DHEA or Testosterone messed up my cycle

[Carlos18]

Hello Mumsnet,

I was due to start my first IVF round this month (short protocol). On advice of my clinic I have been applying testosterone cream for the cycle month before starting IVF. I also started taking DHEA (3 x 25mg per day). I know it is recommended to start several months before with DHEA but i didn't cotton on to that. The clinic also nudged me in that direction.

Anyway, as a result of one or the other, my period is 2 weeks late for the first time in 26 years (apart from when i was pregnant before).

I have therefore stopped taking DHEA as worried i've messed everything up and i can't actually start my IVF until my period starts now.

I just wondered if anyone else had a similar experience and if so, how long did it take for your period to start after ceasing to take DHEA?

I'm 39 and have super low.

Thank you mumsnetters

PS. I'm definitely not pregnant (we had to not TTC whilst on the testosterone cycle). Also, i'm pretty sure i didn't ovulate at all. I normally ovulate every month about day 21. I measure this and also can physically tell when i ovulate with a pressure sensation around the ovaries which coincides with an LH surge test. Anyway, i didn't get either this month and still haven't.

Hi OP did your clinic say it was OK to take DHEA at the same time as using the testosterone gel? The gel is basically a much stronger version of the DHEA but I definitely don't think you should use both together. It's a male hormone so I would think that an 'overdose' could mess up your cycle, but I'm not an expert - check with your clinic and good luck.

Hello SamoyedFan123,

Thanks for the response. Yes I asked that question before I did both and they said it was fine but clearly it’s not had a great impact on me! Wonder how long it will take to get out of my system. Hopefully not long.

They’ve now suggested starting on the progesterone capsules to trigger my period in a few weeks. Unfortunately they don’t test levels of testosterone or DHEA-S at the clinic so not sure what levels I’m at right now.

@Carlos18 Firstly I know this must feel incredibly stressful but I'm sure your cycle will re-settle itself.

Yes I have heard of DHEA messing up cycles - I've heard this from a few sources. I don't know anything about testosterone gel but Rebecca Lett who wrote It Starts with an Egg suspects that 3 x 25mg DHEA is too high. My clinic do test and I was right at the bottom of the normal range. I took 2 x 25mg and was at the very top of the range 2 months later. It is powerful stuff so the dose you were on plus Testosterone will definitely have had some effect.

I've also been wondering how long it takes to leave the system for different reasons (I had to stop before we were ready to start our new cycle). If the clinic re-test and I get some insight I will let you know.

The female body is amazing and yours will go back to normal. Fingers crossed it sorts out quickly for you xxx

Thank you @Janefx40. you are right it is stressful! I was mentally geared up for starting after finally making the decision to go ahead and now feel a bit foolish for messing things up, even if it was on the clinics advice.

Yes, when you do speak to your clinic, if you have any insight from your clinic on how long it takes to leave the system that would be really appreciated.

Good luck with your IVF journey!

Hi @Carlos18 how are things? Did your period start?

I spoke to my clinic. They're not re-testing and don't want me to re-start DHEA. I took it for about 3 months until 11th Feb and my new IVF round is due to start on 18th March. They said my testosterone levels wouldn't reduce that quickly. It was a nurse I spoke to not a Dr so I don't know how accurate the information was but that's their position anyway.

Hope things have resolved for you

Hello @Janefx40, thanks for getting back and checking in.

Good to hear the feedback from your clinic and interesting on the testosterone leaving the system.

I haven’t started my period yet know so approaching 3 weeks late. I have, again on the advice of my clinic, been taking progesterone pessaries which they think should bring it on within a couple of weeks so let’s see.

I’ve also just bought and online DHEA-S test and Testosterone level check ( from medichecks which I believe is pretty reputable). This might just settle my mind as to roughly where my levels currently are and if they were, in fact, super high I’d consider whether to wait a bit longer...not that I’ve got a choice at the minute!

Are you doing long or short protocol IVF? 18th will be here before we know it!

That's a great idea to do home tests. Is it free testosterone or regular that you need to check? I feel like maybe it was the free testosterone they measured but I can double check if you like.

I'm on a short protocol - I think at my age (44) they're interested in "up-regulating" rather than "down-regulating"!!!

Feeling quite stressed about it. I really wanted to try again but now the time has arrived it feels quite overwhelming

Let me know how you get on

Xxx

Dear all,

I have had a very similar experience - I am 44 with low AMH and high FSH and have been taking 50mg DHEA for 4 weeks. I have been using the Mira fertility tracker and my estrogen levels went sky high so I stopped and I still have not ovulated. I think the dose of 75mg a day is before ovulation induction for IVF... ie with something like clomid which forced ovulation despite high estrogen levels. For natural conception, the doses are much smaller and require measuring DHEA and free testosterone e levels... also some people covert DHEA to estrogen more than testosterone adding fuel to the fire. I think this has happened to me sadly and now comes the wait of when a new cycle will start....I am not sure if progesterone will helps reset everything with a bleed or not....

It’s so confusing!!

Hi @Mamalicious44 , it’s so frustrating isn’t it! Thanks for the input, I’m learning lots through this forum which I’ve not got directly from my clinic. It’s really helpful.

Since taking the progesterone, I did started my period on Sunday so on with my IVF injections now. I’m a bit nervous that it doesn’t feel like a ‘natural’ cycle because it was pushed along by the progesterone but hopefully that won’t make any difference to any outcomes. I expect an IVF cycle isn’t natural anyway.

I’m awaiting the results of the DHEA-s and testosterone tests (not free testosterone unfortunately) that I sent off for.

