DHEA

[Rollypops]

Hello everyone,

Just looking to see if anyone has any advice or similar experiences....

We are looking at starting IVF cycle 2 soon, our 1st 1 failed in June, only 5 eggs collected, 1 blast that didn't make it.

We had a consultation with our consultant after the failed cycle who did say I could take DHEA, when I asked about it. I ordered some online, but due to covid, delivery is delayed, which is now potentially delaying us starting our next cycle. We spoke to the clinic this morning who said the DHEA needs to ideally have been in your system 4 weeks before you start treatment. We were then informed they advise people to take this if their AMH is lower than 4. Mine is 14.2, which I know isn't great, I'm just confused. So now wondering whether to go ahead this cycle or wait for the DHEA to arrive and leave it till next cycle to start.

Is anyone in a similar situation?

Thanks for reading x

[Ivfgotadream]

My clinic said not to take - it’s only really for women with very low antral follicle count - who get maybe 1 or 2 follicles. It can actually decrease egg quality and fertility if you take it when you don’t have confirmed low testosterone levels and also has lots of nasty side effects like hair loss

[Rollypops in reply to Ivfgotadream]

Ohh wow really? Thanks for letting me know. I had 24 follicles on last round, but only 5 eggs, we are hoping the increased IVF medication will help with more eggs and better quality this time round.

I have been very wary of taking it tbh, I think you have helped make my mind up! Thanks so much! X

[Hidden in reply to Rollypops]

My clinic said the same not to take it as if you don’t need it ,it can actually make thing worse not better! Xx

[Lind58]

I swear by dhea - I have a low ovarian reserve and took it for 3 months. It made a huge change for me.

You can get it amazon prime.

[IVFat40]

For me I feel like DHEA helped me, but of course mine is just one experience so it totally might not be right for you.

I followed the advice in the book 'it start's with the egg', got my DHEA-S and testosterone levels checked (blood tests at the clinic), and based on the results and the advice in the book chose to take DHEA for about 8 weeks before my 3rd egg collection (my clinic don't recommend it but also didn't tell me not to). I only took 50mg (instead of the 75 recommended) as I was quite cautious of it. I was 40 during the cycle.

My 3rd cycle was much more successful than my 1st (1 good blast) or 2nd (1 good blast, 1 CC blast, 1 very early blast) - in my 3rd cycle I got 6 good blasts all AB/BA (just in the process of starting to transfer them now so don't yet know if they'll take though?!).

I didn't get too bad side effects, oilier skin/hair, few more spots, but it's going back to normal now I've stopped taking it.

That said there were other things I also did that may have helped my 3rd cycle, so it's hard to be certain of the role of the DHEA.

Good luck!

[Rollypops in reply to IVFat40]

Thanks so much for your reply. There's so many mixed reviews on it, it's hard to know what to do for the best. I think we are going to go ahead this cycle with the increase in IVF medication and see how we go on. We have 2 cycles, but hoping we don't need to use them both.

I wish you all the luck in the world for your transfer, hope you get a sticky little 1 xx

[IVFat40 in reply to Rollypops]

Thank you 😊 and wishing the same to you.

[Filmgirl101]

My Antril count was normal, but my AMH was crazy low. So I took DHEA 75mg. It helped a lot. As in from 1-3 follies with eggs to 7!

Are they upping your Gonal F? Or changing anything?

[Rollypops]

Hey, thanks for replying. That's a brilliant increase! I hope it all works out for you!

The clinic have said that they can learn from the previous cycle and will be increasing my IVF medication. Hoping it works! Do you have egg collection soon? Xx

[Wanda76]

Hello! Had a pretty poor 1:st round (6 retrieved: 2 empty, 2 immature, 2 mature) so I’m looking at taking this too. My AMH is 7 and I’m 43. I don’t have PCOS but a stubborn cyst that isn’t a tumor. I will take a DHEA test in a couple of weeks what else do you need to check to know if it’s safe?

[IVFat40 in reply to Wanda76]

The book 'it starts with the egg' recommends getting both your DHEA-S level and your Testosterone level checked with a blood test, and then based on your results the book gives suggestions about whether to supplement with DHEA. I got my blood tests done at my IVF clinic, and also checked with them if they were happy for me to take it.

Wishing you all the luck in the world!

[Rollypops]

Hey Wanda, hope you're doing ok.

My clinic said to make sure you get it from a known company, I've read about micronised versions being better? But I think they are harder to get you hands on. I've seen very mixed reviews on DHEA, it's hard to know what to do. Depending on where you live, you'll struggle to get it in the UK. Most people buy from overseas.

For round 2, the clinic are upping my IVF medication, I'm also taking CO-Q10, Vitamin D, Cod Liver Oil and Folic Acid. I hope this helps someone! Good luck with your next round. Let me know how you get on! X

[Rollypops]

Sorry thqt should have read "somehow" not "someone" x