DHEA protocols

Kiwi expat · Post by **Kiwi expat** » Mon Aug 20, 2007 10:21 am

Hi all - I am new to the boards, although I've been a 'voyeur' for quite some time.

I am 40 and have been undergoing IF treatment for some time now in Singapore where I am currently working. Unfortunately, the legal use of some of the latest reproductive technologies are banned, such as PGD tests and donor eggs. Thanks to you all, I have learnt a great deal about the various opportunities available all around the world through this site, and this is where I found out about the use of DHEA by some of you here. Although I am really fortunate to have an excellent doctor, no-one here has used DHEA treatment to improve the egg quality in older women, (and I am at the stage where I am willing to try anything!)

I would love it if you could share with me your DHEA protocols as I will be self administering this prior to my next cycle in October. I am familiar with Barad D, Gleicher's recent research on this topic.

Specifically, how many weeks does your doctors recommend you take it for leading up to your IVF cycle? At what dosage? When do you stop it before commencing your treatment? Can you take it with Chinese herbs leading up to your cycle? Can you use it for FET cycles as well? Any successes for anyone women out there having used DHEA prior to IVF?

(I know - a lot to ask!) But any information will be most welcome.

summerbaby · Post by **summerbaby** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:10 am

Hi,
After 2 failed IVF tmts, I'm currently awaiting treatment and am taking 25 mg DHEA daily, along with folic acid, vitE and magnesium. My doc added DHEA to my regimen to try to help improve my estrogen level, which was quite low following my last treatment, compared to my "good" progesterone level and thinks it affected implantation --

I know there are a few others on the general forum/over 40 crowd thread who are also taking DHEA and if you'd also like to post your question there, you might get a few more responses.

Can you tell me more about the Barad D, Gleicher's recent research you've read about? I'd like to know more about DHEA in connection with fertility and haven't found much info on my own.

Sorry I can't help with answers to your other questions, as I've just begun taking it in July and expect to start IVF tmt again (using my own eggs) in Sept or more likely, October.

Wishing you all the best! xx Amy

Kiwi expat · Post by **Kiwi expat** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 10:10 am

Hi Amy

Barad D and Gleicher N are from the Centre for Human Reproduction in New York and they did a study last year on the "Effect of DHEA on ocyte and embryo yields and cell number in IVF". Their conclusion was that there are "beneficial effects of DHEA supplementation on ovarian function in women with diminished ovarian reserve".

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Key in the words DHEA and IVF and it will take you to the latest research papers.

Actually a woman on this forum mentioned the work these doctors had been doing previously (sorry can't remember who it was now or which thread) and I did some further research and found their latest paper which was published in Nov 2006. So this is very recent stuff.

My doctor said that this is a reputable study and the statistics seem quite good, but it is still in it's early stages. He does not know of any doctors that currently use it for fertility treatment here in Singapore though, but has given me the go-ahead to self prescribe. (Kind of scary when I don't know how much to take and for how long to take it for tho!)

It is really exciting that there may be hope for older women like us, although you have to realise that this study was limited numbers and is still in it's infancy. My doctor also pointed out that the study didn't reveal if any of these eggs collected were of good quality and resulted in live births.

Can I ask if taking DHEA supplements is a std protocol in Germany or at your clinic for older women now? Does your clinic have a proven success rate with DHEA (ie: any live births?)or is it still too new to tell?

Thanks for the tip on the over 40's forum - will see you over there!
: )

summerbaby · Post by **summerbaby** » Wed Aug 22, 2007 7:01 pm

Hi,
I'm not sure how often my doctor prescribes DHEA to his patients over 40, he only said that he has seen success with increasing estrogen levels and egg quality and that he currently has a 46 year old patient pregnant with twins, who was taking DHEA. But, that of course didn't mean the same thing would happen to me..But, he was still very encouraging and positive that it was something worth trying. There is at least one nice side effect - it puts you in a good mood!

Although I live in Germany, I go for tmt in Austria. I can't say for sure if they use it in Germany, but at least in Austria.

Thanks for the research tip! I believe I read somewhere that one should take DHEA for at least 3 months prior to treatment to get its benefit. But, I know I read somewhere on this forum that other women have taken it for a lesser amount of time. There are some taking 50 mg, but like I said, I just take 25mg daily. = 1 tablet.

take care and good luck with your upcoming treatment!
xx Amy

Kiwi expat · Post by **Kiwi expat** » Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:07 am

Nothing has been able to put me in a good mood lately so if this is one of the side effects - bring it on!

Thanks for the response Amy. We may even be cycling together in a couple of months!

See you at the Over 40s thread...

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Thu Aug 30, 2007 9:53 pm

Hi

I am 36 and taking DHEA for diminished ovarian reserve. I am taking 25mg 3 times a day and was advised to take it for a minimum of 3 months before I started IVF which I am stimming at the moment. I took it for 5 months before I started and my blood tests then showed my FSH levels down to 4.4 from them always being over 10 for the last 4 years the highest being 23. There has also been a change in my ovarys my left one working normally now, and my periods became more normal after 3 months from being nothing much for the last 4 years or so. There has definately been a positive responce and my doctor has had 2 or 3 successful pregancies with women using it in the last few months.

Hope this helps

Lee

Kiwi expat · Post by **Kiwi expat** » Fri Aug 31, 2007 7:01 am

Hi Lee

Thanks for the reply.

