Summarized from Dr Maeve O'Connell's article, "CoQ10, Egg Quality, and the New Scope of Midwifery: Why Pre-Conception Care Now Matters More Than Ever". 

As the scope of midwifery continues to expand globally, pre-conception care is now recognised as a core component of professional practice rather than an adjunct to pregnancy care. The 2024 International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Essential Competencies formally position midwives as reproductive health clinicians across the life course, with explicit expectations to provide evidence-based counselling on fertility awareness, pregnancy planning, and reproductive health optimization. 

Within this expanded scope, midwives are increasingly asked to address interventions such as Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is widely promoted for its potential role in supporting egg quality and ovarian ageing. Although CoQ10 has a strong biological rationale due to its role in mitochondrial energy production and antioxidant activity, current evidence indicates that supplementation may improve early fertility indicators—such as ovarian response and embryo quality—particularly among individuals over 35 years of age or with diminished ovarian reserve; however, a clear benefit for live birth rates has not yet been demonstrated. Consequently, midwives have a responsibility to provide balanced, evidence-based guidance that situates supplements within comprehensive pre-conception care, clearly communicates benefits and limitations, addresses safety considerations, and supports timely referral for further assessment when indicated. In doing so, midwifery practice contributes to informed decision-making and the optimization of reproductive health prior to conception.