CoQ10 and Egg Quality:
What the Research Actually Shows
CoQ10 is one of the most studied nutrients for fertility. Here's what it does, why your eggs need it, and what to look for in a supplement.
Fuels your eggs
CoQ10 plays a central role in mitochondrial energy production, supporting the energy processes involved in egg maturation.
Support IVF
Controlled studies have explored CoQ10 supplementation in IVF settings, with research suggesting improved egg quality, fewer cancelled cycles and higher pregnancy rates.
Form matters
Not all CoQ10 is absorbed equally. OVUM's MicroActive® form has 3.7x higher bioavailability thsn standard CoQ10s.
UNDERSTANDING Q10
An antioxidant found in every cell in your body, including your eggs
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is an antioxidant that plays a central role in how your cells produce energy. It protects cells from oxidative damage and supports metabolism at a fundamental level.
Research suggests that CoQ10 may help support egg quality during age-related changes.
It's found naturally in ovarian follicles and is one of the most extensively studied nutrients for egg quality.
A higher level of CoQ10 in follicular fluid (the fluid surrounding the egg) has been associated with higher-quality eggs and higher pregnancy rates.
Protects against oxidative stress
Left unchecked, oxidative stress can reduce egg quality over time.
Powers cellular energy
CoQ10 creates the fuel (ATP) your eggs need for every stage of development.
THE ROLE OF ENERGY
Your eggs are some of the most energy-hungry cells in your body
Every step of egg development requires enormous amounts of cellular energy called ATP (adenosine triphosphate). CoQ10 creates this energy inside your mitochondria, the powerhouses of every cell.
What happens as we age
Mitochondria become damaged and less efficient over time. Ageing eggs accumulate genetic damage, and even the number of mitochondria declines in follicle cells. The result? Less energy. Less ATP.
Among fertility doctors and researchers, high-performing mitochondria are now considered a hallmark of egg quality.
How it works
CoQ10 fuels your mitochondria
CoQ10 plays a central role in the process by which mitochondria generate ATP.
1
ATP powers egg development
Your egg needs spikes of ATP at exactly the right time and place to mature correctly.
2
Energy production supports egg quality
The better an egg's ability to produce energy, the more likely it is to mature and fertilise.
3
THE RESEARCH
What the clinical evidence shows about CoQ10 and IVF
CoQ10 has been studied across multiple controlled trials for its effect on IVF outcomes.
The results are encouraging: this antioxidant has been shown to increase the number of eggs retrieved, improve the quality of both eggs and embryos, and raise pregnancy rates.
8%
vs 23% (65% improvement) cycle cancellation rates due to poor egg development in women taking CoQ10 (1-2 months) versus those who weren't.
2018 controlled study
18%
vs 4% Women in the CoQ10 group (taking 1-2 months) who had embryos available to freeze, compared to the non-supplemented group.
2018 controlled study
6,312
women across 46 trials saw CoQ10 treatments resulted in a “significantly higher chance” of clinical pregnancy”.
2020 controlled study
HEALTHY EGG DEVELOPMENT
What your egg needs to do before fertilisation.
Before an egg can be fertilised, it has to go through an incredibly complex process. Think of it like a final quality check: the egg has to organise its genetic material perfectly so that a healthy embryo can form.
This process takes a huge amount of energy. And when an egg doesn't have enough fuel to complete it properly, things can go wrong.
It's an energy problem,
not an age problem.
Science now suggests the real issue isn't "older" eggs. It's that older eggs have less energy to do what they need to do.
CoQ10 helps eggs get it right.
In a controlled study, embryos from women taking CoQ10 showed lower rates of certain chromosomal abnormalities compared with the control group.
You're not just "getting older." Your eggs may simply need more energy to do the work they've always done. That's something you can actually support.
When eggs don't have enough energy, they're more likely to end up with the wrong number of chromosomes. Chromosomal abnormalities are one of the leading causes of early embryo loss.
The encouraging news? By giving your eggs more of the fuel they need through CoQ10 supplementation, research suggests CoQ10 may help support the cellular processes involved in early embryo development.
