The Béa Blog

It’s been a long year. You’re ready to kick back and have some fun at last. Office parties, Christmas markets, putting up the tree… fuelled by mulled wine in a ridiculous mug…

When it comes to preparing for pregnancy, and indeed the pregnancy itself if successful, there are many factors to consider. One crucial element that is often talked about in the TTC community is the importance of folic acid. There's lots of noise out there, so let us break it down for you. Read on to find out why pregnant and TTC women should take the supplement, what type we should be taking and the foods that contain it naturally. Why do pregnant people need to take folic acid in the first place?  It’s recommended to take folic acid as soon as you start trying for a baby (the NHS says ideally 3 months before ) and during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy as it can reduce the risk of birth defects known as neural tube defects, including spina bifida. While the risk of developing neural tube problems cannot be eliminated completely, it can be greatly reduced (by up to 70%) by taking folic acid.  What type of folic acid should we take? Folic acid can be taken as a supplement of 400 micrograms daily. Some people are advised to take a higher dose if they have a higher risk of having a baby with a neural tube defect (spina bifida). Methylfolate is a bioavailable form of folic acid - which means it’s well absorbed by the body and doesn’t need interactions with other vitamins for quick uptake. There are a lot of brands out here, but if you’re looking for a recommendation from us, we’d go with the Ovum Time to Conceive® supplement – it has the right amount of methylfolate. Methylfolate supplements can be expensive, much more so than normal folic acid supplements. If this is a concern, don’t worry – normal folic acid is also recommended by the NHS and is just fine for getting the job done. Pregnancare before conception has the right amount of folic acid you need when trying to conceive and is often recommended by doctors, so is effective and affordable.  What foods contain the most folic acid?  The natural form of folic acid is folate, and it’s found in many foods. Good sources of folate include dark, leafy green vegetables (think kale and spinach), broccoli, chickpeas, lentils and kidney beans. However, it's difficult to get the amount of folate recommended for a healthy pregnancy from food alone, which is why it's important to take a supplement.  Looking for more tips on how to optimise your preconception health and boost your chances of getting pregnant?  Look no further than our no nonsense guide to getting pregnant. Click here to sign up and receive the FREE guide in your inbox today. 

