#135 | Should You Take CoQ10 to Improve Egg Quality and Fertility? Here’s What to Know First

Have you heard all the buzz about CoQ10 for fertility—but aren’t sure if it’s right for you or worth the investment? You’re not alone. In today’s episode, we’re breaking down exactly how CoQ10 works, what it does for egg and sperm health, and how to tell if it’s truly the supplement your fertility needs.

Coenzyme Q10 has become one of the most talked-about fertility supplements for both men and women. But is it always necessary—or even helpful—for everyone trying to conceive? If you’ve been told your AMH is low, you’re over 35, or you’ve had poor embryo quality in IVF cycles, CoQ10 might offer benefits—but it’s not a magic pill. Learn how this powerful antioxidant supports mitochondrial energy, the hidden factor behind egg maturation and sperm motility, and why the “one-size-fits-all” approach to antioxidants may not be your best move.

In this quick episode, you’ll learn:

- How CoQ10 helps power your reproductive cells at the mitochondrial level

- Why it may improve egg quality, sperm DNA, and even IVF outcomes

- What to look for in a CoQ10 supplement (hint: not all forms are created equal)

- Why functional testing like the Antioxidant Protection Assay can help you personalize your antioxidant support—so you’re not wasting time or money

🎧 Hit play now to find out whether CoQ10 is the missing piece in your fertility puzzle—or if another strategy might serve your body even better.

👉🏽Take the Ultimate Fertility Blueprint Quiz HERE⚡

🌟Follow and connect with me on Instagram @the_wellness_pharmacist to fast-track your fertility so you can finally get and stay pregnant naturally!⁠

Finally Get Pregnant Naturally is your go-to TTC podcast for holistic fertility support to help you get pregnant naturally by addressing the root cause of unexplained infertility, secondary infertility, and recurrent miscarriage. Hosted by Dr. Katie Wood, a pharmacist and holistic fertility practitioner, this show offers natural fertility solutions for those on a fertility journey struggling to conceive, navigating miscarriage, or dealing with endometriosis, PCOS, low sperm count, or failed IUI or failed IVF. Whether you're trying to conceive, increase egg quality, optimizing sperm health, or healing after a miscarriage, each episode delivers practical guidance to support your fertility journey. Learn how to improve fertility, balance hormones, regulate your fertile window, and conceive naturally through root cause healing, emotional wellness, and mind-body tools—because true fertility starts from within.

DISCLAIMER: By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use it as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others. This podcast offers information to help the listener cooperate with physicians, mental health professionals or other healthcare providers in a mutual quest for optimal well-being. We advise listeners to carefully review and understand the ideas presented, and to consult your own physician for any medical issues that you may be having. Under no circumstances shall Pharm to Wellness LLC, any guests or contributors to the Finally Get Pregnant Naturally podcast, or any employees, associates, or affiliates of Pharm to Wellness LLC be responsible for damages arising from the use of the podcast. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Episode Transcript

Katie (00:00):
In today's Get Pregnant Now, quickie.
We're going to take a deep dive intoco-enzyme Q 10 and its benefits for
fertility, as well as discuss ifthis is the right supplement for you.
Welcome to the finally GetPregnant Naturally Podcast.
The podcast helping women identifythe real reasons you haven't

(00:20):
conceived or stayed pregnant, soyou and your partner can finally
grow the family of your dreams.
I'm your host, Dr.
Katie Wood.
Let's dive in, shall we?
In this episode, you'll learn what coq 10 is and how it supports
reproductive health, how it impactsegg and sperm quality at the cellular

(00:41):
level, and what to look for when choosinga coq 10 supplement for fertility.
So let's dive into today'sfertility boosting nutrient coen
Zmq 10, or also known as coq 10.
So you can think of coq 10 asthe spark plug for your cells,
specifically your mitochondria, thetiny energy factories that power

(01:04):
nearly every function in your body.
So why does this matter for fertility?
Your eggs and sperm are some of themost energy hungry cells in the body.
And each month when an egg isdeveloping, it needs a ton of
mitochondrial energy to mature properly.
Divide chromosomes accuratelyand be ready for fertilization.

(01:27):
The same is true for spermmotility, and DNA integrity
depend on healthy mitochondria.
But here's the catch, aswe age, coq 10 levels.
Naturally decline, which means thatcan have an impact on mitochondrial
energy and that can lead to poor eggor embryo quality, poor sperm quality,

(01:49):
which could lead to failed implantationand also higher risk of miscarriage.
So this is why coq 10 is one of the.
Most researched fertilitysupplements and probably why you
hear a lot in the fertility space.
It's recommended by doctors, especially inthe IVF world as well in women over 35 or

(02:10):
those with diminished ovarian reserve, lowa MH or poor embryo development in IVF.
So what can coq 10exactly do for fertility?
Number one, it's going to supportmitochondrial function, which is
essential for high quality eggs and sperm.
It acts as a powerful antioxidantprotecting the reproductive

(02:33):
cells from oxidative.
Damage or stress, and it may actuallyimprove response to IVF with studies
showing better quality embryos and evenimproved pregnancy rates in some cases.
Where can you find coq 10?
It's available in foodand also in supplements.

