Has anyone used DHEA to improve egg quality?

I have just started taking DHEA to improve the quality of my eggs for my second IVF attempt. Im headed towards early menopause and my eggs are already poor quality, so we are hoping this may get us to the stage of achiving at least one healthy embyo.
My FS listed some of the side effects of DHEA as: balding, acne, facial hair, increased libido and enlarged clitoros :o
Im still going to take it, but Im wondering if anyone else could tell me if they experienced any of these scary side effects??:redface:

Thanks very much,
Kate

Hi KateM,

I have no experience with this drug, but have heard of others falling pregnant naturally after just 2 months, when they have been ttc for years! I am interested to hear which clinics are offering this (in Brisbane), and ppls experiences on the drug as I would love improved egg quality!

Hi KateM,

I'm sorry you are facing early menopause but just wanted to say that, yes, I've used DHEA (three months prior to IVF) and I'm using it again now (into my second month).

And I'm very happy to report - I had none of those side effects! But the first time I used it I was very very irritable according to DH :redface:

Also happy to report - first time I used DHEA, I fell pg (after nine years of no success and five years of IVF). I have one ovary so I only ever get about six eggs (best count). In the beginning of IVF I got 5 blasties from 6 eggs but none of them stuck and the two other cycles I got 2 blasties, then the next time only one (I'm obviously much older now), then when I used the DHEA I got 6 eggs, 5 blasties on day 3, 2 on day 5, we put one really great one back but had none to freeze. So you can see, it made a big difference for me.

Sadly we lost our bub at 8 weeks but we're trying again now and hoping for a second success. The FS thinks DHEA really made a big difference and I agree. Good luck and all the very best to you

Alice xx

PS I also met someone through an IVF group who had been through early meno and she was lucky to have a friend donate an egg - she got pg on her first go at IVF with the donor egg and has a healthy baby boy so fingers crossed for you!

:grouphug:Thankyou both so much for the encouraging feedback, I appreciate it and am really pleased to hear that DHEA has been helpful fo other people.
Its been over a month now and Im pleased to say I havn't noticed any side effects. :D
I guess a break after a cycle of synarel and countless needles has made me feel great again too! We will try naturally for a short while (we have a short overseas trip coming up and I don't want to be carting needles and meds around). Then we will have another IVF cycle, Im hoping the new approach my FS has decided on (after seeing how poorly I responded last time), will lead to more sucess this time.

Alice, Im really pleased to hear it made such a difference to you, Im so sorry to hear you lost your precious bub, I hope you have another sucess very soon.

Mummawannabe, I will send you the details of my FS who suggested the DHEA.

Best of luck to you both, thanks for your response and encouragement, it means a lot :grouphug:

Sorry to bump, but those in Sydney, which FS prescribe DHEA?

Thanks for this thread. I just learned I have low AMH, and have read that there is some evidence that DHEA may increase my chances of producing more/better quality eggs. I won't know how I respond to stims until my scan next week (I'm currently on Day 2 of my first-ever cycle), but, if my response is not-so-good, as I'm expecting, then here's hoping that my FS will give me a prescription when I see him next week.

Anybody know if any FSes on the Gold Coast are supportive, or at least not hostile, to the use of DHEA for this purpose?

Thanks again!

KitKat72

KitKat72 ~Best of luck with your first cycle, lets hope you have good quality eggs, but if not, at least you will know there are options that can help.
My FS is in Brisbane, there should be someone at the GoldCoast who prescribes DHEA, but if you struggle, message me and I will pass on my Drs details.
Good Luck, I hope your cycle goes really well :crossfingers:
Kate

KateM - Thanks for that. I ended up asking my FS about DHEA at my first scan, when he said that there were only 7 follies. He said that while DHEA is not part of the usual protocol at my clinic, and that while he's never had a patient who was interested enough in trying DHEA for him to have ever prescribed it, he's heard about some of the reports indicating that it might be useful and said that he'd be willing to prescribe it for me if I wanted it (yay!). He just said that he didn't know the usual dosage, etc., so asked me to provide him some info to assist. I told him that I'd send him the info from the Centre for Human Reproduction website since they have extensive info (including a published paper) on there. Than, when I saw him last Friday at my second scan, where there were still only 8 follicles, when I asked him what else I could be doing to improve my chances, he replied (in addition to talking about diet), "Well, we've already talked about starting you on DHEA." So that apparently confirms that he's willing to give it to me if I want it. I'm so happy that my FS is open-minded about this and willing to work with me. Frankly, I suspect that he must be just as curious to see how it goes as I am since he's never had a patient on it before. By the way, are you doing the dosage that CHR recommends (75 mgs of micronized DHEA given as 25 mg tablets at breakfast, lunch, and dinner)?