Let me know how you get on

Hi @Mamalicious44 I'm sorry that DHEA has messed things up for you too. Did your clinic test your levels? Btw it's lovely to meet someone else my age doing IVF.

@Carlos18 glad it all got going in the end. I honestly don't think it will matter that they gave your progesterone. As you said there is nothing natural about IVF. All your hormones are being regulated so it shouldn't matter.

itstartswiththeegg.com/faq/dhea-and-egg-health/

I feel like I should post this link for any future readers of this thread. I realise the 4 of us on here have already stopped taking it anyway but it could be useful for someone x

Hello Janefx40 and Carlos18,

Yes I think it needs more publicizing as all you read is great stuff about DHEA and you have to dig deep to find our kind of stories. It’s a bit mad that you can order it on Amazon when you think about it! I got my blood tested at my hospital- they were fine about it. BTW I am not doing IVF, I am trying the natural route as chances are the same for someone like me. Changed my diet and reduced my exercise, doing loads of meditation/visualizations, acupuncture and low laser light therapy, taking my supplements, stopped working night shifts etc etc..... will let you know how I get on! I have a good feeling but letting go of the outcome and control are probably the biggest challenges...I will restart fertility herbs once my cycle is back on track.... I’ll keep you posted ladies..... I actually have a good feeling but trying not expect anything....all the changes on my life are good for me anyway, baby or not, so I thank my spirit baby for taking me on this path....

@Janefx40 thank you for the link, again really helpful. How are you feeling at the moment? You said the other day it felt a overwhelming. The couple of months leading up to the decision to go ahead I think I changed my mind nearly every day! I almost feel better now it’s underway but not getting my hopes up.

@Mamalicious44 I love your positivity! You are right with letting go of outcomes and control being the biggest challenge. Keep us posted on those good feelings!

One single thing that has really helped my is the fertility heart programme by Julia Indichova. Has helped with those feelings of being overwhelmed and hopeless. Try the body of truth meditations and the imagery CDs 1 and 2..... it’s beautiful. She is very powerful and the success stories are just what we ladies need!

Thanks @Mamalicious44 I'd never even heard of her. Been exploring the website. Did you buy the CD directly from her site or elsewhere?

We can't conceive naturally so IVF is our only route. We said to the consultant that if we could then we would just keep trying and see what happened. So we are approaching this IVF cycle with that attitude. A very expensive way of seeing what happens.

@Carlos18 I'm feeling better about it. Thanks for asking. I just wish I knew for sure if it was happening - there's always that chance that they'll do my bloods on day one and say "nope, not this month". There are so many logistics to plan especially as I go to a very intense clinic.

How are you finding it? It's your first time isn't it?

Xxx

I just bought directly - her books are good too 😇

Just an update - I got my test results back from Medichecks. DHEA-S is actually low at 1.33umol/L (lowest end of normal 1.65) but my testosterone is high at 3.03nmol/L (top range supposed to be 1.7).

I’ve called my clinic to say so and someone is ringing me back. I thought at least both would be high!

Hmm tricky to know how to interpret- the testosterone is what is needed to get the eggs to mature well.... but too much is bad... so I think this means you should not take DHEA-S even if it is low.... ?

Yes seems sensible. I’ll see what the clinic says although clearly not really their area of expertises. Perhaps it was the testosterone cream that did it. I can’t see anything online which suggest what sort of levels are bad for egg development just what you said, too much is bad.

Hopefully it won't cause too many problems. Your numbers aren't crazy. The reference ranges you mention are different to the ones on the website I linked to yesterday (which I trust and which were broadly in line with the ones from my clinic). According to that you are in range for DHEA and slightly high for testosterone but not crazy high.

But yes I agree that you definitely wouldn't want to take any more.

@Mamalicious44 whereabouts are you in your cycle? Have you been trying this month?

Yes your levels are close to normal and so don’t worry too much......hopefully you are ready to start with next cycle? Fingers crossed for you. @Janefx40 are you trying this cycle - what is a “short cycle”?

No we are not trying this cycle as I did not ovulate so just cruising, waiting for bleed and then maybe the following one or one after. I had such an obsessive control-freak like approach the last 6 months and the DHEA has actually weirdly done me a favour as it has taken the control away. Nothing I can do until my cycle recovers and I have just chilled out a bit.... hope you guys are emotionally doing ok 👍

Hey Ladies- just an update - I am due my period in next couple of days and have assumed it won’t come on time because of this anovulatory cycle with DHEA.... I have been having a lot of mucus (but not stretchy ovulation kind) so I did an ovulation test and it says estradiol is higher than it was 2 weeks ago and my LH is also higher.... so confusing! Have not been on DHEA now for a good 2 weeks so thought my oestrogen would be coming down! Mother Nature is complicated.....how are you ladies doing?

@Mamalicious44 I find OPKs very confusing. I'm never sure what oestrogen is meant to do post ovulation. Is it meant to go down before your period? I thought LH fluctuates generally throughout the month and it was just the peak that was important.

Sorry I also didn't answer your question but not sure what you meant about short cycles? We did try this cycle but not worked. My period has sort of started but not enough for me to go into the IVF clinic so that will be tomorrow now

X

Sorry it did not work. Hope period is enough tomorrow and you can go. I think oestrogen and progesterone both fall which leads to period and LH is pretty low throughout except for surge.... but as you say, it’s confusing. Someone suggested I take vitex to balance out estrogen and provide more progesterone like a normal literal phase. The more I meddle the more confusing it gets so just going to wait...... good luck for tomorrow