(02:53):
So if you are supplementing, I recommendlooking for the ubiquinol form, which
is the active, more absorbable versionof coq 10, and sometimes dosages in
fertility protocols can typically rangefrom 100 to 300 milligrams per day,
but higher doses may be used underpractitioner guidance, and you wanna

(03:14):
make sure that you're pairing your coq 10supplement with healthy fats for better
absorption and know that consistencyover time is key because it can take
a while to really see the full benefiton egg and sperm quality as it can
take about 90 days for each to develop.
And like all nutrients, it'snot just about popping a pill.

(03:36):
Coq 10 is going to work best whenpaired with lifestyle choices that
support mitochondrial health, likenourishing foods, stress management.
Movement and quality sleep.
So we definitely don't wanna leaveout food sources of coq 10 because we
don't wanna just rely on supplements.
Okay?
It's always food first.

(03:57):
And coq 10 is found in smalleramounts in a variety of foods,
especially organ meats and oily fish.
So if you're eating a nutrientdense Whole Foods diet, you
may already be getting some.
Day to day.
So here are some top coq 10 richfoods, beef, heart, and liver.
These are gonna be some ofthe most concentrated sources,

(04:19):
sardines, mackerels, and salmon.
This is a great option forcoq 10 and omega threes.
Chicken thighs, dark meat, Turkey, eggs,dairy, spinach, broccoli, and cauliflower,
especially when lightly steamed, andthen sesame seeds and pistachios as well.
So these are really great to rotate intoyour meals a few times a week, especially

(04:44):
if you are not ready to supplement yet.
But I wanna remind everyone, weare all unique bio individuals.
So is coq 10.
Really the answer for you and oneof the functional tests I actually
do with my clients is called anantioxidant protection assay.

(05:05):
And this determines which specificantioxidant nutrients may be
beneficial to support the patient'scells to resist oxidative stress.
And the test shows us whichantioxidants are highly protective.
Which have some protection or someantioxidants that don't show any

(05:27):
protection at all, and coq 10 is notalways showing up for my patients
as protective or highly protective.
While there are other antioxidants thathave also been studied for fertility that
are showing up, so I say this becausecoq 10 is just one of those flashy.

(05:48):
Supplements that you see a lot in thefertility space, and not that it can't
be helpful because it totally has itsbenefits, but I just wanna remind you
that it might not be the best or the mostoptimal antioxidant for you specifically.
So let's recap today's Get Pregnant now.
Quickie.
Co-enzyme Q 10 supports mitochondrialenergy production, which is absolutely

(06:12):
critical for egg and sperm quality.
It's going to act as a powerfulantioxidant, protecting your reproductive
cells from damage, and you wannachoose the ubiquinol form ideally.
And make sure that you're pairing it withnutrition and lifestyle that's going to
overall support your cellular energy andhormone balance, and making sure that

(06:37):
you know is this the right antioxidantfor you because it is an investment.
For coq 10, especially if you'regetting a high quality supplement.
So here's my final thoughtthat I wanna share with you.
Your fertility isn't just about hormones.
It's about energy, the resilience ofyour cells and giving your cells the fuel

(06:58):
that they need to function at their best.
Coq 10 is a simple andpowerful way to support that.
And if you found this interestingand you wanna dive deeper into your
antioxidant protection assay, then feelfree to reach out to me on Instagram.
You can just let me know thatyou watch this episode and you
wanna learn more about that, andI'd be happy to chat with you.

(07:22):
And until next time, Ijust want you to breathe.
Trust in your journey andremember to nourish yourself.
You've got this, and thankyou so much for listening.
I hope you have a beautiful rest of yourday, and I'll see you on our next episode
released every Tuesday and Thursday.
Are you ready to finally discover why youhaven't been able to get or stay pregnant?

(07:46):
The Ultimate Fertility Blueprint is aquick, insightful quiz designed to reveal
your overall capacity to conceive and helpyou discover potential root causes and
areas to address to improve your fertilityso you can finally get and stay pregnant.
You will find the link in theshow notes as a quick reminder and

(08:07):
disclaimer, this podcast is foreducational purposes only and is
not a substitute for medical advice.
Always consult your doctor orhealthcare provider before starting
any new supplement or protocol,especially if you're actively trying
to conceive or undergoing treatment.