As for me, I just had my EPU for this cycle today and hopefully (please!) at least one of the 6 eggies collected will turn into an embryo to be transferred back in either Friday or Sunday. I'm not going to start DHEA until we see how this cycle turns out. But if it is not successful, I'll probably be starting DHEA in a few weeks.

Also, for any of you who have taken it, I know that they say that it takes 3 months or so to get the full effect from the DHEA, but did you do any cycles when you had been on it for LESS than 3 months? I'm willing to cycle earlier than that as long as I don't have to stop the DHEA during any part of the cycle. Are you able to keep taking the DHEA during your entire IVF cycle? If you have to stop for part of it, then I'd have to consider waiting out a few cycles since it sounds like you need to take the DHEA consistently for a few months for it to work properly . . . (Maybe I'll e-mail CHR and ask them, too, since they apparently are willing to respond to e-mailed queries about the protocol.)

Thanks all,
Kitkat72

Hi, I've taken DHEA for over a year, but my egg numbers dropped not rose during that year!! but I'm a 'poor responder' and 2 eggs were normal and I dropped to one at the egg. I'm now of the strong belief that little things help, but you are what you are and you just need to work with what you've got, or look at other options of course.
good luck.

Kitkat72 - Im taking a 50mg tablet once a day. I wasn't aware that taking it for 3 months increases your chances, by the time I start my second IVF cycle I will be there, so thats good to know. I will have to check out the CHR website.
Im going on holiday next week and Im hoping the time away could be just what we need :pink-babydust::bluedust::ttc:
I hope your eggies are turning into lovely embryos as we speak, good luck with your tranfer and 2 week wait. I hope you get a BFP :)

Sevie, Im sorry to hear your egg numbers dropped, how disapointing :(
Will you keep taking the DHEA?

The effective dose for DHEA is 75mg per day (taken as 25mg 3 times a day). My twin sister still takes it, but for us I think it's in vain. My AMH result was 1.8 and my sis's was 0.7. terrible!! I've stopped taking it, it was a huge decision. It meant that I was saying goodbye to the chance of using my own eggs. We've started the process of using an egg donor. So sad but oddly exciting at the same time.

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Sevie ~ that would have been a hard decision, but i can appreciate it would be sad but at the same time, exciting, knowing you are trying a new option. (with a greater chance at sucess?) I don't know too much about it yet, but I guess if you have a donor with healthy eggs your chances of sucess will now improve and soon you may have a chance to become pregnant, which would be fantastic.
I really hope the donor process goes well for you.
I have had a councelling session which told me a bit about it (as it may become a good option for me before long) and it was wonderful to hear that people are so generous to help others to furfill their dream of having a family. Its the ultimate gift. But I was told it can take quite some time, so Im happy for you that you are on the way to making your dream a reality. Best of luck and I would love to hear how you go.

electra - I got it through Sydney IVF - I think a few of the specialists there prescribe it and I've heard other clinics do too. Send me a PM if you need more info.

Alice

Still catching up on thread - just wanted to post this quickly

Sevie - sorry the DHEA isn't helping in your circumstances and all the best for the donor egg transfer. I too and looking into that - and have had an offer from a much younger friend but finding it hard to think about so leaving aside for now. All the best to you x

KateM - I'm on the same dose as you but have just dropped to one tablet a day because my IVF cycle has been delayed so didn't want to keep taking so much of it for a longer time (already been on it just over 2 months). I hope your time away is just what you need. x

KitKat - how did your cycle go? Are you in the TWW? Fingers crossed for you x

Hi Alice - Yup, had my ET last Friday. All seemed to go well -- they transferred one perfect 8-cell embie on day 3. They grew out my other embie to day 5/blast then froze it, so hopefully that bodes well for the even better one they transferred. Still have a week to go before my BT, though. I hope my little speck hangs in there till then! Thanks for thinking of me!

Thanks KateM for your encouragement. Donor cycles are a funny thing. You need your donor so much, and she doesn't need you at all! Our process is quite long-winded and slow, but a lot of that's got to do with my donor being a busy mum of 3!! Also I've found, donors don't seem to mind if the treatment is pushed further and further back because of their busy lifestyles, where as the recipients whole life blood and energy feels like it hangs in the balance! but the recipient's family life feels like it's been on hold for years hey!...aka- me! I've found the counselling very interesting because finally there's someone we can talk to the really gets it...like really understands.
I don't really want donor eggs...I want to use mine, but that's not possible, and the reality is hard. I found VARTA website and others useful, and Monash IVF Melb have monthly info sessions. If I can give just one piece of advice, if there's a kind friend willing to give some of her eggs, ask her to go to an info session, ivf linked counselling (so they can explain the legal, ethical and medical stuff from the get-go, so everone's up to speed so to speak) and read things on-line sooner rather than later so she understands the long term implications.
Without doubt, I'm finding the whole process slow in the end, but that's related to my dear donor's time restrictions! It's hard because you don't want to put any pressure on her but all you want is to start, start, start!!

