Testosterone

[Greenleaves1]

Has anyone had their testosterone tested before starting DHEA?

My GP kindly tested mine and it's 0.4nmol/l.

The lovely Google tells me this is low for fertility so I would probably benefit from DHEA after all. I was concerned about taking too much on the 75mg dose.

[Rubylou01]

Hi Greenleaves - Ive prescribed myself DHEA after my testosterone levels were 0.14 start of Jan. Been taking 60-75mg /day. My Dr wasn't interested and Ive since had conversations with two different fertility doctors as well from different clinics neither of which thought it would help my fertility ("its just for your libido"). However, I feel better so going to keep taking it; skin clearer and more energy. Started with 75mg and now on 60mg ...as I know you're supposed to test every 6-8 weeks in case too high. And as my 2nd fertility dr pointed out too much can be bad for "mumble mumble" (no idea what was next!). I think there are different views on whether it helps egg quality or if it just helps with egg numbers....I think all id suggest is be a bit cautious with it and keep getting tested and see how you feel... And just to say as well I get pretty severe headaches when my hormones change and I had a headache for about 2 weeks when I started....settled down now

[Greenleaves1 in reply to Rubylou01]

Thank you. Have you had any tests since January? I'm thinking of 50mg just (25mg in morning, 25mg in evening). I've got a FET lined up first so won't be starting DHEA until I know the outcome of it. Are you planning on another cycle soon?

[Rubylou01 in reply to Greenleaves1]

Hi Greenleaves - yes but unhelpfully I forgot to come off the DHEA a couple of days before my test 🙄 so my dhea was reading 15 (max range meant to be 9) and my testosterone was reading 3 (max 1.67). Tbh tho am pretty convinced twas the tablets as I've barely had a spot for the last 2 months so still convinced its doing some good. Will get a test in another 2 weeks and stay off the DHEA for 48 hours this time so can always report in 3 weeks or so with an update if you think helpful to see how my baseline has increased. Depending on the result will self diagnose again and adjust accordingly. Don't actually have a date in the diary for next cycle as trying to change clinics; I'd actually like a fertility dr to offer advice on these sorts of things rather than me making it up!!

[Greenleaves1 in reply to Rubylou01]

Yes do report back and let me know lol I know what you mean about wanting to hear it from the doctors. My clinic only suggest it but don't go into any tests etc just a simple "this may or may not help" lol xx

[Axel131]

Hi Greenleaves, when I tested my testosterone prior to DHEA it was also 0.4 and I started on 75mg per day and got it tested 4 weeks later and then 4 weeks again. It rose pretty quickly to 1.0 as did my DHEA-S which was mid range beforehand and then after that I tapered the dose down when I noticed a small bit of acne but that indicated to me that my body had more than enough. If you feel better starting on a lower dose 50 or 25mg then you can test and see what the ranges are and adjust the dose accordingly.

[Greenleaves1 in reply to Axel131]

Ah thank you. I'm thinking of starting 50mg and getting retested. Have you had egg retrieval since starting DHEA?

[Axel131 in reply to Greenleaves1]

Yes I have, IVF cycle 4 , I had no DHEA and they didn't really make it passed day 3. Cycle 5 the next month, I only had one poor quality blast and the difference was 5 days of testosterone gel at the beginning. Cycles 6 & 7, a year later I had it and I made 3 and 4 very good quality blasts. This was at the age of 45 so I really think it helped. At the end I was taking a very small dose too.

[Greenleaves1 in reply to Axel131]

That's amazing. Did you have any luck from your embryos?

[Axel131 in reply to Greenleaves1]

Unfortunately not, they came back abnormal. I transferred two anyway but they didn't implant and I have two left but will move on to donor eggs now because I've aged out of the system here in Ireland with my OE. I probably will transfer my own two at some stage but they're unlikely to take unfortunately.

[Greenleaves1 in reply to Axel131]

Aww it's such a hard journey. I'm in Northern Ireland but travel to Manchester for treatment as my donor is linked there. What clinic are you in?

[Axel131]

It really is a tough journey. I've heard Manchester is very good and I know some ladies who have travelled over there too. I'm with a clinic down in Cork (don't think I can mention the name on here!) and as I'm in Wicklow that's a 5 hour round trip for transfers and egg collections but they're good because they do listen to what you want to do regarding protocols and meds. The two disastrous rounds I had I was with another clinic in Dublin who have several branches in the UK too. They just had a standard way of doing everything and would not listen when I said I knew my body wouldn't react well to that protocol, it was very frustrating!