Melatonin Supplements in Natural Cycles

[clhiu]

Hi there,

I very recently learnt that studies support Melatonin supplementation to improve egg quality and many IVF clinics offer it for stimulated cycles with some good results at least anecdotally.
I know it’s also recommended by the Rebecca Frett book, however not for natural cycles as it could mess the cycle up apparently.

My question is, has anybody on here ever tried it for a natural cycle, what was the dosage, on what CD did you start it, for how many days and what was the outcome please? Did you find it messed up your ovulation or cycle at all?

Any experience or knowledge you can share on the matter hugely appreciated. Thank you 🙏 x

I was prescribed melatonin by my fertility specialist to help with my endo!

I took it for a few months around ER and we got 12 eggs, 10 fertilised and 4 embryos.

Not sure if it affected the outcome but at the very least I slept well during that period of time!

thanks for your reply @aussiegirl89.
So you were taking it for several
months every day? Mind me asking if it affected your cycles or natural ovulation patterns at all? And when you stop were you able to sleep ok without?
Thing is I’m bot doing IVF, just trying naturally and desperate for anything that may improve my egg quality, I just don’t know whether it shone taken in a natural cycle as it may mess it up which I can’t afford when trying without any stims x

I took it 3-4 times per week before doing IVF and it didn't affect my natural cycle. I have a very regular cycle (28 days)

I was on 5mg - I have slept fine since stopping taking it. I was conscious of not taking it too much as well, I didn't want to become dependent - but I didn't feel like it gave me any sort of withdrawal in the slightest

I actually bought some in gummy form and still have one now and then if I want to get a good sleep.

But all things being equal, it didn't affect my cycle

Hi @clhiu, Can I ask what you decided in the end on Melatonin? I've been taking it for the last month and it's looking like this will be the second cycle in a row that I don't ovulate. I've just come off my immune protocol for a break and also letrozole rounds so I'm not sure if my body is just having a complete break or if the melatonin is preventing ovulation from happening. I'm only on the lowest dose of 1mg as per the recurrent miscarriage and endo plans from ISWTE book.

Hi @HopefulH sorry to hear you’re still struggling and now appear not to be ovulating.
I ordered the 5mg tablets, but decided not to bother last month as I read it may stop you ovulating altogether, so frustrating there is never proper help or guidance with stuff like this 😩.
it’s another BFN for me so thinking I may given it a shot this next cycle and if it messes with my ovulation then never again. May I please ask specifically what is the plan from ISWTE? Sounds like the dosage I have it too high anyway, but what’s the cadence please?

@clhiu I thought I recognised your username from our other thread. Yes still struggling and after so many back to back letrozole cycles it looks like my lining has really suffered and so I was advised to take a break from all the meds. I also don't think I can get pregnant on prednisolone - it drives my cortisol levels too high I think! Sorry you've had another BFN. Are you trying with all the meds still? If you join the ISWTE app that's been released there are some downloadable supplement plans for different circumstances. For ttc naturally it suggests 1mg melatonin on the recurrent miscarriage or endo plans (3mg for IVF) - but it would seem even 1mg is too much for me because I normally have a regular cycle even if I don't ovulate. But I'm now on cycle day 36 and my hormones have just been flat, as though my body isn't doing anything.

@HopefulH Yes it’s me.
Sorry to hear you’ve had so many unsuccessful back to back cycles, but I also had the suspicion that taking pred from ovulation was stopping me getting pregnant. I don’t blame you for wanting to take a break and who knows? I may just be what you need afterall.

I’m mixing things up a little bit just to see it anything makes a difference as I cannot afford any more treatment with CRP.
After my 3 b2b unsuccessful cycle
on the complex immune protocol and supernovulation, I had a month of taking absolutely nothing and fell pregnant, but it was a chemical, this was back in October. I’m just at the end of the 4th cycle ttc since and no joy so far…what I tried has been:
Cycle 1 - 2 x400mg Cyclogest a day from the day my app confirmed ovulation (I think 2DPO) - BFN
Cycle 2 - missed my fertile window due to being a away from DH, didn’t bother taking anything as I knew it was practically impossible for it to have worked - BFN
Cycle 3 - 2 x400mg Cyclogest a day + 10mg Pred a day from the day my app confirmed ovulation (I think 3DPO) - BFN
Cycle 4(this one) - took the last 8 tablets of 500mcg Dextamethasone I had left (from EC cycle over a year ago) for 8 days at the beginning of cycle (as it allegedly improves egg quality). Nothing else post OD, not even cyclogest as I’m sick of wasting meds and also it tricking me into feeling pregnant just to get a BFN - tested BFN yesterday twice with an early test at 9DPO and have been spotting for a couple of days so I’m out.

I’m thinking of trying the melatonin this cycle only and see how I get on with it.
thanks for the info re the app, I didn’t know that was available as an app, super helpful 😊

@clhiu i did two stim rounds with a clinic in Spain and they prescribed me melatonin in the run up and during the stimulation period as well folic acid and probiotics. ( I also took a multi vit and ubiquinol)
i then did a modified natural round with the same clinic and they did not prescribe melatonin that time. I didn’t ask why because I had read It starts with the Egg so I assumed that was the reason, that it could mess up ovulation.
So if I were you I probably wouldn’t take it if just trying naturally…

Hi, I was wondering how you got on OP and if you have any further updates?

Hi @onewishplease I never bothered taking the supplements as I feel they might have done more harm than good without knowing whether I really needed them.
I recently did this Advanced Hormones test + Cycle mapping though a company called Future Woman (check them out) who uses the Dutch Test method, which you might have heard of (dried urine and saliva samples collected at different times of the day and over multiple days in one month) as I haven't been able to get pregnant again since last October plus I started getting signs of hormonal imbalance so I wanted to try this, which sounds like a much more comprehensive test than just 1-2 blood test throughout one month.
Anyway, this checks for many different hormones and their metabolites too (you can see the details here if interested https://future-woman.com/product/advanced-hormone-test-with-cycle-mapping/) and it turned our my melatonin levels are actually fine. It seems my main issues are poor estrogen metabolism, sub-optimal levels DHEA-S and poor stress response (likely caused by persistent stress) which in turn causes my progesterone to drop-off too early in my cycle. All these elements are likely to impact my egg quality and likelihood of implantation. They recommended some dietary and lifestyle changes as well as some supplements I never heard of before (they said it's fine to keep taking the usual stuff I was taking for egg quality on top) predominantly to improve my stress levels and adrenal response, progesterone production and estrogen metabolisation as well as reduce inflammation. I only got my plan 2 weeks ago so very early doors, recommendation is that I follow for 3 months so I'll let you know how I get on

Thanks @clhiu I really appreciate such a detailed response. I will definitely look into this. Please do keep in touch and let me know how you get on. Wishing you all the best. I hope having this information and making these adjustments is successful for you x