Side effects of DHEA

[Chegotsi]

Hi, did anyone suffer from bloating & digestion issues after they started taking DHEA supplements? I have only been taking it for one day and I feel like I am about to burst. Also how long do you need to be on DHEA before starting IVF?

[Hidden]

Have you consulted your clinic about taking it? I only ask as I self prescribed and had LOADS of horrible side effects that took months to fix so wouldn’t recommend taking it just because everyone on here recommends it x

[Chegotsi in reply to Hidden]

Yes, sorry forgot to say it was prescribed by my clinic.

[CJohns]

Hi. I’ve been taking it for 2 and a half weeks so far. I’ve not had those symptoms, but I’ve had the odd headache which I think may be related. My clinic said they’d like me to be taking it for around 3 months before starting x

[Chegotsi in reply to CJohns]

Thank you for replying. I really appreciate your response. Praying that you get your BFP!♥️

[pink_lemon]

I was taking it for about 5 months during our whole treatment. I researched side affects before I started taking it, because my doctor alerted me about hairloss and acne as the main typical side effects. What I ended up reading was that different people reacted differently, so I gave it a go and personally experienced a bit of acne, which did not bother me. I also read that for effect in fertility treatment 3 months+ of taking it might have the best effect, but at was also told repeatedly that results of reseach in the area is still inconclusive. Good luck on your journey.

[Chegotsi]

Thank you so much for your response. Xx

[Pnw2020]

Hi. I personally didn’t have any side effects but only took two tablets a day not the usual 3 (75mg). Could you start with one a day for a few days and then slowly increase? That way you know if the medication is causing any side effects. Good luck x

[AuroraXen]

Hi, I've been taking it since the start of July, to see if it helps us in our last cycle (currently a few days into the stims). My consultant told me he couldn't advocate for it properly, as it - like most things in IVF!- has a shaky evidence base. But anecdotally he said he has seen really good results for women my age (40) with DOR from taking it. So I thought, why not? I did get my level checked with medichecks after a couple of weeks though, to see where I was. The goal, as I understood it anyway, is to get your levels up to those of a young woman (i.e. not to aim for the norm for your age). But if you go too high, it can impact on other hormone pathways, so I opted to have a low-ish dose - usually 50 per day for the first 2 months, then down to 25 these past few weeks (as I was getting to the top of the desirable level). Symptoms-wise, some acne, defo, but nothing else really. However, it can play havoc with some people I think, so best approached with caution. I'll find out soon if it has done any good at all 🙄😪 xx