DHEA or Testosterone messed up my cycle

Hi @Janefx40

After the polyp removal on the 9th August we're thinking of trying naturally for 3 months, so that's for September - November.

I'm very nervous about prolonging this even more but considering the chances from IVF are the same as from conceiving naturally, we have to give it a chance as the polyp was a factor and maybe responsible for the 2 unsuccessful pregnancies so far.

Of course it could be the quality of the eggs but there's no way of knowing at this point. I'm hoping DHEA is beneficial in that respect too.

How about you??

All the best xx

Hi @Summerishere83 that's great news about the FSH levels. Yes DHEA is really good at lowering FSH. There's no doubt that it does mess cycles up for a few women but for those of us who are lucky enough to avoid our cycles going wrong on it, it really is a great supplement.

What are your next steps?

Hi @Janefx40 and all

Hope everyone is doing well!

I just got my results and wanted to share, DHEA seems to have had dramatic effect on FSH, it's now 15.4 and it was 23 just 2 months ago, can't believe it! AMH is only slightly improved but at least it's going up and not down - from 3 it's now 3.7.

I just really wanted to share this in case someone else is worried about DHEA, I was very concerned it would mess up even more my hormones and ovulation. So it's a relief it doesn't seem to have a detrimental effect.

I am also very hopeful that it would help with the egg quality and that it's potentially recruiting follicles deep from the reserve!! That's the most important message I got from It starts with the egg, that reserve that would otherwise be dormant and lost is being activated!

I wish everyone all the best, and thank you for replying earlier, it was very comforting to hear your advice and experience@Janefx40

Hi @Janefx40

Thanks for your reply and sharing!
I know what you mean about knowing you have tried everything, I also had 2 chemical pregnancies since we started trying, the second one they even saw the gestational sac on the scan, it is heartbreaking. And it's only the start for me, I'm turning 39 next week so I don't know how much time I have with these hormone levels, no one can know.. As it turns out, I also have a massive polyp and I'm in the waiting list to get it removed, which wastes cycle after cycle, so frustrating. But once that's gone we're thinking of trying naturally for 3 months before resorting to IVF, especially at this cost they estimate.
I'm sorry to hear how it has affected you but you still have this one embryo, hope it will be worth it all that in the end!
All the best xx

@Summerishere83 best of luck with it all xxx

@Summerishere83 personally I wouldn't do IVF if I knew I could conceive naturally - but then I've never really had the choice!!

BTW IVF could work for you if you take DHEA because it could lower your FSH enough for the drugs to work. It doesn't matter what your natural level is as long as it is lowered before you start. DHEA will do that although I have heard people talking of other methods to do that do.

I'm now 45 so my egg collecting days are over. We still have one embryo left but the first one was a chemical and I don't feel optimistic. We've waited a long time to transfer and then I got Covid so are waiting even longer.

It has cost us everything - emotionally and financially. I thought that it was important to me to know we'd tried everything and it is but it is also a horrible feeling knowing we spent so much. That changes other aspects of our lives too.

Hi @Janefx40 thanks for your reply!

Yes I read It starts with the egg and I'm taking the other supplements recommended for low ovarian reserve. The NHS consultant wants me to do IVF after collecting eggs over three cycles but as I don't qualify for funding so I'm not too keen on paying £12k for such a low percentage chance of success.

I'm still hoping to conceive naturally.. I guess the chances are the same as with IVF because it will be mild or natural IVF as I won't be responsive to the drugs.

I think it sounds great you got 2 chromosomally normal eggs, are you going to keep trying? Are you still taking DHEA?

Good luck! xx

Hi @Summerishere83 for some reason this thread never appears in my "threads you're on" list so I don't always see new posts.

DHEA will lower your FSH but that is only really significant if you are doing IVF (it sounds like you're not). High FSH is just an indicator of low ovarian reserve so doesn't mean much more than you already know with natural conception. You can still conceive with low reserve.