Hi Sevie,
I was just thinking of you and wondering how you are going? I hope you have had some progress with your donor?!
Im still taking the DHEA, just started trying Chinese acupunture, so fingers crossed something might help! :)

Hope things are going well for you :)

Hi there Kate,

Just wondering what exactly your AMH level was? Mine was 6.9, which the FS said was pretty low, although still workable. I ended up supplementing my IVF cyle with acupunture, including the "usual" sessions right before and after the embryo transfer, and, well, I can't say it definitely was the cause , but I did get my BFP this cycle despite having only 2 embies from this cycle (1 implanted, 1 frozen), so it certainly didn't hurt!

FX that the steps you are taking work for you. :goodluck:

Kitkat72

Hey KitKat, a huge congrats on your BFP!!! Thats fantastic!!
After 6 years, wow you really deserve it. You guys must be over the moon :)
Your post is very very encouraging, so thanks for letting me know, I appreciate it

Ive had a second acupuncture session and will keep going... I have a feeling it might be helpful for me too. Fingers crossed!

My AMH was 12.2 (normal range is 14.0 - 30.0), so "possibility of abnormal ovarian reserve".
Not nearly as low as yours, but a shock none the less. But if you still managed 2 good embys, there is hope for me too!
Thanks again for the encouragement and I hope you enjoy you much deserved pregnancy :hug:

KateM
xo

KitKat!!! I'm so slow at responding to this thread - I'm sorry! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! that is wonderful, wonderful news!!! Well done!!:clap::dance::D I hope you have a happy and healthy pg and wishing you all the very best for that day when you get to hold your bub - awww, you deserve it!

KateM - sounds like we are on the same path. How are you going? Have you had a cycle yet? I've put IVF on hold for now while I get my body working better. I'm seeing a TCM specialist and having accupuncture every week. I'm down to 50mg of the DHEA until I know more about when the cycle will start (basically when I can get my temps up nice and high and stable on my own...whether this will happen or not, I don't know, trying to stay hopeful and optimistic). Every little bit helps but as my clock is tick tick ticking away, I'm also worried about loosing time. Guess you can only trust that things will happen the way they should.

Hey Sevie! That would be so frustrating waiting for the donor...you must have the patience of a saint after all your trials! Big hugs to you - I hope it starts soon

Aw, thanks ladies! I appreciate the well wishes. All good so far -- I just pray it sticks! (And Alice, I'm so sorry to see you had an MC at 8 weeks. That must have been devastating.)

Kate, your AMH really is barely lower than normal. Definitely "borderline" at worst, esp. since AMH is such a new test that they still don't know exactly what the numbers mean. (How do you know that you are in premature menopause, by the way? Your AMH number doesn't really sound like it supports that diagnosis, although obviously I don't know any of your other symptoms or indicators.) If it helps, my doc said that he didn't start getting really worried until a patient's AMH dropped below 3 -- that's when he found that it got a lot harder to have success even with IVF. (And he was right, in my case.) So I really hope that you don't let your number throw you. You are young and doing everything you can to maximize your chances. I wish you the very best of luck!!!

XXKitKat72


PS. Sevie -- the best of luck to you dealing with your donor. That just sounds like such a difficult situation.

Hi guys,

kitkat- I'm hoping for great success for you. slow but steady wins the race!

kate- honest, 12 is a good AMH result. My donor egg's result is 9...if you're worried, I'm even more so! but I'm not. I'm guessing we won't get amazing numbers but I hope for ok results (for over $9k!!!) I wish for great luck for you.

Alice- Be hopefully. I wish we had crystal balls that we could look into and truly know our destiny...then we'd stop stressing!!

steph x

Hi all,

Kitkat, thanks for your reassurance about my result, i guess it was just not what my Dr expected from a fit & healthy 27 yo. My Mum and her maternal relatives hit menopasue at 32 or just after, which is why I was sent to a FS. After looking at my test results our Dr warned us that I *may* run out of eggs within the next 6 months -2 years. He has seen so many people wait until its too late and urged us to start TTC "more aggresively"...ie IVF), especially as we hope to have a couple of children. So I am not going into menopause yet, but the FS said my tests &poor IVF response (&my family history) make it more than likely that I will have a premature menopause.