It's really encouraging to hear what happened to your FSH levels. I'm only hearing good things about this new drug so far!

Finger crossed for a BFP on your next cycle! Let me know the results!

belly4#2 · Post by **belly4#2** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:11 pm

Good to meet you all. I just joined.

Yes Lee that sounds really encouraging your Dhea effects. Good luck with this cycle.

Kiwiexpat, it sounds as if we may be cycling together as I am due to start BCP mid Oct for about 3 weeks and then on to stimming early Nov, my 2nd IVF this baby round.
Oh and a friend who is presently stimming on her 5th ivf, just told me some bad stuff about Dhea so I am now in a quandry as to whether to continue it or not. I have been taking it for about 2 months now.

"By the way I heard that the DHEA is much controversial And that there are bad side effects...sleepless nights, bad skin effects ...etc.
And results are not satisfying. I read of one Doc who was not enthusiastic at all he says it suits more young woman who would anyway give 5-7 eggs....
And that it gives much illusion then real consequences. Also I asked my Doc he said....that results are not convincing and by his tone he did not recommend it... " English is not her mother tongue, but pretty good none the less.

Any other thoughts from anyone?

belly4#2 · Post by **belly4#2** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:18 pm

BTW, I did not mean to sound negative, especially hearing your results Lee, I was just interested to hear if anyone else had heard mixed reports, as I need to decide what to do. From the sounds of things I think I am oging to continue it for this cycle. ALthough this last IVF (with DHEA for about 6-8 weeks) ended up with fewer eggs than my previous (successful) cycle where I did not take DHEA. I wonder if I am just a person that did not repsond to it, or whether I took it for too short a time, or whether the differenc ein cycles was something else completely?!

belly4#2 · Post by **belly4#2** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 9:18 pm

BTW, I did not mean to sound negative, especially hearing your results Lee, I was just interested to hear if anyone else had heard mixed reports, as I need to decide what to do. From the sounds of things I think I am oging to continue it for this cycle. ALthough this last IVF (with DHEA for about 6-8 weeks) ended up with fewer eggs than my previous (successful) cycle where I did not take DHEA. I wonder if I am just a person that did not repsond to it, or whether I took it for too short a time, or whether the differenc ein cycles was something else completely?!

Kiwi expat · Post by **Kiwi expat** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 8:06 am

Hi Belly4#2 - Thanks for the info.

It's good to hear both the good and the bad effects of DHEA which is the reason why I posted here. It is such a new and controversial therapy that it's difficult to get a clear picture, and like any drug, I guess, different people will have different reactions and results when taking it.

I'm still optimistic. (At my age anyway, I only have these alternative treatments to cling to for hope...!) As I'm self prescribing, I have to decide how long to stay on it before my next cycle. It's really trade off time wise between the 4 months minimum dosage (from the study I mentioned above), and my age which is a big factor! And the clock is ticking...

Lee - how are you doing?

Amy - I'm keeping in touch over at the over 40's - but just want to say Hi!

Anyone else out there with DHEA stories to share?

Cheers!

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:21 am

Hi Kiwi

Ivf finished for me, the cycle was cancelled as my 4 little follies I had did not mature enough. So have had a few very sad days and trying to come to terms with the new direction my life will take. However as far as DHEA goes I still think it is a good thing, unfortunately for me I had no eggs left for the DHEA to work on, and you cant magic them out of thin air!!
I am still going to continue to take it as it regulated all my hormones and made me feel so much better, so surely in IVF terms if I had eggs left then my body was more set up to establish a pregnancy after ET?
I guess I am of the mind I will try anything as I have nothing to lose.

Good luck with your cycle and fingers crossed for your BFP!

Let me know how you get on.

Lee xxx

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:22 am

Hi Kiwi

Ivf finished for me, the cycle was cancelled as my 4 little follies I had did not mature enough. So have had a few very sad days and trying to come to terms with the new direction my life will take. However as far as DHEA goes I still think it is a good thing, unfortunately for me I had no eggs left for the DHEA to work on, and you cant magic them out of thin air!!
I am still going to continue to take it as it regulated all my hormones and made me feel so much better, so surely in IVF terms if I had eggs left then my body was more set up to establish a pregnancy after ET?
I guess I am of the mind I will try anything as I have nothing to lose.

Good luck with your cycle and fingers crossed for your BFP!

Let me know how you get on.

Lee xxx

summerbaby · Post by **summerbaby** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:11 pm

Hi Lee, to be able to see the positive from the DHEA treatment in the midst of your sorrow, is a wonderful thing. I see from your signature that you will continue on your journey to have a family through adoption. One of my cousins also chose this route after several failed IVF cycles. They adopted twin girls who were 18 mos old. They are now 6 and are a delightful addition to our family and the light of their parents eyes.
All the best to you and thanks for sharing your story with us.

Hi Andrea,
welcome back! how's life on DHEA? feel any different?
take care and see you on the over 40's thread.

xx Amy

belly4#2 · Post by **belly4#2** » Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:02 pm

Lee, I am so sorry that you had a bad experience with this cycle of IVF. I wish you well in whatever you decide to do form here.

Kiwi and Amy good to meet you guys too. I wish I could find the over 40s thread. I am new to this site and it has me flumoxed. If there is a way to send me a link please would you do that for me? I'd love to share my IVF journey with others in the same position. THANKS!!

DHEA protocols

DHEA protocols

Advertisements