Fertility
Egg quality supplements: what the research actually shows
CoQ10, DHEA, antioxidants and fertility diets are some of the most searched topics when trying to conceive takes time. Here is what systematic reviews say, where the evidence is thin and what is worth doing either way.
No supplement has been shown to improve egg quality with certainty. Systematic reviews suggest that antioxidants and CoQ10 may help some women trying to conceive, but the evidence is low quality, and DHEA during IVF likely makes little or no difference [4][5][6]. What we know more clearly is that age, alcohol, tobacco and weight all matter [1][2].
I get asked about egg quality supplements often, sometimes along with a long list from a forum. I understand why. When trying to conceive takes time, a capsule feels like something you can do today. So here is what the research says, supplement by supplement, as plainly as I can put it.
What affects egg quality
The biggest factor is age. 1177 explains that as you get older, fewer eggs remain in the ovaries, and the eggs also become lower in quality [1]. It often becomes harder to conceive from around 35, and after around 40 it usually becomes much harder [1].
1177 also says that lifestyle can affect both eggs and sperm [1]. 1177 advises avoiding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, and notes that weight that is too low or very high can affect ovulation [1]. The NHS adds that a BMI of 30 or over reduces fertility, and that smoking, including passive smoking, affects your chance of conceiving [3].
That’s the context for everything below. Supplements are, at most, a small piece next to these.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants are the broad group most “egg quality” products belong to: vitamins C and E, selenium, N-acetylcysteine, melatonin, L-carnitine and others.
A Cochrane review from 2020 looked at 63 randomized trials with 7,760 women [4]. It found that antioxidants may increase the chance of clinical pregnancy, while it’s uncertain whether they increase the chance of a live birth [4]. The certainty of the evidence was low to very low, many trials were poorly reported and only 27 of the 63 reported who funded them [4]. The authors concluded that the evidence for antioxidants in subfertile women is limited [4].
The review found no clear difference in side effects such as stomach problems, but these were poorly reported [4]. So “probably harmless” is not the same as “we know it’s safe for you”.
CoQ10
CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) is perhaps the most talked-about egg quality supplement. A 2023 network meta-analysis looked at 16 randomized trials with 2,323 women who had a poor response to IVF stimulation [6]. Compared with control groups, CoQ10 was linked to higher clinical pregnancy and live birth rates [6].
Here’s the catch: the CoQ10 result rested on a single trial [6]. The authors noted that the overall risk of bias in the studies was a concern, and that the results need to be confirmed by well-designed trials [6]. So CoQ10 is interesting, not settled. And the findings apply to women in IVF with a poor response, not to everyone trying to conceive.
DHEA
DHEA is a hormone, not a vitamin, and it’s often sold as an egg quality supplement for women over 40. A Cochrane review from 2024 looked at DHEA in women going through IVF, most of whom were poor responders [5]. It found that DHEA likely makes little or no difference to live birth or ongoing pregnancy, with moderate-certainty evidence [5]. Data on side effects were sparse [5].
Because DHEA is a hormone, I don’t think it belongs in a self-chosen supplement mix. If it’s relevant for you, talk to your fertility clinic first.
Is there an egg quality diet?
Not one research can point to yet. A 2022 systematic review looked at women’s dietary patterns and IVF outcomes [7]. Results for the Mediterranean diet were inconsistent, and the other patterns were each studied in just one study, with mixed results [7]. All the studies were observational, so they can’t show cause and effect, and the authors concluded that no single diet can be recommended to improve outcomes in IVF [7].
I still care about food, because it affects energy, digestion, sleep and how you feel during a demanding time. What we usually look at together:
- regular meals, so your energy doesn’t swing through the day
- plenty of vegetables, legumes and whole grains
- protein and good fats at most meals
- less alcohol, ideally none while you’re trying [1][2]
No strict diets, and nothing that turns food into another source of stress.
Supplements the NHS does mention
When you’re trying to conceive, the NHS recommends vitamins and supplements including folic acid and vitamin D [2]. They aren’t marketed for egg quality, but they are the ones with official advice behind them. My preconception checklist goes through doses and timing.
