Written by Isabelle J. | Updated August 16, 2026
Isabelle is a registered holistic nutritionist in BC, Canada and provides nutrition education within her professional scope. This guide is not a personalized supplement prescription and does not replace advice from your fertility doctor, pharmacist or other licensed healthcare provider.
A lot of people ask, which supplements should you take before IVF? The truth is, there isn’t one universal IVF supplement routine that’s right for everyone. Your age, fertility history, bloodwork, diet, and treatment plan can all play a role in what may or may not make sense for you.
If you’re looking to keep things simple, a daily prenatal vitamin that includes 400 micrograms of folic acid is a good place to start. But if you want to take a more thoughtful look at your full supplement routine before IVF, it can be helpful to work through the following 3 steps.
A helpful supplement routine generally follows three steps:
- Identify underlying health and nutritional needs.
- Establish the evidence-based foundations.
- Personalize additional supplements with your healthcare team.
Important: This article provides general nutrition education. It is not a personalized supplement prescription and does not replace advice from your fertility doctor, pharmacist or another licensed healthcare provider.
Step 1: Start with your body, not your supplement list
Before buying a dozen different supplements, take a step back and look at what your body actually needs. Recent bloodwork and your medical history can help identify nutritional gaps or underlying issues that may affect fertility. Things like inflammation, thyroid function, gut health, blood sugar regulation, and vitamin deficiencies can all influence reproductive health. Our bodies need adequate nutrients for healthy ovulation and hormone production. For example, women who are low in folate may have lower rates of natural ovulation. Understanding your starting point makes it much easier to choose supplements that are actually relevant to you instead of guessing.
Symptoms or conditions affecting digestion, nutrient absorption, liver function, blood-sugar regulation, inflammation or thyroid function may influence:
- Which nutrients you need
- Whether you absorb and process them properly
- Which supplements are safe
- The appropriate dosage
- Whether supplements address the underlying concern at all
For example, fatigue could be related to iron deficiency, vitamin B12 status, thyroid dysfunction, poor sleep, medication effects or another health condition. Taking a supplement without identifying the cause may be ineffective and could delay appropriate assessment.
Digestive symptoms may affect food intake or nutrient absorption. Liver conditions can change how the body processes certain substances. Insulin resistance, diabetes and thyroid disorders require individualized medical care; supplements should not be used as substitutes for diagnosis or treatment.
What should you review before starting supplements?
Start with:
- Your usual diet
- Current prenatal vitamin
- Prescription medications
- Vitamins and minerals
- Herbal or traditional remedies
- Protein, collagen and greens powders
- Dietary restrictions
- Digestive symptoms
- Existing medical conditions
- Previous reactions to supplements
Certain health conditions can influence which nutrients you need, how well you absorb them, whether supplements are appropriate, and the dosage that’s right for you. For example, fatigue isn’t always caused by low iron—it may also be related to vitamin B12, thyroid function, poor sleep, medication effects, or another health condition. Taking supplements without identifying the underlying cause may be ineffective and could delay appropriate assessment.
Do you need blood work first?
Not everyone needs an extensive laboratory panel. Depending on your symptoms and health history, an appropriately qualified healthcare professional may consider:
- Complete blood count
- Iron or ferritin status
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B12
- Thyroid function
- Blood-sugar assessment
- Other testing relevant to your circumstances
Supplements may still be appropriate when an underlying condition exists, but they should form part of a broader plan, not replace proper assessment and treatment.
Step 2: Establish your foundations
Once you have understand your nutritional needs, it’s time to build a solid foundation. For most women trying to conceive, this usually starts with a high-quality prenatal vitamin, along with a few foundational nutrients.
Prenatal multivitamin: nutritional foundation
A prenatal vitamin is usually the foundation of a preconception supplement routine. It can help provide nutrients commonly needed before and during pregnancy, including folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D, iodine and—in some products—iron.
