Supplements to aid fertility

I think that most women on the site for even a day or two will come across the concept of Mucinex or Robitusson to help increase (actually thin) cervical mucous, but did you know that there is so much more?  I am a strong proponent of Napro technology - it is a relatively inexpensive (you need to pay co-pays for visits to the practitioner - mine cost $25 for every two weeks; well worth it considering what we paid for the IVF).  Anyway, the concept behind the process is that you are taught how to look for discharge (it is NOT through internal examination which can have negative effects), but after a month or two of looking at your cycles, a doctor who specializes in the technology is able to look at it, analyze the data and treat the underlying 'problems'. It is called a disease based approach to sub-fertility.  It assumes that 'when you have a headache, instead of just taking a pain killer, find the cause of the headache' - hormone treatments to increase ovulation, etc. are supported through the technology, but it finds basis for these treatments in an individualized plan!  Imagine finding out that with a small amount of thyroid treatment, you can get pregnant on your own!

For me, the appeal of this approach is two-fold.  One, I have always firmly believed that there was 'something' going on with me that wasn't being addressed by the RE. I ovulated on my own, before seeing him; responded very well to all the medications; had nothing show on any of the tests that he gave me; but still had an inner gnawing feeling that there was something going on.  I knew that, in general, I didn't feel normal. I was very cold all the time; had low BBT;  had fibromyalgia, etc. So, following a course that would lead me to any potential disease or disorder was very important!  Two, we had no money left.  Simple as that.  Any more artificial treatments and I would probably have lost my house and my husband (I had already lost my job as a result of the stress that the meds and treatments put on me and my body!)

So, I have become a 'nut' at finding out what is going on. I see an acupuncturist to release the 'stagnation'; I take vitamins to supplement a poor diet due to ongoing nausea and digestive issues and I refuse to believe that a one time reading of a thyroid level that is 2.155 is 'OK' - it is not okay for me.  I want a level that is .9 or 1.0 because I want an optimal environment for my baby when he/she decides to stick around!!  I began reading "The Infertility Cure", which I personally believe is a misnomer, since I think that the approaches in the book could be used for people suffering from ANYTHING!! I also read "Prescription for Nutritional Healing".

Interestingly enough, the 'overlap' in recommendations in "Prescription" for fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism (which I can't get a doctor to diagnose) were many!  So, I then looked up 'infertility' and saw what was mentioned there.  I figured it can't hurt if I am taking something that all THREE subjects recommend (since I have been told that I have fibromyalgia and infertility (have I told you how much I dislike that word? I am not infertile. I am not dead!)

Anyway, here are some of the recommendations that I am taking -

Vitamin B Complex - (at least 50, I take 100) mg of EACH of the major B vitamins 3 times daily, with meals.
    
Vitamin B12 (in addition to the complex) - 1,000 - 2,000 mcg 3 times daily, on an empty stomach in sublingual form for best absorbtion

    B Vitamins are important in reproductive gland function, improves cellular oxygenation and energy and is needed for proper digestion, immune function, red blood cell formation and thyroid function

Fertility Blend Supplement - gives a nice mix of Folic Acid, Selenium, Chasteberry and other good for moms to be things!!

L-tyrosine - 500mg daily on an empty stomach - alleviates stress, normalizes thryoid function (shouldnt' take if diagnosed hyperthyroid), stabilizes mood (Do not take if taking an MAO inhibitor drug

I am not recommending anyone to take anything without consulting your doctor.  I am just trying to make sure people know that there are things that you can do to improve your HEALTH which in turn will create a healthy environment for babies to grow!!  Each person would require a different amount of these levels, as well - since I believe in 'middle-of-the-ground' approaches to things like this, I only take 2 doses of the Vit B Complex and only 1 dose of the additional Vitamin B12.  

The books that I have mentioned are available at most libraries.  Please take charge of your life, your health and your future!  Read everything that you can (there is conflicting and contradictory information for almost everything that you find) and believe what feels right to you!  

In my situation, I feel that I lost a year of my life, listening to a doctor who was just not listening to me!