When we tried IVF earlier this year it was a big disappointment. I didn't respond to the FHS as expected. 4 eggs were fertilised but none of the embryos were as good as they should have been. We had 2 tranferred but niether took unfortunately. The other embys were not "good enough" to be be frozen, so that was very dissapointing. The FS said my eggs are like what you would expect to see from a 45 yo female and that my chances of concieving naturally are pretty low. Im a "poor responder" in their words -not mine!! LOL! But that was only our first attempt, we can always try again one day.

My Chinese "Doctor" has a completely different view point and really thinks he can help me, so Im going to give him a shot (for so much less $$ than IVF!) and see how it goes.
Im still only 28 and in my mind still have all the time and options in the world ;)


Sevie, what stage are you at now? Your donor has obviously started her blood tests...that must be exciting. Does it still feel like its taking forever to get the ball rolling or are things coming together now?
Hope you have a very successful cycle :) Best of luck!

Alice, how are you finding the TCM? Are you taking the herbs too?!
Are you having regular cycles?

xo

Thanks Sevie, I'm trying...

KateM, I'm finding it good...challenging, but good. She is much like a lot of FSs in that she knows what is good for you physically but not much of a bedside manner IYKWIM. But if she can help me, then I'll put up with her bluntness. And she is helping me. I'm on a super strict diet for digestive problems (no wheat, no dairy, no caffeine, no alcohol, no sugar, no yeast, no oranges, mushrooms, potatoes, tomatoes, no coconut cream, no vinegar/pickles/mustard/soy sauce .... you get the picture!). Unbelievably, I've been sticking to it (99.999% of the time!) for two months this week! And I'm taking herbs (different ones for beginning and second phase of the cycle) plus taking my temperature every morning. I saw her today and comparing my charts already I can see an improvement. Her belief is that until I can get my temps more regulated (I have a 28 day cycle that is pretty much like clockwork so I'm lucky there) then I won't be able to carry a pg to full term. I have fluctuations in my temp in the second half of my cycle which indicates my progesterone levels aren't strong enough so we're working on that. I was getting really frustrated with more waiting (given my age and wanting to try again after our mc) but I've just had to let that go and just keep on track with the diet and hope things improve soon enough to get going on IVF again.

How are you finding it? What herbs are you taking? How are your cycles? How are you going with the DHEA?

Alice- lordy lord, what a STRICT diet! Do you feel very well for it...or shocking?!?? what can you eat??

Kate- my sis tried Chinese medicine. Stinky stuff!...but I do think it can help sometimes. good luck, just keep a peg on your nose!

KitKat- I hope all's still smooth-sailing AND times flying.

My donor, myself and our partners have our joint counselling session next week, then we're right to go! but then my donor's going away on holiday so in won't be till August till we stim!! I'm a bit worried that the doctors playing too save and starting her FSH dose too low. 150units for a woman with an AMH result of 9????

Wow Sevie that's great that things are finally getting going. I guess they are starting her low to see how she responds but when you've been through it all before it must be so frustrating to have to go through it via your donor all over again! So hope it all goes smoothly for you and has a positive outcome.

The diet is fine once you get organised for it and we already do a lot of home cooking because frankly there aren't that many options up here so we already make our own bread (in a bread maker) we just had to find a recipe that works without yeast and wheat flour (my DH makes it for me and it's very yummy by the way!) and then I've been having soy milk, I can eat as much meat as I like, cook brown rice instead of white (just takes more time and I had to get some tips on how to make it fluffy but getting better at it), plenty of salads, dips and brown rice crackers (yah for VitaWheat for making a new cracker I can eat that doesn't cost a bomb!), eggs etc so not that hard really and incredible how quickly your tastes adjust - sugar is just so extreme in taste now that it makes me feel a bit sick if I have it (that's just not right is it?!). I do miss cake but the bread is sort of cake-ish I guess.. Funnily enough it's the no tomato and potato thing that can be tricky because they are in so many things but that's more for the fact they have naturally occurring food chemicals that can irritate your stomach and I should be able to reintroduce them soon. Sounds worse than it is and with the internet, well, there's plenty out there - just google 'anti-candida' diet or 'wheat free' etc and there is HEAPS of info! Having said that, I'm looking forward to having a glass of red wine and a nice piece of cheese again one day! And yes, I do feel well for it - have lots more energy than before so damn! it's doing me good I don't have an excuse to stop!!