When choosing a prenatal, look for:
- Folic acid (vitamin B9, 400 micrograms)
- Clearly listed amounts
- Appropriate vitamins and minerals
- Independent quality testing
- Minimal unnecessary fillers
- A format you can take consistently
Check the complete label before adding other products. Your prenatal may already contain several nutrients you are considering separately.
Note on folic acid: Not all forms of folate are absorbed equally. Some supplements contain other forms of folate, including 5-MTHF or methylfolate. It’s good to note that the CDC states that folic acid is the form demonstrated to help prevent neural-tube defects. Reference: CDC—Folic Acid: Sources and Recommended Intake
Build the food foundation
Supplements are intended to supplement an appropriate diet, not replace one. A balanced pattern may include:
- Vegetables and fruit
- Legumes
- Whole grains
- Nuts and seeds
- Appropriate protein sources
- Foods containing healthy fats
- Folate-rich foods such as leafy vegetables and beans
- Fortified foods containing folic acid, where available
Also consider:
- Whether you are eating enough overall
- Protein intake
- Fibre and plant-food variety
- Sources of healthy fats
- Regular meals
- Sleep and stress
- Digestive symptoms
The goal is not to achieve a “perfect fertility diet.” It is to provide a stable nutritional foundation and identify areas that require individualized support.
Reference: ACOG and SRM: Prepregnancy Counseling
Step 3: Personalize additional supplements
Once you have looked at your overall health and established the nutritional foundations, you can consider whether additional support makes sense for you.
Fertility supplements are often grouped according to the role they play in the body. Some support general nutritional health, while others are commonly discussed for cellular energy, ovarian health, hormone balance or correcting a deficiency.
They are not interchangeable, and not everyone needs every supplement.
Which fertility supplements are right for you?
A focused routine may include:
| Goal | Supplements commonly discussed |
|---|---|
| Preconception foundation | Prenatal vitamin and folic acid |
| Cellular energy support | CoQ10 |
| Healthy-fat intake | Omega-3 |
| Correcting a nutritional gap | Vitamin D or iron when appropriate |
| Metabolic or ovulatory support | Myo-inositol in selected circumstances |
| Medically supervised ovarian-response support | DHEA only when prescribed or recommended by a fertility doctor |
The right combination depends on:
- Your diet
- Nutritional gaps
- Blood-test results
- Fertility diagnosis
- Ovarian response
- Medications
- Treatment stage
- Your clinic’s protocol
More supplements do not automatically create a better routine. The aim is to choose products that have a clear purpose and fit together without unnecessary duplication.
CoQ10: cellular energy support
Coenzyme Q10, usually called CoQ10, is a compound involved in cellular energy production. Egg cells require a considerable amount of energy as they mature, which is why CoQ10 is often discussed during IVF preparation.
CoQ10 also has antioxidant properties that help protect cells from oxidative stress.
It is commonly considered by people preparing for egg retrieval, particularly those concerned about age or ovarian response. However, it should not be presented as a guarantee of improved egg quality or IVF success.
Ask your fertility professional:
- Whether CoQ10 is appropriate for you
- Which form to consider
- How much to take
- How long to take it
- Whether it should be stopped at a particular treatment stage
Omega-3: healthy fats and cell support
Omega-3 fatty acids are important components of cell membranes and support cardiovascular, neurological and general health.
Good food sources include:
- Salmon
- Sardines
- Trout
- Walnuts
- Chia seeds
- Flaxseed
An omega-3 supplement may be considered when dietary intake is low. When choosing one, look for clearly stated EPA and DHA amounts and appropriate purity testing.
Tell your fertility clinic if you take fish oil or another concentrated omega-3 supplement, particularly before egg retrieval or if you use medication that can affect bleeding.
Vitamin D: correcting low vitamin D status
Vitamin D supports bone, immune and general health. It is also involved in many processes throughout the body, including reproductive tissues.
