Hi Jules

I am no doctor, but this info came from my FS here in Canberra - Dr Nicole Sides. According to Nic, the eggs are 'chosen' (her word) 8 months before the cycle and things like stress, alcohol intake, diet and supplements can really affect egg quality. Any changes made to what you eat and drink can therefore take a while before you notice them on a cycle. I have dragged out the notes that Nic gave me from my visit with her in October last year and this is the list of things I should be including in my diet each day:

- fish oil
- multivatimin containing vits B, C, E, Selenium and Zinc
- 5mg folic acid
- Coenzyme Q10

Late last year I found a new Blackmore's supplement called Conceive Well Gold which contains all of these things except the 5mg of folic acid (it contains 500mcg which isn't enough apparently). I have only been able to buy it from the discount chemist near my work. It comes in a 28 day supply box and you need to take one capsule and one tablet per day. You might be able to buy it on-line - I haven't checked. I take one Megafol tablet per day for the 5mg of folic acid.

As for the ibuprofen being bad, I got that info from the nurses at MIVF last year. I used to take it quite regularly for neck and back pain otherwise I couldn't sleep but I have gone off it completely now that I know this and getting some chiro treatment has helped as well. Maybe check with your FS or nurse next time you have an appointment? I would be interested to hear what they might tell you.

And as for the caffiene, there is a link somewhere on a Conception advice thread on BB that says caffiene can reduce your chance of a pregnancy by 10% - that was from a midwife I think? I know my FS grilled me on my coffee intake - when she asked the question I hesitated and she told me that the correct answer to the question was 1 or 2 cups per day, which is what I have anyway. She was very particular about this. Again I don't have any other information than this.

If you find out any other sources I would be very interested to find out more.
Good luck,
Cheryl