Dena
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Hi Dr. Ben,
I am 26 years old and currently under the care of a reproductive endocrinologist due to in vitro fertilization therapy. After my first failed IVF attempt, my RE performed lots of blood tests and discovered I have compound heterozygous MTHFR. For my next IVF cycle, he added Lovenox injections and poof! It must have worked because last week I discovered that I am indeed pregnant! I have been doing a lot of research on my own (I am actually a RN), and keep reading that I should be on a form of L-Methylfolate b/c my MTHFR prevents me from metabolizing standard folic acid supplements. I asked my RE’s nurse about getting on a better supplement and they prescribed me Folgard. After discovering that it is just a high dose of folic acid I went back and asked for something with L-Methylfolate instead, but she acted like I was crazy and had no idea what I was talking about. Now I do not know WHAT to take. I know I need to get started on a prenatal vitamin, but I haven’t been prescribed one and I can’t find any OTC that have lower iron contents (I do not tolerate high iron doses well). Also, I do not want to go against my doctor’s orders, but I am afraid that the Folgard won’t do anything for me due to my MTHFR. Do you know what I should be taking right now as far as pregnancy vitamins and medicines? Also, what type of medical professional would have the most knowledge regarding MTHFR & Pregnancy (High Risk OB, Maternal Fetal Medicine, Hematologist)??
Here is a list of what I am on right now:
1 Baby Aspirin once daily (81mg ASA)
2 Estrace tablets three times a day (1 mg tabs, total 6mg daily)
1 Centrum Silver once daily (this is the multivitamin I’ve been using for months and I know I need to switch to a prenatal!)
1 Folgard once or twice daily (my RE upped my dose to twice daily now that I’m pregnant but I keep only taking it once daily b/c I feel like it’s useless)
1 L-Methylfolate capsule once daily (contains 1mg L-Methylfolate) (Brand: Life Extension Optimized Folate)
75mg Progesterone-in-Oil intramuscularly once daily at night (1.5mL PIO)
1 Lovenox injection (40mg) subcutaneously daily in the morning
Please Help!!! Thank You!
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Dr Ben
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Hi Dena –
Centrum is not my first choice 
Neither is Folgard as it contains the inferior forms of nutrients needed for MTHFR mutations.
Please read this article on Prenatal Supplementation and listen to the podcast there as well.
What medical professional would know most about MTHFR? That is a tough question as nearly 99% of doctors that people work with do not properly work with MTHFR properly.
The best chance of finding a doctor you may work with and improve your health the way you want it improved is through these medical associations.
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