How I work with supplements
At a first visit, I go through everything you already take, including prescriptions and supplements. Sometimes people come in with a long list of products, and sometimes the most useful thing we do is take a few away.
Your written plan can include food, sleep and stress, Chinese and Western herbs, high-quality supplements and acupuncture, mainly Japanese style. If it makes sense, we order lab tests through a private lab, for example thyroid and nutrient levels, so supplements are chosen on information rather than guesswork. If you’re in IVF, I check what we choose against your protocol, and questions about timing go to your clinic.
I work in parallel with your doctor or fertility clinic. The first visit is 60 minutes and 3,500 SEK, at Kommendörsgatan in Östermalm or online, in English or Swedish. If you’re 40 or close to it, my article on trying to conceive at 40 covers timing and the care system in Stockholm. You’ll find more on my fertility page and every option on prices. If you’re unsure whether a visit fits, you can book a free 15-minute call or send me an email.
When to see a doctor
Contact your vårdcentral (local primary care clinic) or call 1177 (Sweden’s public health information service) if you:
- have been trying to conceive for a year or more [1]
- are 36 or older, or know something may make it harder to conceive, and want to plan early [3]
- have rare or no periods [1]
- have severe period pain, very heavy bleeding or bleeding between periods
- get new symptoms after starting a supplement, such as palpitations, skin changes or stomach pain that doesn’t settle
Call 112 if you have sudden, severe pain in your lower abdomen, especially with dizziness or fainting.
Sources
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- Ofrivillig barnlöshet, Stockholm County (accessed 9 November 2026). https://www.1177.se/stockholm/barn--gravid/barnloshet/ofrivillig-barnloshet/
- NHS. Trying to get pregnant (accessed 9 November 2026). https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/trying-for-a-baby/trying-to-get-pregnant/
- NHS. Infertility (accessed 9 November 2026). https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/infertility/
- Showell MG, Mackenzie-Proctor R, Jordan V, Hart RJ. Antioxidants for female subfertility. Cochrane, 2020. https://www.cochrane.org/CD007807/MENSTR_antioxidants-female-subfertility
- Naik S, Lepine S, Nagels HE, et al. Androgens (DHEA, testosterone) for women undergoing IVF. Cochrane, 2024. https://www.cochrane.org/CD009749/MENSTR_dehydroepiandrosterone-dhea-and-testosterone-women-undergoing-ivf
- Zhu F, Yin S, Yang B, et al. TEAS, DHEA, CoQ10, and GH for poor ovarian response undergoing IVF-ET: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 2023. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10355041/
- Sanderman EA, Willis SK, Wise LA. Female dietary patterns and outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF): a systematic literature review. Nutrition Journal, 2022. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8764863/
Common questions
Do egg quality supplements work?
The honest answer is that we don't know yet. A Cochrane review of 63 trials found that antioxidants may help, but the certainty of the evidence was low to very low, and the authors called the evidence limited. No supplement can promise a result. If you take any, tell your doctor or fertility clinic, especially during IVF.
Does CoQ10 improve egg quality?
It's possible, but not established. A 2023 network meta-analysis found better outcomes with CoQ10 in women with a poor response to IVF stimulation, but that finding rested on a single trial, and the authors asked for larger, well-designed studies. Ask your fertility clinic before you start CoQ10 during an IVF cycle.
Can you improve egg quality after 40?
Age is the one factor no one can change. 1177 explains that as you get older, there are fewer eggs left and their quality declines. What you can influence is the rest: alcohol, tobacco, weight, food, sleep and stress. Those give your body better conditions, and at 40 it also makes sense to contact your vårdcentral early.
Is there an egg quality diet?
Not one that research can point to. A 2022 systematic review of dietary patterns and IVF found inconsistent results for the Mediterranean diet and couldn't recommend any single diet. I still think food matters for how you feel, so we look at regular meals, vegetables, protein and good fats, without strict rules.
Want to know how I can help?
Book your first visit with me in Östermalm, or start with a free 15-minute call.