Inofolic

Hi gals,

Ive had such an excellent response to my post on Inofolic, within a couple of hours Joni and Robz had both sent me info on it. Robz even ordered it for me through her pharmacy – thank you dear friend. For those that would like to know Inofolic can be ordered through Dischem at a cost of R290 for 30 sachets. DONT go to the vitamin counter because they just give you blank stares, you need to go through the dispensary AND a portion of it goes through medical aid – whoo hoo!

Now what is the hype all about? I found an article on the net regarding PCOS and ICSI cycles. A doctor in Italy I think it was has done controlled randomised studies to determine that giving IVF?ICSI patients myo-inositol combined with folic acid (Inofolic) resulted in better quality eggs and better pregnancy rates. I have copied the abstract from the paper below:

Myo-inositol may improve oocyte quality in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles. A prospective, controlled, randomized trial.

Papaleo E, Unfer V, Baillargeon JP, Fusi F, Occhi F, De Santis L.

IVF unit, Gynecologic-Obstetric Department, Istituto di Ricovera e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, Milan, Italy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of myo-inositol on oocyte quality in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. DESIGN: A prospective, controlled, randomized trial. SETTING: Assisted reproduction centers. PATIENT(S): Sixty infertile PCO patients undergoing ovulation induction for ICSI. INTERVENTION(S): All participants underwent standard long protocol. Starting on the day of GnRH administration, 30 participants received myo-inositol combined with folic acid (Inofolic) 2 g twice a day and 30 control women received folic acid alone, administrated continuously. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Primary end points were number of morphologically mature oocytes retrieved, embryo quality, and pregnancy and implantation rates. Secondary end points were total number of days of FSH stimulation, total dose of gonadotropin administered, E(2) level on the day of hCG administration, fertilization rate per number of retrieved oocytes, embryo cleavage rate, live birth and miscarriage rates, cancellation rate, and incidence of moderate or severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. RESULT(S): Total r-FSH units (1,958 +/- 695 vs. 2,383 +/- 578) and number of days of stimulation (11.4 +/- 0.9 vs. 12.4 +/- 1.4) were significantly reduced in the myo-inositol group. Furthermore, peak E(2) levels (2,232 +/- 510 vs. 2,713 +/- 595 pg/mL) at hCG administration were significantly lower in patients receiving myo-inositol. The mean number of oocytes retrieved did not differ in the two groups, whereas in the group cotreated with myo-inositol the mean number of germinal vesicles and degenerated oocytes was significantly reduced (1.0 +/- 0.9 vs. 1.6 +/- 1.0), with a trend for increased percentage of oocytes in metaphase II (0.82 +/- 0.11% vs. 0.75 +/- 0.15%). CONCLUSION(S): These data show that in patients with PCOS, treatment with myo-inositol and folic acid, but not folic acid alone, reduces germinal vesicles and degenerated oocytes at ovum pick-up without compromising total number of retrieved oocytes. This approach, reducing E(2) levels at hGC administration, could be adopted to decrease the risk of hyperstimulation in such patients.

For our last IVF we used inositol only but Dr V wants me to try the Inofolic for the next cycle, so I will start when I start on my next pack of BCP’s. Dr V attended a conference in Spain this year and apparently listened to this doctor present his paper on Inofolic. I cant say whether it did make a difference last cycle but I’m basically willing to try anything at this stage.

To M Im so incredibly sorry to hear about your BFN, please take care of yourself. It is just so incredibly sad.

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