CoQ10 for Fertility: Can It Boost IVF Success?
Quick Summary: A recent study found that taking Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) before IVF may improve egg quality and the chances of having healthy embryos in younger women with low ovarian reserve. This means better results during IVF!
What The Research Found
This research looked at how CoQ10 affects women under 35 who have a lower chance of getting pregnant with IVF. The study showed that taking CoQ10 for two months before IVF led to:
- More eggs being retrieved
- More high-quality embryos
- A higher fertilization rate
- Fewer canceled IVF cycles due to poor embryo development
Study Details
- Who was studied: 169 women under 35 with a lower chance of success with IVF due to poor ovarian reserve.
- How long: Women took CoQ10 or a placebo for 60 days (about 2 months) before starting IVF.
- What they took: Participants took CoQ10 supplements. The exact dosage wasn't specified in the summary.
What This Means For You
If you're a younger woman with low ovarian reserve considering IVF, this research suggests that CoQ10 could be a helpful addition to your treatment plan. Talk to your doctor about whether CoQ10 is right for you. It might help improve your egg quality and increase your chances of a successful IVF cycle.
Study Limitations
- Not for everyone: This study focused on younger women with specific fertility challenges.
- More research needed: While the study showed promising results for egg and embryo quality, it didn't find a significant difference in pregnancy or live birth rates.
- Dosage unknown: The exact dose of CoQ10 used in the study wasn't specified, so it's hard to know the best amount to take.
- Short-term study: The study only looked at the effects of CoQ10 during the IVF cycle, not long-term outcomes.
Technical Analysis Details
Key Findings
CoQ10 pretreatment for 60 days before IVF-ICSI cycles significantly improved ovarian response and embryological outcomes in young women (<35 years) with poor ovarian reserve (POSEIDON group 3). Treated women required less gonadotrophin, achieved higher peak estradiol (E2) levels, and had a greater number of retrieved oocytes (median: 4, IQR 2–5), higher fertilization rates (67.49%), and more high-quality embryos (median: 1, IQR 0–2) versus controls. Cancellation of embryo transfer due to poor embryo development was reduced (8.33% vs. 22.89%, p=0.04), and cryopreserved embryos were more common in the CoQ10 group (18.42% vs. 4.3%, p=0.012). However, clinical pregnancy and live birth rates per cycle were not statistically different.
Study Design
This was a prospective, randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in 2018. The study enrolled 186 women with poor ovarian response (POR) stratified under POSEIDON group 3 (age <35, low ovarian reserve markers). Participants were randomized to CoQ10 pretreatment or no pretreatment. After excluding 17 non-compliant patients, 169 completed the trial (76 CoQ10, 93 controls). Outcomes were assessed during IVF-ICSI cycles following the 60-day pretreatment period.
Dosage & Administration
Participants received CoQ10 supplementation for 60 days prior to IVF-ICSI. The exact dosage was not specified in the provided summary, but the regimen was administered orally.
Results & Efficacy
- Ovarian response: CoQ10 group had significantly lower gonadotrophin requirements and higher peak E2 levels.
- Oocyte yield: Median retrieved oocytes increased from baseline in CoQ10 group (4, IQR 2–5) vs. controls (no values provided).
- Embryo quality: Median high-quality embryos improved in CoQ10 group (1, IQR 0–2) vs. controls (p<0.05).
- Fertilization rate: 67.49% in CoQ10 vs. control group (p<0.05).
- Cycle cancellation: 8.33% (CoQ10) vs. 22.89% (controls), p=0.04.
- Cryopreserved embryos: 18.42% (CoQ10) vs. 4.3% (controls), p=0.012.
- Pregnancy/live birth rates: Numerically higher in CoQ10 but not statistically significant.
Limitations
- Non-compliance: 17 patients were excluded due to poor adherence, potentially affecting generalizability.
- Population specificity: Results apply only to young women (<35) with POR and low ovarian reserve, not older or unstratified populations.
- Underpowered secondary outcomes: Clinical pregnancy and live birth rates lacked significance, possibly due to limited sample size.
- Unreported dosage: The exact CoQ10 dose was not detailed in the summary, limiting reproducibility.
- Short-term follow-up: Effects beyond the 60-day pretreatment or longer-term fertility outcomes remain unknown.
Clinical Relevance
For young women (<35) with poor ovarian reserve undergoing IVF-ICSI, CoQ10 pretreatment may enhance oocyte yield, embryo quality, and reduce cycle cancellations. However, the lack of significant improvement in pregnancy or live birth
Original Study Reference
Pretreatment with coenzyme Q10 improves ovarian response and embryo quality in low-prognosis young women with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial.
Source: PubMed
Published: 2018
📄 Read Full Study (PMID: 29587861)
