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

Hello both,

@Mamalicious44 did you mean short protocol in terms of the IVF? With OPK tests I always found there was a level of LH hanging around but like @Janefx40 says there is a peak was usually unmistakeable. I’ve only ever used the simple strips that you can get off Amazon. I also find I can feel when I’m due to ovulate with a sense of pressure in the ovary region for a couple of days before. Do you get that?

@Janefx40 do you mean you are going in to the clinic tomorrow?

Things going ok here. I’ve been doing my injections for the last 10 days and going for scans and now due for egg collection on Friday! I have only 2 good looking follicle developed and another small one so a maximum of 3 eggs to be collected if they all have one in which isn’t amazing but probably what was expected with my AMH levels. Only need one good though as they say!

@Carlos18 yes it only takes one. Fingers crossed for your follicles! My only advice on egg collection is don't eat bloaty foods after! I had a massive pizza after my first one and regretted it! Ouch! The sedative is lovely! So enjoy that bit!

Yes I am going in tomorrow for tests. My FSH needs to be below 12 to go ahead along with other hormones playing ball. If not they won't go ahead. It will be touch and go so fingers crossed

@Mamalicious44 I think I would wait it out too rather than adding something else into the mix. Your period will come eventually...it always does....let's hope it is soon

Xxx

Thanks for the advice- I am going to sit right... as you say at some point my period will come!

@Carlos18 stay positive - any of them could take.... sending you lots of mama love

@Janefx40 waiting for test results is so tough... I always go through cycles of expecting the worst so I am not devastated.... to manifesting my result so it actually happens! What have you been doing/taking to bring down your FSH? Hope it goes well tomorrow

Thanks @Mamalicious44 so the DHEA was meant to take down my FSH. Even tho I'm on this thread, I've not had an issue with DHEA. My levels were tested before and after. Only issue is I had to stop taking it 5 weeks before our IVF cycle because my levels were top of the range (we got delayed unexpectedly) so now I don't know whether my FSH has come back up or not!!!

Other than that I do acupuncture when I beds and I'm on a fertility diet etc and have been for months now. I basically do the It Starts with an Egg diet but with some recipes from Zita West (which are a bit nicer and less extreme).

Xxx

That was meant to say I do acupuncture when I can!

@Janefx40. How did your FSH test go?

I got my DHEA and testosterone levels- all normal range (both higher end of normal) so that’s reassuring...now just need this period! Hope you are both doing ok

That’s great news @Mamalicious44, hope your period come soon!

I had my egg collection today, they got 2 eggs from the remaining 3 follicles. We’ll get an update in the morning about how they are looking and whether they have fertilised.

Sending all that positive energy to those two follicles! Isn’t it crazy how one month you want your period and the next you don’t!

@Carlos18 oh congrats on your EC!! Have everything crossed that your eggs do well!!

Yes my FSH was 9.3 so we have started stims. Only done 2 days and I'm already exhausted. It didn't help that I had to get up at 5:30 for blood tests!!! Today is my birthday and it's been nice.

@Mamalicious44 great about your levels. Let's hope that period comes soon then

Xxx

Morning both,

Just an update - neither of the 2 eggs collected fertilised over night which is sad. The embryologist couldn’t really say why because on the face of it things appear normal.

We have one more IVF round paid for so will obviously plan to proceed with that after a meeting with the doctor at some point soon.

Keep me posted on your progress ladies!

@Carlos18 so sorry to hear that 😔... are you ok? Great you have another round to go. What are doing to make sure the chances are best? I think after a while it becomes mind over matter. Have you read “inconceivable”- quite inspiring. Supplements, meditation/visualizations, good sleep, moderate exercise, acupuncture, low light laser.... so many things to tap into!

Hi @Mamalicious44. I’ve been doing acupuncture weekly for over a year and taking every supplement recommended in “it starts with an egg”. I do moderate exercise and don’t eat badly. I expect work is quite stressful much of the time, as well as I don’t do meditation so could improve there!

@Carlos18 I'm so sorry to hear that. We put so much hope in these cycles and it is so devastating when it doesn't work out.