CoQ10 has to be one of the most asked-about supplements here at Béa, so in true Béa style, we couldn’t resist doing a deep dive. We got curious. What’s the deal with CoQ10? Does it actually work? So many of our Béa users take CoQ10, and many of those have conceived too, so  there’s probably some correlation right? Read on to find out… Erm, WTF is CoQ10? CoQ10 is the shorthand for coenzyme Q10, a naturally occurring antioxidant present in the body. CoQ10 is part of the chain of electron transport molecules in the mitochondria (basically, your cells). In short, CoQ10 helps provide energy to cells, and has antioxidant properties, which means it ‘scavenges’ free radicals - these are the particles in the body that are damaging to cells. It is thought that CoQ10 supports reproduction as it requires a lot of energy, thus the principle role of CoQ10 transporting energy to cells, is how it helps. CoQ10 has some interesting data behind it to suggest it improves egg quality. Does CoQ10 actually improve egg quality?  Honestly? Yes. There is compelling evidence that shows taking CoQ10 does actually have a positive impact on ovarian reserve (the eggs remaining in your ovary). In one study, taking CoQ10 orally via a tablet created a better environment for follicle development. This was a small study that didn’t record impact on pregnancy outcome, only follicle development. A broader meta analysis showed that CoQ10 tended to be more effective as an antioxidant than myo-inositol (we’ll deep dive on that one soon) and other vitamins when compared to placebos  – it showed more advantages and changes in study participants given CoQ10, when other participants given other supplements only showed small improvements. In the same meta-analysis, women with diminished ovarian reserve showed a clear benefit from taking CoQ10, especially those who were under age 35.    How much CoQ10 should I take?  A meta-analysis of multiple studies concluded that the optimal dose of CoQ10 if being taken to improve pregnancy rate is 30 milligrams per day for 3 months prior to intercourse or fertility treatment. Interestingly, better results were achieved in the group with a lower dose, so there’s no need to take more than 30 milligrams. Continue to take this dose whilst trying to conceive.  I’ve heard CoQ10 helps IVF outcomes, is this true?  There is a bigger body of research looking into the effects of CoQ10 in those undergoing IVF or ICSI. Whilst one study shows that CoQ10 is effective in improving outcomes in women undergoing IVF or ICSI with DOR, more data is needed to be sure. A larger meta-analysis showed that CoQ10 improved the clinical pregnancy rate for women undergoing fertility treatment – particularly showing an improvement in pregnancy rate for women with PCOS. Some limited data suggests that taking CoQ10 before IVF or ICSI can improve ovarian response to the hormones used for stimulation prior to egg collection in women with poor ovarian reserve.  Does CoQ10 help sperm?  Yep! It’s an equal opportunity antioxidant… Some studies show that taking CoQ10 for 6 months improves sperm motility and morphology, and supports the production of seminal plasma (essentially, semen) and healthier sperm function.  So, is taking CoQ10 worth it?  In a word, yes. Whilst more research is needed, all of the data we see suggests that CoQ10 does have a positive impact on fertility. Certainly, none of the studies conclude that taking CoQ10 does any harm, and the majority of studies conclude that it’s worth taking CoQ10.  Where do I get the best CoQ10 supplement?  Our gals over at OVUM have got you. Their Time to Conceive® fertility supplement includes:  OVUM’s patented formulation of MicroActive® CoQ10. It is designed to be more readily absorbed (it’s 3.7x more bioavailable than regular CoQ10) and is known to improve egg quality and subsequent fertilisation rates by reducing DNA-damaging levels of free radicals. MTHFR-Friendly Methylfolate. This can be utilised by your body immediately to help regulate ovulation and boost egg production. Superior to folic acid, it is also suitable for those with the MTHFR genetic variant. a potent blend of antioxidants in precise doses to help prevent oxidative stress, known to age ovaries. It’s also ideal for those with unique fertility issues such as PCOS, low ovarian reserve, irregular cycles, or DOR. It's also beneficial for those who've suffered pregnancy loss, as it aims to counter DNA abnormalities linked to early pregnancy loss. Shop OVUM’s Time to Conceive® Supplement here For a limited time, take 15% off your order with code BEA15 (one use per customer, valid on subscriptions and one-time purchases, only valid on the first subscription order). Offer ends 11:59pm, Thursday 31st October. 

One thing we didn’t expect to see 9-months after the Ozempic storm hit was #OzempicBabies taking over. We're lifting the lid on this new social hashtag and asking the questions 'What on earth is an Ozempic Baby?' 'Does Ozempic make us more fertile?'

Seemingly, BMI is one of the simplest and most accessible ways to quickly calculate an individual’s health. It is commonly used in fertility, to calculate if an individual could benefit from losing weight, which in turn can help increase fertility. However, many call into question the accuracy of this measurement.

You’ve got your mind on all things fertility, and you’re trying to decide if you should work out more. Or join Crossfit. Or (gulp) hire a personal trainer…

A quick Google search for “Serena Williams fitness routine” is enough to make most people shudder and while Serena might make it look like a piece of cake, we mere mortals don’t have to follow [insert clever cake pun here]. 

Can your beauty regime harm your fertility?

If you google search ashwagandha or dong quai you’ll find numerous blogs on how beneficial it can be for fertility and stress reduction. You might even be surprised to see it in some popular supplements or fertility teas. But what do we really know?

Contrary to popular belief, cycle syncing is not when you and your friends get your periods at the same time. In reality, cycle syncing is the practice of tailoring your exercise regime to your current phase of the menstrual cycle. Sounds complicated? We’ll explain how this could benefit you. 

It always seems like some people supercharge their baby-making capabilities through what they eat. That there’s a secret diet for the elite, with a special blend of nutrients…

Pineapple tattoos. Pineapples printed on baby-grows and nursery wallpaper. Pineapples in social media profiles and hashtags. What’s going on?

If you’re planning to have a baby, are some diets a bad idea? Should you switch your eating-ethos ASAP? Is detoxing genius or dangerous? With so many food cults promising miracles, all claiming to be The One And Only Solution, it’s a wild west out there!

Struggling to conceive can have an impact on your mental health and yet it’s often left out of conversations. If you’re experiencing fertility problems you may find it affects many aspects of your life, making it difficult to escape from.