Hi All,
Well Im not sure if it was the Chinese Acupuncture and the herbs, or the DHEA, or a combination of both, but we finally got our BFP :)
We are keeping our fingers crossed that things go smoothly. I had an ultrasound this week and everything is looking good!!!
We were going to save up to do another IVF cycle after our Wedding in October, so this is such an amazing surprise.
Hope you are all doing well.

Sevie any updates on your donor?
Alice, how are going with your super strict eating plan, is it still helping your energy levels?

:leap: congratulations KateM!! :leap:

Wonderful news!!! Well done!!!! How exciting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wishing you all the very best for a happy and healthy pg and a little bub to love and enjoy all of your own xxooo

Thanks for asking after me - I'm doing really well with the diet (my chart is normal for the first time ever!) and I'm counting the days down to my next AF when I start the OCP and get our IVF cycle underway. I'm excited but cautious - I know the diet has helped but I am almost 42 so I have to be realistic that the odds for us are still quite low. My DH has quit smoking after 20 years so I know we are throwing our all at it - I'm taking herbs and doing acupuncture every week so that's all we can do (as well as hoping and dreaming).

I haven't heard from Sevie in a while so not sure how she's going with the donor eggs but hopefully we'll hear soon. Lots of love x

:clap:Kate, what excellent news -- congratulations! :dance::dance::dance:

:happyforyou:All my best wishes to you for a healthy and happy pregnancy! :happyforyou:

Kitkat72

Hi Girls,

Sorry for jumping in but your stories resonate with me. I'm 29, have low ovarian reserve (AMH 11.3, AFC 9, FSH 4) and my mother was 36 when she hit menopause.
I'm starting my first IVF cycle in september (down reg, double FSH dose) and am anxious about how i will respond.
I've read alot about DHEA and would like to try it, however, my FS is against it.

Its nice to know there are others in the same boat that have been successful! Congratulations Kate and Kitkat!!

Hi Gals, thanks for the congratulations :-)
Next week we have our 12 week scan, then I will feel like I can really celebrate :)

Alice, I hope the IVF goes well next week, its a great sign your chart is back to normal! Good on your hubby for giving up smoking, between the both of you it sounds like you are putting all you can into this. Keep us posted on how you go, we will be thinking of you.

Welcome Night Walker, yes you have quite a similar situation. I hope your IVF goes well next month, its a bit of roller coaster ride, but its great to know you are one step closer to getting where you want to be. I wonder why your FS is agains DHEA?
I went back to my FS (having already looked into DHEA) and then before I could ask about it, he suggested it. I was a poor responder to IVF Feb this year, so I was taking it in the hope of improving my egg quality before having another cycle.
I had no side effects and am SO happy we gave it a shot. Im not sure if it was the DHEA that worked for me, or the Chinese acupuncture/medicine (or a combination of both), but something worked when we were told the chances of it happening naturally was slim.
Hopefully IVF is sucessful for you, but if you don't respond well, you could always get a second opinion about DHEA.
Good luck and please let us know how you go!

Does anyone know of a doctor on the Gold Coast who prescribes DHEA?

Hi Wen,

Would you believe I just got prescribed DHEA today from Dr Neil Wallman who is at John Flynne Hospital. A couple of weeks ago I found out I have a low AHM and he has prescribed it to me.

Hi Gals,
Thought I would jump on this site again as I need to make another big decision, and I find it helpful to talk about it with people in similar situations.
I had my AMH tested again and its dropped down to 3.1 (from 12.2 less than 2 yrs ago), but thankfully I have my wonderful daughter now.
My Dr says it looks like Premature Ovarian Failure, which I knew to expect with my family history.
Im curious, is there anyone out there who has fallen pregnant naturally with an AMH of 3 or less??
I would love to have another baby but don't want to do IVF again (as my Dr has recommended.)
Im so blessed to have one child, so if I can't have anymore I will be OK with that.
Once I finish breastfeeding I will start DHEA again as I think it helped us last time.

Hi Kate M,

In September I found out I have a AHM of 1.2 and I am 34 so I was very shocked. Me and my husband decided to start trying staight away and guess what? We fell pregnant within less than 2 months as I am 6 weeks pregnant now. So even with such a low egg count my eggs must be good quality. So there is hope out there for you.

I was just wondering if anyone's doctor mentioned the risk of birth defects with DHEA???

My FS won't prescribe it for me because she says it is too risky. I am just wondering what other doctors say.

Thanks!

I have an AMH of 6.1, which is low considering how young I am (28). I take DHEA first half of my cycle. HTH.

Did your FS prescribe it??

At my clinic only one FS (out of about 20) will use it...

Nope I just bought it from a vitamin store online. He asked what MV's I was taking and didn't say anything when I mentioned DHEA.