It's great that you are living such a healthy lifestyle but it's unlikely that there was anything more you could have done to change the result. The reality is that not every egg fertilises. We were told about 60% fertilisation is normal. So it is almost definitely just bad luck that those two weren't able to get there. It's a great idea to meditate if it helps but don't beat yourself up thinking this is your fault in any way.

Even for people with high AMH it's quite common for a first IVF cycle not to work out.

Take some time to be nice to yourself. It feels so draining when these things happen but in time you will feel stronger and ready to step forward again.

Xxx

Not much news here. Had bloods and a scan today. Not much going on in the ovaries but can't expect much at my age! I feel really emotional and tired in the meds which I didn't experience last time I did fresh cycles. On the other hand I am way less anxious so that's something

Xxx

@Janefx40 hope you are feeling les exhausted with all the meds. And @Carlos18 hope you enjoy the time off it all until next cycle. I have never done IVF so can only imagine how it all feels..... my period is not showing any signs of coming but I think I have really relinquished control over this and feel some relief. It will come when it’s ready.

Hi @Mamalicious44 yes all good here thanks for asking. Have another scan tomorrow. Moods seem to have evened out. Have moved closer to the clinic for the next week or so which is easier.

Shame about the period. I assume you can't be pregnant? If not then good to relinquish control. Getting stressed won't speed things up. How long has this cycle been now?

@Carlos18 how are you? Have you had any further chats with the consultant?

Xxx

How you feeling @Janefx40?

I think I’ve felt worse this last week that when I was taking the shots! Really emotional and physically a bit like I was coming down with something. Just knocked out really. Seem to be on the mend a bit now.

How are you @Mamalicious44?

@Carlos18 sorry to hear you've been feeling shit. It is such a rollercoaster doing IVF and heart breaking when it goes wrong. Plus your hormones must be all over the shop. Did you have a period yet?

I did my trigger shot tonight. EC Monday morning so we'll see if there's anything in there

Love to you both x

Hello lovely ladies.... @Carlos18 sending you lots of calming energy. It’s also full moon and that usually reaks havoc on my sleep and irritability....so just give yourself permission to be a bit “off”....where are you now in your cycle?

@Janefx40 Sprinkling baby dust into your ovaries and a good response to the shots.

I admire both of you ladies- so resilient and brave to just take it all on.

I am now CD 36 and not even the smallest sign of PMT or a period..... sometimes get angry about it but usually calm down and surrender. I might just miss a whole cycle and I have to be ok about it.

@Mamalicious44 frustrating about the cycle but unless you want to try medication then just have to try to breathe through. AF will come eventually!

We got 5 eggs yesterday and 4 have fertilised over night. So we are still in with a chance but as I was explaining to my brother the only good result is a live birth. Other than that, it's better to fail at the first hurdle. So onto the next anxious stage

X

@Janefx40 that’s great news for this stage. Got my fingers crossed for you for how things progress.

How do you feel today?

@Janefx40 that’s amazing!!! I totally understand why you feel the need to be cautious with hopes but also give yourself permission to manifest this baby(ies) and celebrate the fact that 4/5 have taken 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉👍👍👍👍

Hey ladies- so I have have had mild spotting for 1-2 days.... like a period trying to happen but not really. Not sure what to make of it- do I assume it’s day 1? Probably not.... is it just finally estrogen levels coming down and a tiny withdrawal bleed after an anovulatory cycle. So confusing! Anyway.... nothing I can do.... just keep on waiting ....

@Mamalicious44 could be a good sign. I don't reckon it's day 1 officially unless you get full flow red blood. But about a month my miscarriage I got spotting and decided to count it as a period so tracked ovulation on that basis. It worked out and 12 days later I ovulated (normal for me) then proper period 14 days later. So for me that spotting was a kind of quasi-period while my hormones were messed up. If you don't get full flow that could be what is happening to you.

Glad something is happening at least!!

I had a Day 2 transfer yesterday. No point in waiting as had only 3 left.

Xxx