Low vitamin D levels are common, especially among people with limited sun exposure. However, the amount needed varies considerably.
Vitamin D supplementation is most useful when it corrects inadequate intake or a low vitamin D level. Taking additional vitamin D does not automatically provide extra fertility benefits when your level is already sufficient.
Ask your healthcare provider whether testing is appropriate before selecting a standalone product.
Iron: supporting healthy blood and oxygen transport
Iron is needed to produce haemoglobin, which allows red blood cells to carry oxygen.
Low iron may be more common among people with:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- A history of iron deficiency
- Low dietary iron intake
- Certain digestive or absorption concerns
- Fatigue associated with low iron status
Iron should not automatically be added to every fertility routine. Excess iron can be harmful, and supplements frequently cause constipation or digestive discomfort.
Check whether your prenatal already contains iron and ask whether blood testing is appropriate before taking a separate product.
Myo-inositol: metabolic and ovulatory support
Myo-inositol is commonly discussed for people with polycystic ovary syndrome, insulin resistance or irregular ovulation.
It plays a role in cellular signalling and insulin function. For some people with PCOS, it may form part of a broader nutrition and medical plan aimed at supporting metabolic and reproductive health.
It is not automatically appropriate for every IVF patient. Someone with regular ovulation and no relevant metabolic concern may have different needs.
Ask your fertility or nutrition professional:
- Whether myo-inositol fits your diagnosis
- Whether it overlaps with another product
- Which formulation is appropriate
- How it should fit alongside medical treatment
DHEA: a hormone—not an ordinary supplement
DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, is a hormone produced naturally by the adrenal glands. The body can convert it into other hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. DHEA has been studied as an add-on for people with diminished ovarian reserve or an anticipated low response to IVF, but the research is mixed. Randomized trials have not consistently shown improvements in ovarian response or IVF outcomes. Because DHEA is a hormone that can affect androgen and estrogen levels, it should not be self-prescribed. Only consider it if your fertility doctor recommends it after reviewing your diagnosis, hormone results and current medications.
Reference: NIH/PubMed – Randomized DHEA trial in women with poor ovarian reserve
Where do you actually buy quality supplements
By now, you can probably see why shopping for fertility supplements can feel overwhelming. There are hundreds of products on the market, and labels often look similar even though ingredient quality, dosages, and testing standards can vary significantly.
That’s why we’ve put together a few curated collections through Fullscript—a practitioner dispensary that carries brands we trust. Rather than recommending dozens of products, we’ve organized supplements based on common fertility goals to make the process a little less overwhelming.
Bloom’s curated Fullscript collections are intended to make the selection process easier. When reviewing products, we prioritize factors such as:
- Transparent ingredient labels
- Clearly stated amounts per servingIndependent or third-party quality testing, where documented
- Reputable manufacturing standards
- Useful forms of key ingredientsMinimal unnecessary fillers
- Practical serving sizes
- Products that can fit together without excessive duplication
Our curated products may not always be the least expensive option. We believe quality, transparency and confidence in what you are taking matter, especially when supplements are being used alongside fertility treatment.
Sign up with Bloom’s Fullscript dispensary and receive 10% off (15% off for autoship orders) and free shipping for orders +$50.
Here’s how you can get started.
- Sign Up for Fullscript: Click here to create your account. NOTE: Fullscript is only available in the United States.
- Browse: Click on Fullscript’s extensive catalog on the top menu panel of your account. Explore the catalog and find the supplements you need or check out our curated picks.
- Add to Cart: Review and select your items, then proceed to checkout.
- Place Your Order: Enter your shipping and payment details, and you’ll soon receive your products!
Remember, supplements are only one piece of fertility preparation. A balanced diet, good sleep, stress management, and an individualized treatment plan all play an important role.
If you’re planning IVF or egg freezing in Korea and have questions about getting started, we’re always happy to point you toward reliable resources and help you navigate your options. Get our detailed guide and book a free call with us.