A word of caution regarding DHEA

[Mitco]

Hi all, I've been taking DHEA. I first tested at 3.9 so I started taking 25mg twice a day and after about 1.5months I tested again and it had shot up to 14! Way above what is normal for any age and so I have immediately stopped taking it. I think I might look to return to it on only 25mg per day but I am quite scared now. I've not booked in yet for my final round of IVF (was thinking of starting in May), but now I am really worried that I have done something that could negatively affect my next round and egg quality. I am a very poor responder and this is our final round since we can't afford to continue. Not sure if anyone else has had a similar response? Does anyone have any idea how long it could take for my levels to go back down? As I can't find any online guidance about it. Really wasn't expecting that. Anyway, just a word of caution to anyone taking it to make sure you take the time to get blood tests to check your levels whilst on it.

[HollyLI]

I took DHEA and COQ10 (after an original 5 egg retrievals of one egg each, and no normal embryo after pgt testing ), then with a new doc started taking those supplements, took them 6 months with next 4 rounds of egg retrieval and with each round then got 2-4 eggs and last round ?after taking them 6 months.. which is the amount of time they say it takes for them to work online) We got the only good embryo (after pgt testing) we ever got and did our first transfer, she is 4 months !

Of course I was being tested for ivf, but no specific testing for those supplements, not sure what levels you were referring to. My AMH went up while on them, not much but some, and we got our girl.

[HollyLI]

Think I took 75 of DHEA a day

[Mitco in reply to HollyLI]

My doctor hadn't prescribed them so it was up to me to monitor my DHEA levels through private blood tests. I know a lot of people recommend the 75mg dose, so I didn't think I was taking too much at 50mg. But I seemed to have had a strange response to it. It's a drug that should be taken with caution and careful monitoring.