Not all CoQ10 is created equal
Most fertility supplements list CoQ10 on their label. But the form and dose vary enormously, and this directly affects how much your body actually absorbs.
Absorption
Costs
Notes
MicroActive® CoQ10
Clinically studied for higher bioavailability
££
OVUM's patented formulation. Higher bioavailability, accessible price.
Ubiquinol
Higher
£££
Active form. Effective but extremely expensive (~£82/month extra).
Ubiquinone
Lower
£
Cheapest form. Must be converted before use, so much of the dose is lost.
Absorption
Costs
Notes
MicroActive® CoQ10
Clinically proven highest
££
OVUM's patented formulation. Higher bioavailability, accessible price.
Ubiquinol
Higher
£££
Active form. Effective but extremely expensive (~£82/month extra).
Ubiquinone
Lower
£
Cheapest form. Must be converted before use, so much of the dose is lost.
About MicroActive® CoQ10
A clinical study showed 3.7x higher bioavailability than regular CoQ10 and doubled CoQ10 levels in 3 weeks among 100% of participants. Now recommended by fertility doctors.
Standard Ubiquinone isn't very soluble, so much less of the advertised dose is absorbed. Many mainstream supplements use this cheapest form at the lowest possible dose. Modern science now offers better options at a more accessible price point.
Time to Conceive® For Women
Time to Conceive® includes 200mg of patented MicroActive® CoQ10
The form and dose recommended by fertility specialists, designed for higher absorption.
Methylfolate (active folate)
Patented MicroActive® CoQ10
Optimised antioxidant blend
Frequently asked questions
Why should I take OVUM?
There are so many ways that OVUM is different, but a few of of the points we are most proud of are:
1. Science-backed by over 550+ clinical studies and designed by doctors.
2. Annually updated formulation to incorporate all of the latest research into Time to Conceive® For Women.
3. Recommended by IVF doctors and clinics.
4. Real and trustworthy information. Our own struggles with fertility opened our eyes to the confusing and misleading market for products claiming to support conception. Being the only PIF TICK accredited fertility brand means we are held to the highest standards when producing health information.
How long before trying to conceive should I start?
We recommend taking Time to Conceive® as soon as you start trying to conceive.
Ideally, you should begin three months prior - the approximate amount of time it takes for an egg to develop into a mature one prior to ovulation - but it is never too late to start.
For those undergoing IVF, we also recommend taking Time to Conceive® for 3-4 months prior to treatment and throughout egg collection, your transfer, and until you receive a positive pregnancy test or hCG blood test results.
For those who are preparing for an egg freezing cycle, we recommend taking Time to Conceive® for 4-6 months prior to collection.
What dose of CoQ10 does Time to Conceive® For Women contain?
Dose – 200mg
What's the difference between Ubiquinone, Ubiquinol, and MicroActive®?
There are two widely used forms of CoQ10, Ubiquinone and Ubiquinol. Most formulations of Ubiquinone (the oxidised form of CoQ10) are less well absorbed, and whatever is absorbed is converted by the body into Ubiquinol (the reduced form of CoQ10). The thought process was therefore to skip that uncertainty around absorption and take Ubiquinol instead. Ubiquinol was thought to be more bioavailable, but it is also much more expensive.
Luckily, modern formulations of Ubiquinone have made the distinction between the two forms of CoQ10 much less relevant. That’s where our patented MicroActive® CoQ10 comes into its own.
A study has shown that our MicroActive®CoQ10 (which is Ubiquinone) as one of the most bioavailable formulations on the market today and the data supports that a dose of 200mg of this formulation is as effective as the standard Ubiquinone formulations at a dose of 600mg.
Our mission was to find a form of CoQ10 with as high absorption rates as possible but remaining cost-effective, and we are very proud to have pulled that off! You can learn more about the history of CoQ10 and big pharma and the scientific evidence behind our patented nutrient here.
Is it safe alongside IVF treatment?
For those undergoing IVF, we also recommend taking Time to Conceive® for 3-4 months prior to treatment and throughout egg collection, your transfer, and until you receive a positive pregnancy test or hCG blood test results.
Have any more questions? Let us know!
