Has anyone any comparison IVF cycles without and then with DHEA?

[Amelia1984]

Hello All,

I’m just wondering if there are any ladies out there, with low AMH, who have had a failed IVF cycle(s) without taking DHEA. Then taken a course of DHEA prior to another IVF cycle and noticed a difference? If so, what were the differences.

I took a course of micronised DHEA (6 months) after several failed IUI’s but prior to another IUI, all which were unsuccessful. I’ve since had two IVF treatments and one FET and now decided to try a course of DHEA (12 weeks) again prior to my next IVF. I’m wondering whether I’ll notice a difference. Of course we all react differently, but I’m curious as to whether anyone had experienced a noticeable difference without, then with taking a course of DHEA.

Thank you in advance for your thoughts .. 😊

[ILHB]

Hello,

I had my first failed cycle in December. I’ve got very low amh and only got two eggs/embryos both of which were transferred on day 2. I’ve been taking DHEA since January and will be starting a second cycle in the next few months. I’m not sure if it’ll make a difference but really hoping so! I had my AMH retested yesterday and am awaiting the results so that will be interesting too. I’ve also had my FSH retested and it went from 11 to 8 but I know that can vary month to month anyway. Good luck for your next cycle 💫 Xx

[Amelia1984 in reply to ILHB]

I’m sorry to hear of your failed cycle. I hope DHEA helps you and makes all the difference on your next cycle. 💫

My previous two IVF cycles I had 5 then 4 follicles (luckily all with mature eggs), so I’m wondering if I’ll get the same,

more or less (as more time has passed) .. Also whether with the DHEA they’ll be stronger, as despite having 5 day transfers they didn’t make our baby...

it’s a guessing/waiting game .. ultimately it only takes one ☝️

Very best of luck to you too xx

[Infragilis]

Hi, I had a cycle in March 2020 where I had three follicles, went in for egg retrieval and they were empty. I started taking dhea 75mg per day. In October I had three follicles, got three embryos and resulted in pregnancy. Unfortunately I miscarried. I also take ubiquinol and I had done accupuncture prior to cycle. I haven't stopped taking DHEA. I will soon start another cycle.

[Amelia1984 in reply to Infragilis]

Hello, thanks for your reply. Thats great to hear that you had a positive difference, I am sorry that it ended in miscarriage though. Wishing you all the very best of luck on your next cycle xx

[articsnowfox]

I did! I did a cycle in October 2018 at the age of 42 (almost 43) and the cycle was a bust: 9 eggs, 5 fertilised, 1 3BB blastocyst on day 5, and no pregnancy. Then I took micronized DHEA for 3 months (as well as a slightly lower dose of drugs and slightly earlier egg retrieval): 7 eggs, 6 fertilised, 1 x 4AB and 1 x 4AA blastocyst on day 5, one of which is now napping

I gave my leftover DHEA to a friend who was 43, and who had had many past miscarriages before finally having her daughter a couple of years ago. After 3 months of DHEA she was ready to start IVF for the first time, had bought all the drugs etc... on the Friday before the Monday she was to start taking the drugs, she got a positive pregnancy test and is now around 28 weeks pregnant

I should add that my AMH was very good for my age and hers was average, but at the age of 43, your AMH doesn't have so much of an effect. Even though I still had a good quantity of eggs left, they had still been sitting around for 43 years!

[Amelia1984 in reply to articsnowfox]

Hello, thanks for your reply and that's great news to hear of your success after trying DHEA on a cycle 😊 And lovely news to hear that your friend discovered she was pregnant prior to her cycle starting ! Two positives stories following DHEA. Can I ask, did you stop DHEA once your treatment began (if you can remember)? I'm planning to stop just as injections start. Thanks for sharing with me xx

[articsnowfox in reply to Amelia1984]

I didn't but I'm sure it's okay if you do stop as injections start

[Conceivingblee in reply to articsnowfox]

Hi could I ask if there's a Mg to take of DHEA and a brand to look at at all

Many thanks

[articsnowfox in reply to Conceivingblee]

the dose used in studies supporting use of DHEA is 25mg, three times daily (so, a total of 75 mgs per day), and the brand doesn't really matter as much as getting a micronized formulation..

[Amelia1984 in reply to Conceivingblee]

Yes I’m taking 3 x 25mg but built up gradually, as the first time round that I took it I had side effects, this time not so much. I get mine micronised DHEA from McPhersons in America.

