DHEA - Who has used it? - Ghost your opinion

to_have_fun08 · Post by **to_have_fun08** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 5:06 pm

I am thinking of taking DHEA and was wondering who has used it and if so has it help with your egg #'s and quality. I know some of the gals in OCT/NOV/DEC had good results. I am on the fence because there is no good info. My clinic is against it. Just don't know if I should or shouldn't use it.

Thanks for your help.

Ghost · Post by **Ghost** » Wed Jul 15, 2009 7:49 pm

I must say...follow your clinic's instructions.

I want to say...DHEA is an intriguing idea (or more specifically, testosterone), but I agree more evidence is needed.

Liam'sMommy · Post by **Liam'sMommy** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:44 pm

In 11 months, my AFC went from 5 to 17 due to DHEA. It was 17 a month before i turned 43 and did my last banking ER. In 3 cycles, i was able to bank 2 CGH normal blasts. It did take a lot longer to work then the literature suggests. I did not seen any change until i had taken it around 8-9 months.

Go to the Center for Human Reproduction website. They have a lot of information of DHEA.

kbata · Post by **kbata** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:47 pm

I have gone to that center's website, but didn't really read much about the DHEA... Is this a supplement that you can buy in a health store or is something that you need a scrip for? It looks interesting to say the least.

Ghost · Post by **Ghost** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 12:26 am

kbata wrote:I have gone to that center's website, but didn't really read much about the DHEA... Is this a supplement that you can buy in a health store or is something that you need a scrip for? It looks interesting to say the least.

It's available in stores.

However, the clinic that has done the most research on this use of DHEA prescribes it so that it is pharmaceutical grade.

kbata · Post by **kbata** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 4:34 pm

another query about DHEA... I've been trying to read up on it on the internet. it's really hard to know what to believe and what not to believe on the internet. I have read that taking this is really harmful, while other links seems to think that it's o.k. Then there's stuff that says that if you take 50mg or less it's o.k. and other places say 75 mg is o.k. Some links say that the side effects are bad and then other seem to say that there's a potential benefit using this. Even on this site, there seems to be a discrepancy--some people seem to indicate that their RE don't want them to do it while others say it wouldn't hurt. I find it all very confusing. I am not doing any IVF cycles right now--my insurance would cover it, but my issue is finding the "right" clinic for me--someone in their 40's with high fsh and diminished ovarian reserve--I need a clinic that's in network for my insurance (important since if it's in network, I'm covered at 100%) and will see different possibilities and perhaps use different methods that will help me. CRH isn't in my insurance plan and I found it difficult to deal with them intially--they just wanted to set up a consultation for $375. They would require payment up front and wouldn't help with the insurance end. So while they seem like a good place for me, there the $$ issue with them. However, I am very intrigue by this whole DHEA thing and if doesn't hurt to take it or has any bad side effects, I would be willing to give it a shot.

Ghost · Post by **Ghost** » Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:56 pm

kbata wrote:another query about DHEA... I've been trying to read up on it on the internet. it's really hard to know what to believe and what not to believe on the internet. I have read that taking this is really harmful, while other links seems to think that it's o.k. Then there's stuff that says that if you take 50mg or less it's o.k. and other places say 75 mg is o.k. Some links say that the side effects are bad and then other seem to say that there's a potential benefit using this. Even on this site, there seems to be a discrepancy--some people seem to indicate that their RE don't want them to do it while others say it wouldn't hurt. I find it all very confusing. I am not doing any IVF cycles right now--my insurance would cover it, but my issue is finding the "right" clinic for me--someone in their 40's with high fsh and diminished ovarian reserve--I need a clinic that's in network for my insurance (important since if it's in network, I'm covered at 100%) and will see different possibilities and perhaps use different methods that will help me. CRH isn't in my insurance plan and I found it difficult to deal with them intially--they just wanted to set up a consultation for $375. They would require payment up front and wouldn't help with the insurance end. So while they seem like a good place for me, there the $$ issue with them. However, I am very intrigue by this whole DHEA thing and if doesn't hurt to take it or has any bad side effects, I would be willing to give it a shot.

There are many ways to increase testosterone in the follicles. You can try DHEA, or testosterone patches. However, these will increase testosterone throughout the body, and some of that will find its way into follicles. Testosterone has significant side effects, like facial hair, hair loss, aggressive behavior, etc.

Or you can use low-dose hCG to stimulate granulosa cells in the follicles to make testosterone. Then the testosterone is mostly right where you want it.

That's the approach they are trying in Spain in the following trial:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT0 ... hcg&rank=1

This research group knows what they are about.

You might ask your doctor about that approach.

to_have_fun08 · Post by **to_have_fun08** » Sun Nov 01, 2009 8:11 pm

kbata- I couldn't find a lot of good info on DHEA. I found one site that there was a message boards with ladies that were using DHEA and they didn't have any great success. I ask my Dr about it and he stated that he didn't think it would hurt but he also didn't think it would help. I took it for about 6 weeks, the only side effect I had was some acne. I was going to continue to take it till this cycle but in August, AF never showed so I was thinking that the DHEA screwed me up so I stopped taking it. Turns out I had a big cyst that I eventually had to have aspirated. It might have just been a coincidence that I was taking the DHEA at the time, but I had never missed AF before taking the DHEA. I know this doesn't help much. Really what can it hurt to take it for a few months and see what happens.

Chris

lkmisc · Post by **lkmisc** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:03 am

After researching DHEA, I decided to take it on my own. I learned about it from coming across the website of another reproductive center. Here is their link:

http://centerforhumanreprod.com/poa_campaign.php#oldest

I bought DHEA at Walmart and took 75 mg, split up as 50mg in the am and 25 in the pm. I had no side effects whatsoever.

I did tell my RE that I was taking it and while he didn't buy into it, he was not opposed to my taking it and was not concerned about any adverse impact. The clinic that I used is in Colorado and is ranked among the top clinics for fertility.

I took it for 4 months leading up to my IVF in Sept of last year. I discontinued it the day after my eggs were harvested.

I had 28 eggs retrieved, of which 20 were fertilized and 16 of those were of excellent quality, and by the time they got to the three day blastocyst stage, 5 remained. I had two implanted and got pregnant with one baby, which I had back in May. I have 3 frozen embryos and hope to undergo an FET for baby #2 next year, though I have to wait for two periods in a row, which I've heard can take awhile.

I am going to be 44 next month.

Ghost · Post by **Ghost** » Thu Nov 05, 2009 4:11 am

lkmisc wrote:After researching DHEA, I decided to take it on my own. I learned about it from coming across the website of another reproductive center. Here is their link:

http://centerforhumanreprod.com/poa_campaign.php#oldest

I bought DHEA at Walmart and took 75 mg, split up as 50mg in the am and 25 in the pm.

I did tell my RE that I was taking it and while he didn't buy into it, he was not opposed to my taking it and was not concerned about any adverse impact.

I took it for 4 months leading up to my IVF in Sept of last year. I discontinued it after my eggs were harvested.

I had 28 eggs retrieved, of which 20 were fertilized and 16 of those were of excellent quality, and by the time they got to the three day blastocyst stage, 5 remained. I had two implanted and got pregnant with one baby, which I had back in May. I have 3 frozen embryos and hope to undergo an FET for baby #2 next year, though I have to wait for two periods in a row, which I've heard can take awhile.

I am going to be 44 next month.

That's a fantastic response for a 42 year old.

That particular center is the one vigorously pushing DHEA for poor responders.

DHEA - Who has used it? - Ghost your opinion

DHEA - Who has used it? - Ghost your opinion

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