I was doing IVF. Low AMH is more significant for IVF because you are trying to get lots of eggs out at once and you are less likely to with low AMH. High FSH is also significant for IVF because the drugs they give to stimulate your ovaries contain FSH so if it is high already then they don't work.

I can never know but I believe DHEA improved my response to IVF and my egg quality. I got 2 chromosomally normal embryos from embryo batching aged 44 which is pretty unusual (it hasn't helped me get pregnant but was a good result in itself). I also believe that sticking to the advice from It Starts with the Egg contributed to that. Of course I can never really know whether it made the difference or not.

Xxx

Hi @Janefx40
Thanks so much for your reply! My temp went up today so I guess I did ovulate in the end, just late, which is unusual. So now I'm thinking that if ovulation is delayed that gives more time for eggs to mature so perhaps that's good for me?
I'm constantly second guessing when I don't have the full information or access to a consultant for long stretches of time..
If you don't mind me asking, could you share your experience regarding conceiving? Do you think DHEA has been beneficial? I have low AMH of 3, high FSH 23 and I'm turning 39 next week.. depressing stats:( but I guess all I can do is keep taking DHEA untill next appointment and hope it helps or at least doesn't have an adverse effect)
All the best and thanks again xx

Hi @Summerishere83 sorry you have this stress. Based on the anecdotal evidence of this thread, yes DHEA could be the cause of you not ovulating. There were a couple of women this happened to.

I'm afraid that a lot of consultants are giving this without testing or without re-testing. I suppose they must have their reasons although in my (non medical) opinion they should test. Your consultant shouldn't be refusing you a test if you request it (and are prepared to pay for it) although it depends whether your NHS clinic has a private service I suppose. Failing this, Medichecks can test you. You need to test FREE testosterone (not just testosterone) and DHEA-S.

I had rock bottom DHEA levels and mine went over the top of the range in 9 weeks. It didn't have any negative impact on me (actually I think it helped me a lot although I can never really know).

Having said all of that, of the two women who had issues with ovulation, one had levels that were in range anyway so it isn't always about being out of range.

Best of luck x

Hello ladies

Hope all is well with you!
It's my first cycle after I was urged by the NHS consultant to start taking 3x 25mg DHEA due to POF.
I'm a bit worried now as it's CD 15 and no sign of ovulation which is usually at CD11-12 and never missed previously.
Could DHEA be the cause? I've been taking it for 25 days, no idea what my testosterone or estrogen are like as they didn't want to test:(
The plan is to start a 3 cycle egg collection.
Could anyone share how things work out for them? Hopefully everyone's got positive results.
Xx

@Carlos18 @Mamalicious44 how are you both? Hope things are going well for you.

It's been a few months. We've been doing back to back IVF embryo banking cycles. Aim is to collect as many as possible then test them if we have any blastocysts.

Final egg collection today and I'm excited at it being over but also feels odd to be at the end of such a long journey. If we don't end up with any blastocysts to test or they come back abnormal that is the end. It will take some work to get my head around it but at least we can start to move forwards.

@Sara808080 hope you're doing well too and that your periods are back to normal x

[quote Mamalicious44]@Janefx40- i know that despondent feeling. Do you have another child? You said “another baby”. You are in this cycle now so can you use all the energy that goes into despair and put into determination and excitement? I know it’s so hard.
@Sara808080 I am sure your period will come soon, just need your hormone levels to drop and you will get a withdrawal bleed and can start again. Patience and trust has been the hardest thing in this game for me.

Sending lots of positive energy for this week ladies. I have no sign of my period coming- first time I have missed a cycle my entire life. Maybe I am truly hitting menopause or maybe I had some stress that caused it- who knows....[/quote]
Thank you. All the best to you

@Janefx40- i know that despondent feeling. Do you have another child? You said “another baby”. You are in this cycle now so can you use all the energy that goes into despair and put into determination and excitement? I know it’s so hard.
@Sara808080 I am sure your period will come soon, just need your hormone levels to drop and you will get a withdrawal bleed and can start again. Patience and trust has been the hardest thing in this game for me.

