Choosing prenatal vitamins in light of my Cushing’s

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with prenatal vitamins and supplements. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy.

As someone with both Cushing’s disease and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), having a baby isn’t an easy feat. When I was first sick with Cushing’s, my period disappeared for two years. And according to my gynecologist, I have calcified fibroids in my ovaries from PCOS. A fertility expert I consulted explained it this way: My numbers for having children aren’t bad; I’m not low on eggs or anything like that. In fact, I have about 30 ovarian follicles, a high number that means any of them could release an egg each month. Because of Cushing’s and PCOS, though, I’m not guaranteed that an egg will be healthy and thus viable.

Because of all of my potential fertility problems and my desire to avoid a miscarriage, I’m working hard to get my body in good shape for pregnancy. And that starts with prenatal vitamins.

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Prenatal choices

I was surprised to learn that a person should start taking prenatals at least three months before getting pregnant. I’d always assumed, wrongly it seems, that we should start them just before or even after learning we were pregnant. (I’m not sure where I got that idea.) Newly informed, I’m starting prenatals now, knowing that we might not have a baby until the summer or fall at the earliest. Considering everything, I want to give myself the best chance at an easy, no-risk pregnancy.

People can choose which vitamins they like and feel work best for them. My prenatals are a mix of those recommended to me as well as vitamins that help with PCOS and Cushing’s issues. I plan to take these over a month, one each week.

I already take daily doses of vitamins E and D, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), berberine, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), iron, and milk thistle. Some people consider these supplements, especially, iron, CoQ10, NAC, and vitamins E and D, as prenatals as well. I was surprised to realize most of my intake was already helping me on my journey, so I’m trying to be more consistent with taking them.

I added four supplements: two for PCOS balance and two (Geritol and URO vaginal probiotics) solely as prenatals.

Liquid Geritol is full of B vitamins and iron. It doesn’t necessarily boost fertility, but it gets the body in great shape. Since my body struggles with iron, I chose this supplement to boost my intake of it. The URO vaginal probiotic, meanwhile, is said to boost healthy bacteria while clearing the bad to balance pH levels. I’m new at using these probiotics, so I’m curious to see if they work well and are at all beneficial.

The PCOS supplements I’ve added are magnesium glycinate and, in one pill, Myo and D-chiro inositol. Magnesium glycinate helps with inflammation, which is one of my issues, and with bone and protein development. Myo and D-chiro inositol help with insulin and glucose.

Of course, this account is simply a personal map of everything my specific body seems to need, but I wanted to share it because there doesn’t seem to be a lot of talk about pregnancy with chronic illness, particularly with Cushing’s. I hope this column sheds light for others looking to start this journey.

I’d love to hear more about your pregnancy experiences. Please feel free to comment about them below. You can also follow my journey on TikTok and YouTube.

Note: Cushing’s Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Cushing’s Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Cushing’s.