Experience with DHEA

[Amelia1984]

Hello, I was wondering if anyone could shed some light of their experience using DHEA please. I’ve had two failed cycles of IUI, then had my AMH done and discovered it was very low at 2.1 (I’m 34yrs). Previous to starting treatment (12 months ago) I found out my FSH was 10.1. As this was high I started making changes in the hope to help my fertility (diet/chemical free products, regular acupuncture etc), but only recently discovered how bad things were with my AMH. I was initially told by my NHS consultant I couldn’t continue treatment with my eggs (we were both devastated). However have been given the chance that if I have my FSH levels taken again and if it’s 10 or below I can have two attempts at IVF.

I’m desperate to try and help my fertility in any which way I can and was recommend by another consultant (at a private clinic) to try for 3 months 25g x 3 daily of micronised DHEA. I had planned to do this before retesting my FSH. However I started two weeks ago on two 25g a day (morning and evening). After three days I felt awful, upset tummy every day and just felling crappy so reduced to one 25g tablet in an evening. Daily stomach upsets have gone but my skin is terrible, spots getting worse each day (face,neck,chest) which is making me miserable and my mood isn’t great which I feel is the drugs. I’ve decided to up to 2 x 25g again today to try get as much in me as possible.

Just wondered if anyone has used micronised DHEA for a short term and seen the benefit? And whether the side effect of bad spots improves or not until you stop taking them? And the moods? I’ve read lots on side effects and want to grin and bare it for as long as I can, but very uncertain I’ll manage 3 months of this. I’d appreciate anyone’s experiences and thoughts very much, thank you.

[AmbK]

It's not my own experience though, but I'll share anyway if it counts and could help you. It's a fellow woman I met on the local infertility-suffering meet-ups and later ended up being good friends. She happened to have her first child after a 4-year long struggle a couple of months back. Since we got really close I used to meet her often especially during her gestation... so I know bits about it. Her AMH was low and when she tried IUI on medication to help egg count and quality it failed more than once. Then she went for IVF and the doc put her on DHEA shortly before egg extraction, along with the usual Clomid. It worked ... or so the successful pregnancy and gestation prove. Don't go for pregnancy acupuncture... that's like next level hocuspocus. It only helps to de-stress you and help you relax better other than that it does nothing more. Wish you luck !!

[Amelia1984 in reply to AmbK]

Hello, thank you kindly for your response, it’s much appreciated. It’s good to hear your friend became pregnant having used DHEA as part of her treatment. Do you know roughly how long she used it for before her egg extraction (days/weeks?) and what dose she took?

Haha.. and the acupuncture, your right I do feel like it’s helped relax me and certainly calmed my PMS in past years. But as for helping my fertility I haven’t felt that!

Thanks again

[AmbK in reply to Amelia1984]

Well, I don't remember exactly but a couple of weeks as far as I can recollect. I can confirm from her and update give me a day or two. Yeah, a few in the lot does say the acupuncture helps but most disagree. If you expect relaxation or the feel of rejuvenation that's perhaps the best option but not to boost pregnancy or chances of success in any way. I attended 2 of such sessions after my initial TTCs failed based on the claims on their website. I too agree with you completely that I didn't feel anything other than the whole-heartily warm comfort and calm and swept by. Oh and I think it'll be worthwhile to make some healthy lifestyle changes if you haven't done that already. Assisted fertility or not a healthy lifestyle always helps. I'll let you know about the exact dose and medications as soon as I can.

[Amelia1984 in reply to AmbK]

Great thank you, that’ll be good to know how long and what dose she took. I’ve read that 3 months seems to be a good time of 25g x 3 daily.. but the side effects I’m having aren’t much fun, and despite being willing to try everything not sure I can manage 3 miserable months ! Plus I’m wanting to feel good going into our next try (so kind of becomes counter productive!).

