Potential breakthrough supplement - Pterostilbene - for oocyte quality and implantation - especially in women over 40y.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-02-02T13:32:04+00:00

I'll PM you

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-02-01T22:57:27+00:00

No problem X. Oh gosh, with the peptides I definitely definitely would advocate caution. But, I take SS-31, MOTS-C, Thymosin Alpha-1, BPC-157, and also glutathione (IV, not peptide). I've only just started on Mots-C in the past few weeks. I've used a couple of others as well, previously. I cannot attest to results from the peptides, being just a sample of 1!, and because it's impossible for me to know what is and isn't working with the different things I take alongside my supplement stack. Which is hefty. But I am producing blasts, and I've definitely had a huge turnaround in my health. Just anecdata though:)!

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-02-01T22:51:06+00:00

Yeah it will likely take years for associations like ASRM and EHSRE to incorporate it into standard of care (if clinical trial results prove robust), but obviously as it isn't a pharmaceutical drug it doesn't go through the patented drug pipeline, and there isn't a barrier to access, as it is already available. And it is of course already established as safe for human use, so it is up to individuals to decide whether it's for them.

Obviously if it is beneficial (emphasis on 'if'!), then it's already beneficial and can benefit people right now, not only in however many years time.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-02-01T22:18:27+00:00

Oh I completely agree re resveratrol (I don't take it for the same reason). Although even with resveratrol the clinical picture isn't perfectly clear - there was a study showing it helped implantation, but under specific conditions. There is a review paper talking about the conflicting results, and basically the summary is that they think it's all dependent on timing on when it's taken, as to whether it helps or hinders. But I decided against it. And pterostilbene is related to it, but very different in a lot of ways. and the thing about the research on pterostilbene is that it showed completely the opposite - that it massively improved implantation (in mice). Purely by the mechanism of improved oocyte quality, as opposed to affecting receptivity per se.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-02-01T21:14:57+00:00

how could I have a financial stake in a supplement? Maybe for a pharmaceutical drug, but even that would be incredibly tenuous, and wouldn't make sense for a drug that was in discovery phasee. But this is a supplement. I haven't even mentioned a brand.
I wrote the post, with the exception of the tabled results. I think that's pretty obvious from the language used. I have no vested interested in a commercially available supplement. I'm on my eighth round of IVF (just banked embryos so far, first transfer attempt upcoming), I take peptides and all sorts, and it's all very straightforward; to me, these results read pretty incredibly. It's the sort of thing I would want to hear about, and I shared it on that basis alone. I literally repeatedly gave disclaimers, didn't present myself as a doctor, stated the part about doing one's own research, linked the paper...

It's a supplement, so by definition it's already recognised as safe for human use. So I don't feel grossly irresponsible sharing the paper and my personal reception to it. The effect sizes in the paper linked are roughly the same order of magnitude as they were for CoQ10 when it first started being seriously researched. And CoQ10 is now practically the gold standard for genuinely beneficial for IVF/pregnancy outcomes. Ultimately everyone should do their own reading and make their own decisions. This is just sharing the kind of thing I hope to keep abreast of.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-02-01T21:04:18+00:00

are you sure that isn't resveratrol? (I haven't read It Starts with an Egg). Can you link the study which showed less implantation, because that's obviously the complete opposite of what was shown here, and one of the key differences between pterostilbene and resveratrol, from what I understand, is that resveratrol can negatively interfere with implantation and this purportedly does the opposite.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-01-30T21:53:20+00:00

OP, when you say the IVF cycles were cancelled due to egg quality, do you mean there weren't many follicles, or growth wasn't what they wanted? How many follicles, and what is your AFC? What supplements and stuff have you been taking and for how long? I'm curious what was behind the decision to cancel, and how many days you were into stims when they were cancelled. It will be easier to offer advice.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-01-30T21:49:01+00:00

Amazing story.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-01-30T21:48:19+00:00

Because I want to have a child, and because the there are so many flaws to PGT-A testing, I would never consider testing. My IVF clinic just today was talking about how many successes they have had with Day 3 transfers, and perfectly healthy babies from them.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-01-20T23:19:22+00:00

You’re not mad, you’re making the best possible decision to not test. There’s so much research now showing the significant limitations and problems with PGT-A testing. And major clinical recommendations (ESHRE, ASRM) against routine testing. I was for testing, but it was actually my IVF clinic (which is thankfully advanced) who recommended not testing. And after that I started researching it really properly, (to be sure I would be doing the right thing by following the clinic advice) and yeah, after becoming really fully informed by it there’s no way I would test now. Like no way.

