Supplements DH taking are NOT helping at all. What else can he take?

[whenismyturn]

Hello!

My DH & I started going to the RE since late Dec 2011. According to SA analysis, DH has low motility (around 30%). So RE recommended DH to take some supplements, plus he's taking a few extra. But to my disappointment, his numbers didn't even go up a little. In fact, during the 2nd IUI (Mar 9), his numbers are a lot worse than the 1st time! I'm so disappointed as he's been taking the supplements for 3 months and there's no improvement, but even getting worse?!

So pls help me take a look at his supplement list. And pls suggest what else DH can take to help with his motility & motile count?

Supplements he's taking:

1. Folic Acid 400 mg daily
2. Omega-3 720 mg EPA & DHA twice daily
3. Liquid Vit. C 1000 mg daily
4. Vitamin E 1000 IU daily
5. Pycnogenol 60mg daily
6. L-citrulline 1 gm twice daily
7. L-Arginine 500 mg daily
8. Oyster extract
9. Maca
10. CoQ 10 30 mg daily
11. ProCreation Male Fertility Support twice daily (bought from Amazon)

Plus, he's been eating 3 squares of dark chocolate, berries, 3 cups of green tea daily. RE suggested this.

OK so... that's already a long list of supplements that he's been taking. But seems like there's NO improvement what so ever. RE is quite disappointed when she saw the report before IUI, and so did I. So why didn't these supplements help? And now his numbers are getting worse? What else can he take to improve this? I have googled this but just see similar stuff. I don't know what else he can do. RE did suggest him to try acupuncture but that's it. Besides acupuncture, what else? Please advise.

[HopefulCourt]

Hello Whenismyturn! First I want to say that I'm so sorry that your DH's numbers aren't getting better. That is quite a long list of supplements and hope that your DH is drinking ALOT of water with all those. Anyway, my DH and I are also dealing with MFI. Our RE has prescribed Folgard and 50 mcg of Zinc daily. He takes the Folgard twice a day and it is a prescription. It is NOT over the counter. He started taking this cocktail around Novemeber and we just had our second SA 2 weeks ago and his numbers improved along with motility. He went from 1.8 mill with 34% motility to 6.8 mill with 38 % motility in just 3 months. I have searched the web for any information about this and can't find anything for MFI. All I know is that it is high doses of Folic Acid and B vitamins. So much that the pharmacist gave us a speech about not taking more than prescribed for possible overdose! It has worked for us and DH will continue taking it until we get our BFP. We are now going to do our very first iui beginning of May! Hopefully this info will help you and maybe your DH and you can talk to your RE about it. Good luck and tons of baby dust!

[HopefulCourt]

I forgot to mention my DH also takes 1000 mg vit C along with his natural gummy multivitamin.

[SC-Impatient_in_VA]

I just want to jump in here and say that you're not LIKELY to overdose on Folgard because it's excreted in the urine constantly, however, zinc is another matter.

NEVER exceed the prescribed dosage of zinc, and that includes measuring what's in any multivitamins, too. Zinc will damage the liver in high doses for too long.

[whenismyturn]

Thanks for your reply HopefulCourt & Impatient!

Oh I also read from another forum that Folgard can help. It is a combination of folic acid, B6 & B12 right? My DH's taking the folic acid recommended by the RE, but no other B Vitamins except the little portion in the Procreation fertility support. Hm... I think maybe he should at least start taking B-Complex? Actually he used to take B-Complex, but since there're so many supplements for him to take now, he just stopped taking that.

You know what, I also searched for Folgard and I saw it's for sale on Amazon. I wonder if it's the same thing?

About zinc, yeah I also read that one shouldn't take more than 30 mg per day. My DH's Procreation already has 25 mg, so I guess we shouldn't add more zinc? Also I saw another fertility support supplement on here Michael's Male Reproductive Factors - eVitamins.com - Lowest Price. This one has 100 mg of Zinc! I wonder if this is safe to take, I mean it's an over-the-counter supplement too...

Oh we just made an appointment for Acupuncture online last night. We found a really cheap place for acupuncture and the reviews are very good on yelp (I know it's just yelp, but there's no other place I can find these reviews). The ones the RE place recommend are too expensive and some people on yelp said they're not that good. So for a fraction of the cost plus a coupon, we both signed up for our 1st ever acupuncture for this Friday. Have you tried acupuncture before? How's it? I am a bit nervous but I hope it can help!

[SC-Impatient_in_VA]

I've never used acupuncture, but I've heard good things

I would not exceed 30-40 mg of zinc in supplemental form per day. It's ok if he eats zinc-rich foods though. For whatever reason, it's not believed that vitamins absorbed through food are a big thread.

As with all supplements, none are "safe" because supplements are considered neither food nor drugs in the US, and as such are not monitored by the Food & Drug Administration; without Federal oversight, supplement companies have no one to make sure that they're putting what they say they are in their supplements, only those things, and deriving them from safe sources. So I would stick to reputable brands of supplements -- GNC being my personal favorite because they've been around long enough to have a reputation to protect, but even that doesn't guarantee anything.

The Folgard on Amazon is probably regular Folgard, which is fine. Folgard isn't really considered a medication, but instead a fancy supplement, so that would explain why it can be sold on Amazon. The stronger version, FolgardRX, is as its name implies only available by prescription.

If you find a good price on Folgard (regular), it wouldn't hurt for BOTH of you to take it.

[HopefulCourt]

My DH takes the FolgardRX (prescription for RE) with 50mg of Zinc everyday. Last time we had a meeting with our RE I brought up the concern for high doses of Zinc and I asked her if it was harmful. she said that 50 mg daily is not really high dose and it's not going to do any harm. There was a study done in the Netherlands that showed high doses of Folic acid and B vitamins (FolgardRX) and high doses of Zinc paired up showed an increase in Sperm Quality. It has proven to be right with my DH so we are staying with the protocol until we get our BFP.

[HopefulCourt]

Impatient - You are right about 50 mg of Zinc being high dose. I think its up to how anyones body would handle it. Some people experience nasty side effects none of which my DH has had. But I guess what I should say is that if your going to start taking high doses of anything talk to your RE first. ��

[SC-Impatient_in_VA]

Absolutely -- men taking doses higher than the RDA (30mg) should be doing so under the advisement of a doctor (such as an RE or urologist) who can monitor them for symptoms of zinc toxicity.

I'm so glad this regimen is working for your DH!

[anthr1]

hi ladies. my dh had severe issues with volume, motility, liquifaction issues, viscosity. Motility was only a measly 5 or 7%. I did a lot of research on the net and had him on a lot of the regular things (zinc, vit c, vit e etc) and also these:

NAC (improves motility and semen issues)
Pygeum (helps the prostrate making the semen fluids)
Ho Shou Wu (increases fluids and sperm count)
Krill Oil (from Mercola.com)

We have fallen preg twice since although I have miscarried both times. So currently still trying. Never fallen preg naturally before these supplements.