Yes when I found out my FSH was high 12 months ago I made lifestyle changes, not that I was unhealthy anyway but started zero alcohol, organic foods, no longer use nail polish or perfume and went organic/chemical free in my toiletries and house hold products, oh and lost the plastics BPA! So I hope the few eggs I may have in there are at least healthy ones .. but only time will tell.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

[Hidden]

I’ve used 50 mg a day of dhea off my own back I had 2 mc I was 38 at the time I wanted to improve egg health I also took ubiquinol pqq amongst other supplements I had researched for 3 mths I had slightly greasy hair a little spotty over all that was the worst of it I got pregnant the 3rd mth we can conceive naturally, out of the 3 pregnancies that one was the worst I had spotting and on and off bleeding until 12w I had an MVA. The other 2 we pretty much had no idea we would mc until 12w. I had so much hopes set on these supplements working I had read so much good things about dhea and ubiquinol but unfortunately for us it didn’t work. I haven’t used it since I have been in 2 minds wether or not to try it again.

[Amelia1984 in reply to Hidden]

Hello, thank you for your response. I’m glad you’re side effects weren’t too bad, but sorry to hear that was your worst pregnancy. It’s difficult to know whether these things help, but I have read many a positive story from using DHEA which is why I want to suck it up and keep trying it for now. It’s just the side effects that I’m struggling with but I’m hoping as my body gets use to them then maybe the side effects will reduce!? I’ll have to just wait and see. I’m taking a supplement called proceive which aren’t cheap but got everything in including ubiquinol and a higher dose of vitamin D (I’ve read low vitamin d can have an effective in fertility).. and strangely enough when we tried in June last year I had most follicles, our attempt in Oct and Feb only one follicle and then lost my only one before time, was this to do with the winter months and lack of vit D? Who knows..

best of luck !

[Hidden in reply to Amelia1984]

Tbh I think you just start to forget about the symptoms and live with them it became the norm I only realise that my hair was greasy once I stopped. I would give them a go doesn’t hurt to try maybe I wasn’t taking enough or for long enough who knows I didn’t get my dhea level checked before.

[Amelia1984 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I haven’t had my DHEA level checked either, kind of doing it on the sly.. as they were recommended to me by a private clinic but currently undergoing treatment with the NHS and hoping they continue to treat me (pending my next FSH results). Not sure if they’d agree with DHEA as heard mix reviews so keeping it to ourselves.

[Hidden in reply to Amelia1984]

It’s hard to know what to do for the best because it’s testosterone steroid I was concerned I might mess my cycle up the ubiquinol and pqq didn’t concern me. I do think it helped lengthen my cycle from 25 to 28 days thinking a longer cycle the egg has more time to mature.

[Amelia1984 in reply to Hidden]

Yes that’s true, it is hard to know what it may do to your cycle (for better or worse)... I’m on day 20 and usually my cycles are 27/28 days, however last month I went 38 days (which has never happened!). This was before starting DHEA but after a failed cycle so assuming that was maybe what upset the pattern.

If only we knew the insides of our bodies and could control them ... how much easier life would be for us 😊

[lorraineb61]

I used both DHEA & Uniqunol for our 4th round. Part of our problem was the quality of my eggs and in the previous 3 cycles we only got to transfer once.

I used them for 4 months leading up to our 4th round and the result was that we got a top quality embryo which is now my 12 week old daughter!!!

Fortunately I didn't have any side effects so can't help you there but I'm convinced the drugs worked!!! x

[Amelia1984 in reply to lorraineb61]

Hello and Congratulations !! That’s great news and so glad to hear that they seemed to help you. May I ask how many follicles you had on this round? Was it more than previous rounds? Also what dose of DHEA did you take a day?

That’s good you didn’t suffer any side effects. I read about them prior to starting but didn’t anticipate that I’d actually get enough which bothered me so much. I’m really hoping them calm down.

Tempted to have my FSH level done in April if not which means I’ll have been on them a month not three, but maybe they’ll have worked enough magic for my test. Then I’ll take again before our treatment.

I’m also on Procieve which has ubiqinol and high dose of vitamin D etc in.. I decided to upgrade my Folic acid supplement, these I’ve been on for a while already so hoping there benefitting things too.

Thanks again for sharing

[lorraineb61 in reply to Amelia1984]

Hi Amelia, the quantity of eggs didn't change - I averaged about 4 eggs per cycle. The difference was the quality - we have never had any to freeze and that didn't change this time either. I took 75mg & 300mg Ubiquonol. x

[Amelia1984 in reply to lorraineb61]

Thank you that’s good to know.x