DHEA vs. CoQ10 for Improving Egg Quality. Which is Better?
You want to be supporting your egg quality and you’ve read a few things about the benefits of both DHEA and CoQ10. But you've been wondering, "DHEA vs. CoQ10 for improving egg quality? Which is better?
Can you take them together? And is one better than the other for you and your fertility?
I’m so glad you are here because we are going to talk about these two powerful tools to improve egg quality and why you may choose one over the other. So let's put these both to the test so we can answer the question, DHEA vs. CoQ10 for improving egg quality, which is better?
First off, what exactly are we talking about when we say “egg quality”?
Egg quality refers to the ability of the egg to have the correct number of chromosomes. This is important because if the egg doesn’t have the correct number of chromosomes, then it won’t be able to survive. If the egg isn’t able to survive, then the egg isn’t able to connect with the sperm, implant and make a baby.
To get even more info on egg quality and how it impacts PCOS fertility, jump on over here to read my definitive guide to egg quality and PCOS.
So now it’s clear that improving egg quality is important for fertility. But DHEA vs. CoQ10 for improving egg quality? Which is better? Let’s look at them both, how they work to improve egg quality and which one is best for your PCOS.
DHEA vs. CoQ10 for Improving Egg Quality: How DHEA Improves Egg Quality
What is DHEA?
You're here to find out DHEA vs. CoQ10 for improving egg quality, which is better? But in order to find out which one is better, we need to talk about each of them independently.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone that is produced in your adrenal glands. It helps to build other important fertility hormones like testosterone, progesterone and estrogen.
DHEA is at it’s highest when you’re a teenager (hello hormones!) and as you grow older, as early as age 20, it starts to naturally lower.
Sometimes your DHEA may tank even lower than you want it to which may be affecting your fertility. Things like chronic stress, metformin, birth control pills, estrogen and other medications can lower DHEA levels in your body.
How does DHEA help with Fertility?
DHEA has been shown to have positive effects for both egg quality and fertility. Taking DHEA supplements has been found to help through:
How much DHEA should you take to improve egg quality?
The typical dose of DHEA used to improve egg quality is 25 mg three times per day.
Because DHEA is a hormone, it is important to only take under guidance of your provider. Testing your current levels of DHEA is highly recommended before starting supplementation.
Why? Because taking too much of it can disrupt the other hormones that you are trying to balance (talking about you testosterone, progesterone and estrogen!). It can also cause pesky symptoms like acne (no thank you).
DHEA vs. CoQ10 for Improving Egg Quality: How quickly does DHEA work for fertility?
It’s recommended that you take DHEA for at least two months before it will work for fertility. But be patient, it could take up to five months!
Okay, you know about the power of DHEA to help improve egg quality. But do we have enough information to be able to tell the answer from our question, DHEA vs. CoQ10 for improving egg quality, which is better? Not quite! In order to get the full picture we need to talk about CoQ10 as well.
DHEA vs. CoQ10 for Improving Egg Quality: CoQ10 and Egg Quality
What is CoQ10?
CoQ10 is an antioxidant. One of it’s most important functions is to work in your mitochondria to produce energy. You may remember how important mitochondria are for your egg quality?
Basically, mitochondria are the energy powerhouse in your body. Cells in your body require mitochondria to get the energy they need in order to grow and divide.
Making sense?
So your eggs hold some of the highest amounts of mitochondria in your entire body because they require so much energy to divide those chromosomes and become a happy mature egg ready to go make a baby. Having enough CoQ10 is necessary to make sure your eggs are getting that blast of energy.
You get CoQ10 through foods that you eat. It is found naturally in foods like organ meats (liver), oily fish (like salmon and tuna), and whole grains. You can also take it in supplement form but you need to be sure you are taking the right form of CoQ10 and the right dose.
What are the different types of CoQ10?
There are two different types of CoQ10 in supplements. One type is ubiquinone. This type is not used that well by the body. Basically, when you take ubiquinone your body has to do some extra work to make it in to ubiquinol (the form of CoQ10 that is actually used in the body) so your body can use it. Unfortunately this process is pretty inefficient and ubiquinone supplements are less effective.
Thankfully, you can get a straight ubiquinol supplement. This is the form of CoQ10 that is much easier for your body to use than ubiquinone.
Make sure to read labels so you know you are taking the one that will give you the best results
How Does CoQ10 Help with Fertility?
One particular study found a variety of fertility benefits of CoQ10 prior to IVF cycles, including:
Higher estrogen levels
Increased number of eggs in a cycle
Higher quality embryos
Higher numbers of pregnancy
How long does it take CoQ10 to improve egg quality?
Studies find that taking CoQ10 for at least one month can be supportive for improving your egg quality.
Because of how your eggs develop in your body, giving yourself three months to focus on egg quality is optimal. Although it is possible to support your egg quality in just 30 days.
DHEA vs. CoQ10 for Improving Egg Quality: How much CoQ10 should you take for fertility?
How much CoQ10 you take for fertility depends on the type of CoQ10 you are taking. If you have a supplement that contains ubiquinone, you will need to take more than if your supplement contains ubiquinol. Typically the dose used in studies is between 400-600 mg per day.
So now let’s talk about DHEA vs. CoQ10 for improving egg quality. Which is better for PCOS?
The answer?
It’s CoQ10.
I have to admit, I was being a tad bit sneaky here. When I was writing about the fertility benefits of DHEA, I failed to mention that those benefits are for women that are struggling with poor ovarian reserve, not PCOS.
Let’s talk through this.
If DHEA is so great to help improve egg quality, what’s the big deal about PCOS?
Remember how I did mention that DHEA is a building block for hormones like testosterone, estrogen and progesterone? Well because DHEA helps make testosterone it’s not good for most people with PCOS.
Why?
Because testosterone rises far too easily with PCOS and you don’t want to be taking anything that increases makes that hormone rise any more than it needs to (too much testosterone shuts down ovulation).
If you have PCOS and you are trying to improve your egg quality, turn away from DHEA and consider using something just as effective and safer like CoQ10. So when you're asking yourself, DHEA vs. CoQ10 for improving egg quality? Choose the CoQ10.
Need some CoQ10? You can pick up one of my favorites here at Thorne and get 10% off your order!
Click the link to be re-directed to the Thorne website. This is an affiliate link and I will receive a small commission if you purchase through this discount link.
Does having PCOS leave you feeling lost and broken?
Book a complimentary 1-1 with me here and I’ll help you get a plan in place that is specific to your body so you can boost your chances of getting pregnant.
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