[Jols in reply to articsnowfox]

Hi! Do you remember what your AMH and that of your friend were? Not sure what a good level is for 42-43 yo

[articsnowfox in reply to Jols]

mine was quite good - around 2.51 ng/mL and hers was 1 ng/mL which is a normal value for her age.

[Scarlett13]

First cycle - one embryo to be transferred

Second cycle - 3 embryos made it to blastocyst

Then did 3 months of micronised DHEA

Third cycle - 7 day 5 embryos!!!

Now have a son and 3 embryos in the freezer

Good luck!!!! X

[Amelia1984 in reply to Scarlett13]

Wow! That’s great to hear! And what a difference you had with taking the micronised DHEA. Did you take 3 x 25mg? So nice to hear such a successful story 😊 thanks for sharing xx

[Scarlett13 in reply to Amelia1984]

Yes that’s how much I took. Also melatonin once before bed in the 2 weeks leading up to transfer. I read it starts with an egg and followed all the advice! X good luck xx

[Amelia1984 in reply to Scarlett13]

Thank you for your advice it's very much appreciated. Yes I have read that book and also been taking Co-Q10, NHP and Optibac .. never tried melatonin though, so will look into this too. Thanks again xx

[Babybana in reply to Scarlett13]

Hi sorry to jump on this thread I just wanted to ask what your amh levels were? Your last cycle is my dream cycle so keen to start DHEA aswell

[Serendipitious in reply to Scarlett13]

Scarlett13,

Did you suffer any side effects from taking DHEA? It can convert to testosterone and oestrogen. Just wondering. Also, how much melatonin did you take daily? Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Scarlett13 in reply to Serendipitious]

No side effects as far as I know but only took it for a few months. Can’t remember how much melatonin I took but it was once a day for 2 weeks leading up to egg collection. I took the dose recommended in the it starts with an egg book xx

[Serendipitious in reply to Scarlett13]

Thanks I’ll give that book another read.

[Scarlett13 in reply to Serendipitious]

Good luck xxx

[Lind58]

For me personally I think it did wonders. I did 3 cycles without which all embryos were mosaic and one with. The one with resulted in 2 healthy embryos,

I would suggest looking in to ovarian rejuvenation

[Amelia1984 in reply to Lind58]

Thank you.. I have no knowledge on ovarian rejuvenation, so I’ll have a read into this, thank you x

[leo1980 in reply to Lind58]

Hi Lind58 what is ovarian rejuvenation?

[Lind58 in reply to leo1980]

The inject your own plasma in to your ovaries. I would definitely research it.

Where are you located?

[leo1980 in reply to Lind58]

London. I did a quick google search. Only place I found was somewhere in Crete.

[Lind58 in reply to leo1980]

Yes, I went in nyc. Worth maybe asking your doctor. Best of luck

[Serendipitious in reply to Lind58]

Lind58,

Did you have low ovarian reserve? How did this help?

[minnesota_girl]

I did. I'm in my third cycle 2ww after having gotten to transfer for the first time!

First cycle, 6 eggs, 3 fertilised, no embryos made it past day 3 and were average

Second cycle, 2 eggs, 1 fertilised, no growth past day 3.

I took DHEA 75mg plus coQ10 and various other vitamins, did the DHEA for 3 solid months before my next cycle started.

Was advised to stop the day I started stims...

So I don't know if it will be successful or not but I've seen a clear improvement in this cycle for sure!!

Best of luck to you 💕💕

[Amelia1984 in reply to minnesota_girl]

Hello that’s great to here and congratulations on getting your transfer and being in your 2ww. Wishing you the very best of luck 🤞🏻 that your little one is growing. May I ask how many follicles and eggs you got from this cycle? xx

[minnesota_girl in reply to Amelia1984]

Sure I realised I forgot to say that!

7 follicles, 6 eggs, all mature, 5 fertilised. So 6 to 5 instead of 6 to 3 as was my first cycle! Generally quality much better according to embryologist...

This time I had a blastocyst of good quality, 2BB, and an early blastocyst on day 5 to transfer. Which might not sound like a lot to some people but in my circumstances I was over the moon!!

[Amelia1984 in reply to minnesota_girl]

Thats great news ! And most certainly a positive difference. Really hope you get your BFP this time, sending you lots of baby dust x

[minnesota_girl in reply to Amelia1984]

Thanks! When are you due to start your next cycle?