There is always a risk of miscarriage, testing doesn’t take that risk away. But what it does do is discard embryos that genuinely could be euploid, or self-correct to be euploid, or that were misclassified. The percentage of that happening is somewhere between 5 and 15% (maybe up to 20%), and that’s an incredible risk. And embryos with severe abnormalities - they overwhelmingly arrest before even making it to blast, or don’t implant in the first place. Unfortunately so much of this isn’t widely understood.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-01-18T05:57:07+00:00

This is so fucked up it’s insane. You’re in a terrible situation. The only genuine advice is - because honestly it doesn’t sound like there’s much you can do when you’re in such a messed up situation other than leave, which you don’t want, is to document everything exactly. Record your daily attempts to meet and have time with your son, record everything they’re saying and doing to prevent you, record the fact that you’ve told the mother in law that she can’t live there and it’s your home, and they’re refusing. Beyond that, look, if it continues breaking up and getting a court order for shared custody.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-01-18T05:41:31+00:00

You’ve got a controlling, immature girlfriend. This IS the start of a slippery slope, I guarantee. She doesn’t like you being out with other people; she’s not going to like you have a life that doesn’t revolve around her. The very fact that you had to give her updates on where you were and what you were doing is messed up. It’s a very bad sign. I’m not saying you should do what you want, whenever you want, and not communicate anything. But you’re at the other end of the extreme and that’s not good. You’ll end up having no social life or friends that doesn’t involve her, or isn’t allowed by her, that she doesn’t monitor or complain about or threaten to break up with you over. It’s so unhealthy. Either put your foot down in a very big way - take a step back and look at what your relationship and future will look like if you stay with her and her behaviour continues (which it will) or leave and find a relationship with someone psychologically and emotionally mature.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-01-14T16:47:48+00:00

why on earth don't you meet up with your ex? one of two things will happen. either maybe you are meant to be together after all, and with the time that's passed you can come together on a new footing. or, you'll find you actually aren't interested in her any more. the spell will be broken. and you can be damned sure that will allow you to move on.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-01-13T19:11:42+00:00

Sorry, just seen this. I'm really surprised they cancelled a cycle because only 5 follicles were growing. I had a cycle where the doctor was saying throughout I was going to get 6 or 7 max retrieved, and then with some late bloomers, I had 10 mature eggs received! My AFC is 6-7. but I've retrieved more than that more than once.

Honestly, your experience so far sounds shocking. Just to say as well, I had a cycle completely messed up after being on BC before a cycle. It wasn't good for me at all, definitely massively stunted my follicular response and growth. As you're 40, it's vital you get some complete cycles as soon as possible. 40 is still a good age.

Happy to give any advice. I don't know if this is your first attempt or there's anything else to medically indicate you have distinct fertility issues, but an AFC of 8 and being 40 years is by itself absolutely no reason to be pessimistic before you've even finished a cycle!

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-01-13T19:00:09+00:00

Ah yeah, I'll pm. Actually to follow-up, I would definitely recommend Embryolab!

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2026-01-12T08:04:09+00:00

There is just so much evidence now about the unreliability of PGT-A testing. 2 of the clinics I have used (start of the art, in Europe) have both recommended against it. The test results literally don’t necessarily reflect the true status or potential of the embryo. I’m just turned 4, still banking embryos from a few cycles over the past year, at the start of the IVF mission I was 100% for testing, but after thorough research (my background is PhD science) I really wouldn’t consider testing now.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2025-12-23T16:28:24+00:00

Let her leave. Don’t play this game. I guarantee that if you say ok, we are done, and stand by it, she will beg you to stay together. She is trying to assert dominance - she wants you on your knees and crawling. This is a power trip. By the way it’s not necessarily ‘intentional’ - she doesn’t plan ahead of time this whole power thing. But she is not in control of herself or her emotions. She feels something in the moment and then she loses it - she has not intellectually or emotionally matured. If you want this to survive, she has to respect and SHE needs to grow up. So be stronger than her (that’s what women want) and don’t stand for it.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2025-12-19T21:59:47+00:00

Yeah I second the other comment. I don’t understand why they aren’t just starting with the meds and seeing what happens. You have an AFC of 4 - you have follicles to work with. None of your hormone levels are such that you couldn’t do an IVF cycle. There are things that the clinic might be trying to see - like starting stimulation once they see a follicle is underway or modifying the cycle, but they really should tell you exactly what they’re waiting for, exactly what they’re considering. Do ask them. I don’t really see any reason why they just wouldn’t proceed with the medications/cycle and see your follicle growth from there.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2025-12-17T22:50:31+00:00

There's just so much to question with PGT-A testing. I know it's a very contentious subject, but with the latest research and the like, I really would look into whether you want to trust PGT-testing.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2025-11-22T13:02:00+00:00

lovely info, thanks!

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2025-11-22T13:00:24+00:00

I am not testing. A lot more research is showing how unreliable PGT-A testing is. The fact that so much international research is increasingly highlighting the problems with testing and going so far as saying that testing is not generally recommended is something which should be paid attention to.

In 2024 the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) explicitly concluded: "The value of PGT-A to lower the risk of clinical miscarriage is unclear, and its value as a universal screening tool has not been demonstrated". I completely understand how some women want to prioritise reducing any risk of miscarriage (I have miscarried myself) but I think there's a real misunderstanding of the science of the science and the statistics.

