquinol, so I can give that a go! And I could adapt my diet a bit more by reducing carbs.

My partner has non obstructive aszoospermia, so the sperm has to be extracted surgically. We have 2 frozen ampules left. So not much can be done about the sperm now, but I do know it's not awful-We've got some decent sperm to work with.

@Bonster37 I've no reason to think my egg quality is bad, but I don't think it's great either; an assumption purely based on my age and the docs have mentioned 'egg age' on several occasions...

Last year, at 40 I had my best cycle so far. We even had an embryo good enough to freeze. The result was positive, but unfortunately weeks before Christmas at 9wks I miscarried, and my FET earlier this year was UNsuccessful.

I'll be doing mild IVF this time round. Here's hoping...

Best wishes to you all.

P.S @ivfbeenbusy @Bonster37Congratulations to you both x