[Amelia1984 in reply to minnesota_girl]

Due to start my next treatment mid April 😊🤞

[articsnowfox in reply to minnesota_girl]

a good fertilisation rate is associated with an increased chance of live birth

[AracLl]

Sorry to jump in on your post. My fertility clinic has also suggested I take DHEA 75 mg but I'm really struggling to source it. Where did you all get yours from?Many thanks

[Amelia1984 in reply to AracLl]

That’s okay 😊 I got mine shipped from America , McPherson Labs, 25mg micronised DHEA. Came pretty quickly too, hope that helps..

[Purpledoggy in reply to AracLl]

I got mine (and most of my supps) from iHerb in the US xx

[Gemstar20]

Hi Amelia,

I can answer this question for you in a few weeks, my first round of IVF failed and I wasn’t taking dhea or CoQ10, I’m on my 2nd round this time I’m taking these supplements, but I won’t know how many follicles I have until 17th may, last time I had 3, 1 follicle grew, but no egg was collected , hopefully I get better luck this time. X

[Amelia1984 in reply to Gemstar20]

Hello, thanks for your message. I am sure the dhea and Co-Q10 will make a difference for you, everything crossed that you have a successful next cycle. I’ve actually just completed 12 weeks on DHEA and upped my Co-Q10 that I’ve been taken for years now to three a day, for the past 3 months also. I have just had my third EC this week. For the first time, in 10 treatment cycles, I had no response from my right ovary (I’m convinced this is from my last EC, as I have a very awkward high ovary). Anyway my left ovary played ball and I got 4 eggs 🥚 3 which fertilised 🥰 I’ve had two put back in on a day 3 transfer this time. Our embryologist said they were perfect and waiting on my third to hopefully freeze as a day 5 blastocyst tomorrow 🤞🏻 I feel both the Dhea and Co-Q10 have helped my eggs and I just hope they help make the difference this time and they stick and grow 🤞🏻🤞🏻

Best of luck to you x

[Gemstar20 in reply to Amelia1984]

That’s brilliant hun, that’s mad because my right overy is not playing ball either, last scan in January I only had 3 follicles on my left overy, but I’ve started CoQ10 and dhea and I’m on my first week on injections, my first scan is 17th may to see how many follicles I have. How many follicles did you have on your left side? X

[Amelia1984 in reply to Gemstar20]

That’s strange, the right side must be playing games this year 😂 I had 4 follicles on my left side, all which had a mature egg in, but sadly my fourth didn’t fertilise even though it was mature (think it was possibly down to the sperm).. I hope your scan goes well on the 17th, how many days stims will you have had? I always have a slow start, usually have my baseline then a scan 5 days later then every 2 and often only see 2 follicles then the others appear. Usually they are slow growers but this time they were faster and I actually had egg retrieval 2 days earlier on this cycle compared to my last two EC x

[Gemstar20 in reply to Amelia1984]

Omg how exciting, I really hope you get a good ending. It’s such a horrible journey and unless you have been through it no one would ever understand.

What clinic are you at? I’m at BcRm in Bristol.

I’ve been told I only have a 5% chance , my Ovarian count is so low and low AMH. But I’m going to give this one last try and then I’m not doing it again.

Started My injections 2nd may, I had to take tables 2days before for 7 days and then my period started today. I keep taking these injections now and then the evening injection will be on the 17th may x

[Amelia1984 in reply to Gemstar20]

Thank you 🙏 I really hope you get your wish too. It is so difficult, an unbelievably life consuming journey of ups and downs... I just pray our journeys end on ups (and soon!) 😊I have low AMH and never get more than 4 follicles during stims, but as they say it only takes one ☝️ I’m at CRGW clinic. I wish you the very best with this cycle x

[Gemstar20 in reply to Amelia1984]

I hope we both get some luck this time around , best of luck hun xxx

[Sunny-side]

Hi, I’ve had many failed ICSI cycles with DHEA so I started taking it for our next cycle but I had some scary side effects like acne on my chest thinning hair so I stopped. I intend to starting it again but 50mg instead of75mg I was taking.

[Chocolatemonster1]

Hello, I’ve been advised to take dHEA 25mg three times a dayNo idea where to buy it can someone help? Also how bad are the side effects?

Thanks xx