Short answer: You can influence the conditions before pregnancy, but there is no method that safely improves egg quality or reverses age-related changes. Quitting smoking, adequate nutrition, and treatment of medical issues are relevant steps. Dietary supplements such as Q10 are primarily studied in fertility treatment; the results do not yet provide grounds to promise a better outcome for everyone.
Egg quality and ovarian reserve are different things
Ovarian reserve refers to the quantity of remaining eggs. Egg quality often refers to the egg's ability to develop into an embryo after fertilization and ultimately a child. A common blood test cannot provide a direct measure of this ability. AMH and ultrasound assessment of ovarian follicles are primarily used to estimate ovarian reserve and response to hormonal stimulation.
Start with what is relevant to your health
Review medications, any illnesses, and dietary habits with your healthcare provider before pregnancy. Avoid smoking and follow the advice on folic acid. Regular meals, exercise, and rest can be a reasonable foundation without every meal or hour of sleep needing to become a fertility project.
Just because a habit is good for your health does not mean it has been shown to change the chromosomes in the eggs. You also do not need to postpone a fertility investigation to first complete a certain number of months of preparation.
What can studies on Q10 tell us?
A meta-analysis of five randomized studies from 2020 found more clinical pregnancies with Q10 in assisted fertilization, but no statistically significant difference in live births. The studies included selected groups with fertility problems. They do not show that everyone trying to get pregnant benefits from Q10 or that ovarian reserve is restored.
Study doses are not a personal recommendation. Discuss any supplements with the clinic, especially when taking medication. Q10 can, among other things, affect treatment with warfarin.
Questions worth asking the clinic
- Is the assessment about ovarian reserve, response to stimulation, or embryo development?
- Which result do we want to improve, and are there studies for my situation?
- Is there reason to change the treatment or investigate something before the next attempt?
Read more about Q10 before IVF and what AMH can tell us.
The article provides general information and does not replace individual medical advice. Contact your healthcare provider for advice on your own situation.