ICSI - Low Ovarian Reserve & Poor Sperm quality - DHEA

[blinky76]

Hi Bex,
I too am 34 and have been Dx with low ovarian reserve (mine is 0.9). DH is also 34 and has been Dx with low count, good motility, poor morph (2%).
We have had two attempts at IUI ( both BFN's) and are now in currently 2dp5dt in our first IVF....
I am not very optimistic about this cycle and am now looking for solutions. My FS hasn't mentioned anything about DHEA, What is it and what are its benefits?
I am also curious to hear others experiences...

[Bex]

Hi Blinky,

Can you explain to me what 2dp5dtis?? I'm so new with all these abbreviations....
DHEA(Dehydroepiandrosterone)
EFFECTS OF DHEA IN WOMEN WITH DOR:
Increases egg (oocyte) and embryo counts
Improves egg and embryo quality
Increases number of embryos available for embryo transfer
Increases euploid (chromosomally normal) embryos available
Speeds up time to pregnancy in fertility treatment
Increases spontaneously conceived pregnancies
Improves IVF pregnancy rates
Improves cumulative pregnancy rates in patients under treatment
Decreases spontaneous miscarriage rates
likely reduces aneuploidy (chromosomal abnormalities ) in embryos
You can get it over the counter but we have a prescription & had to get it from a compoundiam pharmacy to ensure it was a good quality product.
I have taken it for three months now and I have great skin... a bonus!!
My FS did a scan last month and stated he was happy so far and to continue.
I am hoping it has a positive affect on our next cycle, time will tell...
I'd do anything to make this work.
Fingers crossed for us both!!
Good luck with your cycle

[onthefly]

2 days past 5-day transfer (ie, an embryo that has developed for 5 days, or blastocyst)

[Bex]

DHEA Beneficial Effects
The investigators at CHR have been using the mild male hormone dehydroepiandrosterone DHEA now for a number of years very successfully in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), whether their ovarian impairment is due to advanced age or premature ovarian aging (POA). In doing so, we have been able to demonstrate that in such women DHEA supplementation has quite remarkable beneficial effects (see Table 1), which all can be summarized as rejuvenating ovarian function.

Table 1: EFFECTS OF DHEA IN WOMEN WITH DOR Increases egg (oocyte) and embryo counts
Improves egg and embryo quality
Increases number of embryos available for embryo transfer
Increases euploid (chromosomally normal) embryos available
Speeds up time to pregnancy in fertility treatment
Increases spontaneously conceived pregnancies
Improves IVF pregnancy rates
Improves cumulative pregnancy rates in patients under treatment
Decreases spontaneous miscarriage rates
likely reduces aneuploidy (chromosomal abnormalities ) in embryos
Not sure if it really does work but I'm willing to try anything at this stage.
It has worked wonders for my skin & my FS was happy with my last scan.
Good Luck with your Cycle

[blossom73]

hi i have low ovarian reserve and also a chromosonal problem and elevated NK cells.. I have been on DHEA for about 6 months i had a epu today and got 11 eggs which i was happy with.. I also took growth hormones which are about $130 per day for 10 days and i am seeing a chinese doctor so have been taking chinese herbs and getting accupuncture.
I am hoping that the combination of all this is going to get me some good quality eggs this time.
Good luck with your journeys
x

[Bex]

Hi Blossom,

So happy to hear you had 11 for EPU, thats great to hear. Have you tried before using the DHEA?? I only had 1 EPU as two released themselves... I am thinking of trying accupunture.
Do you have to have other injections with NK cells??
I hope it all goes well for you. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[blossom73]

Hi Bex i have used DHEA before but unfortunately for me the combination of the growth hormones, chinese herbs etc just hasnt worked that well this time either.
I had a call this morning out of 11 i have had 8 injected, 1 died, 1 fertilised and the rest not good at the moment but they may have caught up by this afternoon.
With the NK cells you have to have clexane injection, prednisone 30mg and 1 x cardiprin per day.
Katbaby fingers crossed for you, i know it is such a hard road i had the same thing happen last time and was sent home with nothing to transfer and this time out of 11 it looks like maybe 1 has fertilised find out more tomorrow.
Devastated today finding it hard to see the positives and i know i have to pick myself up and try...

[Bex]

Katbaby & Blossom,

You guys are amazing to be so strong. I wish you both all the luck in the world.
It is a gut wretching time & the money part doesn't bother you as long as you get something for hey... but when you don't it really stings hey.
I hope to hear you both have exctiting news really soon.
I just wish sometimes the FS could be a little bit more understanding to my FS after telling me there was nothing to transfer and I was crying put his hand on my leg and said ok cry today but then that's it. Time to move on. Which is hard when you feel soooo sad.

[ZigZag]

Hi. I've been taking DHEA for the last near 3 months as well. I was told after 3 IVF/ICSI treatments, it's likely I have low ovarian reserve due to the low numbers I get on egg pick-up and because anything that fertilises is 50%+ fragmented and dies by day 4. My hubby has really bad swimmers too. The last count I think was 4% good swimmers so ICSI is a must for us. I've been doing acupuncture and the Liz Lalor fertility homeopathic program. I have had very little side effects to the DHEA but do not feel any better off for it either as suggested by research. If anything I can get easily worked up / angry quicker and am losing a higher than normal amount of hair. I'm trying to stick to a low GI diet as well but it's hard. We're hoping to do another cycle in a month but if the results are the same, it's likely to be our last ever go and we'll stop trying. Its so hard to stay positive isn't it? In over 3 years of trying we've not had one single glimpse of a pregnancy. I just want to know why? I fell naturally with my first child and now nothing.

Bex what does an AMH test involve? What is the score referring to? Is it for low ovarian reserve? I've had every blood test under the sun...I thought. Also what does the NK cells test involve? I haven't been tested for it, but my FS treated me for it in our last cycle just to cover all bases. It's pretty easy to treat I'm told. We both had a single dose of a steroid, aspirin & something else I think. Can't quite remember....I've been taking so many drugs over the last year it's all just mashed into one.

All the best everyone.