TTC & Fertility

Do prenatals actually improve fertility or time-to-pregnancy?

Prenatals play an important role in supporting fertility and preparing your body for pregnancy. While prenatal vitamins are primarily designed to support pregnancy health rather than directly improve fertility rates, they play a crucial supportive role in your TTC journey. Perelel’s Medical co-Founder, Dr. Banafsheh Bayati, MD, OB/GYN, FACOG emphasizes that taking a prenatal 3-6 months before trying helps optimize your body for conception by ensuring adequate folate, vitamin D, and omega-3 levels. Research shows that proper nutrition—including key prenatal nutrients—supports overall reproductive health. The Conception Support Pack is clinically proven (in a 12 week randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial) to increase levels of key nutrients essential for conception–including folate, iron, vitamin B12, and CoQ10. However, prenatals should be viewed as one component of a comprehensive fertility approach that includes healthy lifestyle factors, as noted by fertility experts who stress the importance of addressing nutrition gaps during this critical time.

What’s the difference between a fertility multivitamin and a prenatal?

The key difference lies in targeted nutritional needs for each gender and fertility stage. 

• Women (TTC): folate + iron + choline focus
• Men (TTC): antioxidants + omega-3s + CoQ10 focus

As Dr. Levine explains, men and women have different nutritional requirements when trying to conceive—for example, women need more iron than men (18mg vs 8mg daily). A fertility multivitamin for men focuses on nutrients that support sperm health like folate for DNA synthesis, CoQ10 for energy and antioxidant support, and omega-3s for sperm quality. Women’s prenatals emphasize folate for neural tube defect prevention, iron for increased blood volume needs, and choline for fetal brain development. The timing and formulations are specifically designed for each partner’s role in conception, making gender-specific fertility vitamins more effective than one-size-fits-all approaches.

When should I start taking a prenatal if I’m trying to conceive? 

Start a prenatal about 3–6 months before you start trying to conceive (earlier is fine). If you’re already trying, start now. Continue through pregnancy (and postpartum if advised).  Perelel’s Medical co-Founder, Dr. Banafsheh Bayati, MD, OB/GYN, FACOG explains that even with an excellent diet, it’s critical to optimize minerals like iron and vitamin levels prior to pregnancy. She recommends starting 3-6 months before trying with a folate-based prenatal containing adequate vitamin D and omega-3 DHA to optimize both your health and your baby’s health, and early fetal development. Many essential nutrients like folate are crucial for early fetal development in the first few weeks—before you even know you’re pregnant. 

How much CoQ10 should I take for egg quality?

Common preconception CoQ10 dosing is ~100–200 mg/day; some clinicians use higher doses based on individual factors. For improving egg quality, experts typically recommend 100-150mg of CoQ10 daily, with higher doses often suggested for those needing additional fertility support. Dr. Matthew Casavant, board-certified OB-GYN and founder of Florida-based South Lake OB/GYN & Advanced Surgery explains that CoQ10 supplementation helps improve mitochondrial function, which is crucial for egg quality, and supports the body’s ability to fight oxidative damage that can affect egg health. The earlier you start taking CoQ10 when planning for pregnancy, the better, as it takes time to build up beneficial levels in your system.

Perelel’s Conception Support Pack contains 50mg of CoQ10 while the Fertility+ Support (designed for those who may need extra support) contains 100mg of CoQ10 formulated by fertility experts based on clinical research. When combined, these two products contain 150mg of CoQ10.

Can I take a prenatal if I’m on birth control and planning ahead?

In general, taking a prenatal while on birth control is fine if you’re planning ahead—especially to build folate/iron stores. The ideal timeline to start prenatal vitamins is 6 months before trying to conceive, which would often coincide with being on birth control while planning ahead. Dr. Bayati’s recommendation to start prenatals – like Perelel’s Conception Support Pack – early to optimize nutrient levels—particularly folate, vitamin D, and omega-3s—suggests that beginning this routine while still using contraception is part of smart pregnancy planning. Talk with your clinician about when to stop contraception based on your plan.

Can inositol help with ovulation or PCOS?

Yes—myo-inositol (often paired with D-chiro-inositol in a 40:1 ratio) has evidence for supporting ovulation and insulin sensitivity in PCOS. In women with PCOS, the body often has difficulty converting myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol.. Perelel’s Hormonal Balance Support contains the clinically-backed optimal 40:1 inositol ratio to support normal ovarian function and metabolic well-being. If you’re on metformin or fertility meds, ask your clinician before adding.

What’s the difference between myo‑inositol and D‑chiro‑inositol?

Myo-inositol supports follicle signaling; D-chiro-inositol is involved in insulin signaling—together, 40:1 is commonly studied in PCOS.

Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol serve complementary but distinct roles in the body, particularly for women with PCOS. Myo-inositol is the main form found in the ovaries and plays a crucial role in helping follicles mature and respond to hormones like FSH. D-chiro-inositol is what the body normally converts some myo-inositol into through an insulin-dependent enzyme. However, in women with PCOS, this conversion process is often impaired, leading to an imbalance between the two forms. That’s why supplementing with both in the body’s natural 40:1 ratio (myo-inositol to D-chiro-inositol) is more effective than taking either alone—it mimics what your body is trying to do naturally and helps restore proper hormone balance more effectively than single-ingredient supplementation. Perelel’s Hormonal Balance Support contains the clinically-backed optimal 40:1 inositol ratio.

Which supplements should I pause after a positive pregnancy test?

After a positive pregnancy test, continue your prenatal vitamin routine, but pause fertility-specific supplements unless your OB/GYN tells you otherwise. In most cases, it’s appropriate to keep taking a prenatal, DHA/omega-3, choline, and any clinician-recommended nutrients like vitamin D or iron. However, many women are advised to stop preconception-only add-ons such as CoQ10, egg-quality supplements, adaptogens, hormone support blends, and any high-dose vitamin A or retinol supplements not specifically formulated for pregnancy. The goal after a positive pregnancy test is to simplify your routine and shift to pregnancy-safe, trimester-specific nutrition, like our 1st Trimester Prenatal Pack. Because supplement needs can vary based on your medical history, fertility treatment, thyroid medication, or other prescriptions, review your full routine with your OB/GYN once pregnancy is confirmed.

When should I stop CoQ10 once I’m pregnant?

Ask your OB/GYN—many people stop at a positive test unless told otherwise. While CoQ10 is generally considered safe, women who are pregnant or nursing should consult with their healthcare provider before starting or continuing any new supplement regimen. The decision to stop or continue CoQ10 during pregnancy should be made in partnership with your OB/GYN or healthcare provider, who can assess your individual situation and determine what’s best for both you and your developing baby based on your health history and current needs. Once you become pregnant, transitioning to Perelel’s 1st Trimester Prenatal Vitamin Pack is a smart next step to ensure you're getting the right nutrients for early pregnancy.