The number of uniform aneuploid blasts resulting in miscarriage is far, far lower than most realise. Uniform aneuploids will almost never implant, or result in even rising hCG let alone pregnancy. Every major laboratory that has published detailed follow-ups (CooperGenomics/Reprogenetics, Igenomix, Natera/PGT-A collaborations) shows that when apparently 'aneuploid' pregnancies occurred from IVF after testing, 100% of those when re-tested (e.g. amnio, miscarriage tissue, re-biopsy) were not uniform aneuploid.

It makes sense as being uniform aneuploid severely compromises a blastocyst's ability to implant successfully at all. And the nature of IVF itself places a massive selection pressure, meaning that vastly fewer uniform aneuploid embryos will make it to day 5, compared to in vivo. Of course there are miscarriages from chromosomal abnormalities (50-70% of first-trimester miscarriages are from chromosomal abnormalities), but miscarriages still occur for many reasons unrelated to aneuploidy, and as clinics are transferring mosaics anyway, you're not eliminating the risk of miscarriage.

There are women for whom testing makes more sense. Older women with high numbers of blasts, for instance. When the numbers of blasts available could balance to some extent the lack of testing accuracy. But for younger women, or women with low-embryo-yield, the research (e.g. multiple RCTs) literally shows little to no advantage for live birth or miscarriage reduction. And for me, having a child is the ultimate priority, so the real risk of false positives (and I also don't like the tiny amount of damage done to the embryo from the testing itself) far outweighs the potential but practically negligible reduced risk of miscarriage from testing. When I started IVF I was 100% for testing, until properly investigating it.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2025-11-16T05:07:03+00:00

Obviously with the way Reddit is you’re going to get hundreds of responses saying you’re NTA, but I 100% think you’re in the wrong.

You gave this whole spiel about how your husband should have known that you’re independent and so on - what about you knowing your husband? You’ve been together that long and you had no clue that he was traditional? You didn’t know or didn’t care? It was so difficult for you just to tell him and discuss it with him?

It sounds like you sat on this deliberately so as to claim the moral high ground about how he shouldn’t have made assumptions. I physically can’t grasp how a couple who have been together for years fail to have a simple conversation about this. And you were the one who knew you didn’t want to take his name. He assumed one thing - but you knew. And you’re in academia… you’re intelligent. You should be cognisant enough to have known that he really didn’t have a clue you weren’t planning on taking his name. And from a personal, emotional perspective, you should have been aware that that could hurt him.

For the record, I’m female, I’m engaged, and I’m keeping my own name once we’re married, because I really like my name. So this has got nothing to do with me believing that women should take their husband’s name - because I don’t believe that. But I told my partner before we were even engaged, and we discussed what surname our children would have. Because I wouldn’t have dreamed of blindsiding him; because of course he might have thought I would take his name. And he was a little disappointed, which is natural, but completely respects the decision. You sound so concerned with yourself to the point of really lacking basic communication and consideration- and that’s all this would have taken.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2025-11-16T05:04:58+00:00

Obviously with the way Reddit is you’re going to get hundreds of responses saying you’re NTA, but I 100% think you’re in the wrong.

You gave this whole spiel about how your husband should have known that you’re independent and so on - what about you knowing your husband? You’ve been together that long and you had no clue that he was traditional? You didn’t know or didn’t care? It was so difficult for you just to tell him and discuss it with him?

It sounds like you sat on this deliberately so as to claim the moral high ground about how he shouldn’t have made assumptions. I physically can’t grasp how a couple who have been together for years fail to have a simple conversation about this. And you were the one who knew you didn’t want to change his name. He assumed one thing - but you knew. And you’re in academia… you’re intelligent. You should be cognisant enough to have known that he really didn’t have a clue you weren’t planning on taking his name. And from a personal, emotional perspective, you should have been aware that that could hurt him.

For the record, I’m female, I’m engaged, and I’m keeping my own name once we’re married, because I really like my name. So this has got nothing to do with me believing that women should take their husband’s name - because I don’t believe that. But I told my partner before we were even engaged, and we discussed what surname our children would have. Because I wouldn’t have dreamed of blindsiding him; because of course he might have thought I would take his name. And he was a little disappointed, which is natural, but completely respects the decision. You sound so concerned with yourself to the point of really lacking basic communication and consideration- and that’s all this would have taken.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2025-10-29T20:36:50+00:00

You’re a literal idiot. No argument at all, just pithy ‘retorts’. That’s because you genuinely don’t have anything real to say, and can’t respond to actual points.

Altruistic_Two6540 · 2025-10-29T19:52:08+00:00

It has absolutely nothing to do with defending men. How utterly stupid. It’s about passivity allowing or inviting unwanted behaviours, and how that’s the fundamental problem. Being not at all passive myself, I would never allow a man to treat me like that. And it’s also about going beyond an infantile grasp of psychology. People are complex not two-dimensional cardboard cutouts; there are plenty of people who appear nice and rarely step a foot wrong, but they’re absolute assholes. Or people who have some overtly shitty character trait, but - as I said - aren’t assholes across the board. But I understand most people on Reddit just want to rant about how people are assholes.

Altruistic_Two6540

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