Sending lots of positive energy for this week ladies. I have no sign of my period coming- first time I have missed a cycle my entire life. Maybe I am truly hitting menopause or maybe I had some stress that caused it- who knows....

Thanks ladies.
I actually had low levels pf dhea and i took 25 mg the first month and it worked quite well. I had normal periods.
The last 2 months i took 75 mg and check my levels which are in the middle range so I would not say high.
And this month I haven't got an ovulation.
I hope my periods come soon and that i don't need to wait for it so long. My dhea doest get transformed in estrogen tho

@Mamalicious44 sorry about the non ovulation! Frustrating to have to wait again.

Yes I am a bit despondent. I had a scan yesterday and I think the reality of it not working again just hit me. I'm so tired of putting us through this process but equally terrified of giving up the hope of another baby.

Xxx

Hello! @Sara808080 I think DHEA has different effects on everyone. It stopped me ovulating but I did not measure levels before I took it and I actually had normal levels. I converted most of my DHEA to estrogen and the high levels stopped me ovulating. Might be worth checking.

Jane - good luck for next round but you sound a bit despondent about it...

I did not ovulate this cycle either and not sure why. Initially frustrated and disappointed and now just going with the flow. So much easier! Just have to wait for a period to arrive.....

Hi @Sara808080 DHEA didn't stop or change my periods at all so it just came at the normal time while I was taking it. The main thing is to keep an eye on your DHEA and free testosterone levels so that they don't get too high. It took 9 weeks for my levels to go from bottom or range to top. Best of luck

@Mamalicious44 hi!! Sorry I missed your message. I don't have notifications switched on so just saw it now. I'm ok. Just started another IVF cycle. Bit pointless but still trying! How are you? X

Hi ladies i am also taking dhea and my levels are at the middle range at the moment. So not super high. This cycle i am not ovulating tho.
How ling did it take for all of you for the period to come when you stopped dhea?

Hello ladies- just checking in- how are you both doing?

I use the Mira device. The only thing I can think of is I had a 2-3 days spotting before my real period hit and I counted from the day of real bleeding. I might have missed it if I counted from the first day of spotting. Just had a few nights of night sweats too. God it so confusing.

Hey guys- hope all ok. It seems I did not ovulate this cycle - disappointed and confused but that’s the name of this game.... what is so frustrating is the month long wait (or even longer) until the next try.... I was sure I was on the right track which just goes to show we simply cannot control it. Anyway, time to switch off and focus on other things for a while. Hope you both feel in better spirits x

@Janefx40 sorry to hear about the lower DHEA levels.... are you taking DHEA? My acupuncturist was saying so many eggs get pushed out in the perimenopause so people should not feel so despondent. Easier said than done I know. Do read the “the fertile female” by Julia Indichova- so many examples of women with odds the same or worse than yours who are successful. I think it also helps make peace with adoption or donor eggs or dogs or having no children. I have not given up yet but I know in need to watch out for when I reach that point and accept it for what it is.....

@Carlos18 hope you get the DHEA levels just right..fingers crossed for next cycle. Keep us informed

@Mamalicious44 @Carlos18 hello to you both! Lovely to hear from you. Sorry I missed a couple of messages - I don't have notifications so sometimes that happens.

I'm doing fine. Had gone a bit nuts and got convinced I was pregnant this cycle (naturally) but have come back to earth and realised that of course I'm not!!

@Carlos18 funny you should say that because I always forget at lunchtime too and you just reminded me! What's that about? Sounds sensible to take a lower dose to keep levels up. Always seems a bit silly that I take it and then just stop and it all falls again. My DHEA levels were even lower this time (April) than back in November so I've convinced myself that means I'm now menopausal 

@Mamalicious44 your spirit baby thing sounds amazing. I paid for that Internet woman meditation thing you suggested and still haven't got around to listening!!!

Best of luck to you all xxx