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. Incidentally @Janefx40 do you find you out on weight when taking DHEA? I’ll just have to suck it up but it certainly seems to creep on very quickly when I start taking it

Hi @Carlos18 lovely to hear from you and fingers crossed you have a lucky month!

My levels came back low again but my clinic said not to start again. Not sure why and wondering whether to ignore them because by the time I get my follow up appointment to ask more, it will only be a week until my next cycle or 5 weeks til the one after so not much time for DHEA to take effect.

I'm not sure if it made me put on weight. I definitely put on weight during IVF generally and possibly did in the build up too but then I was also on quite a strange diet!! I assumed it was that but maybe it was actually the DHEA.

Are you going to definitely try again then? What clinic are you with?

Xxx

@Janefx40 yes definitely try again because I paid for a 2 rounds package deal so got one left.

I’m with Care in Sheffield. I think they have been good overall just not so much with testing and DHEA etc. I was with a different clinic previously so had various blood tests from that which I shared. Care just did a AMH test and said the issue will be poor egg numbers and quality and so that’s what we are running with.

Who are you with?

@Carlos18 amazing about ovulation- fantastic news. I like the fact you are taking charge of your own programme a bit. I think it’s key once you have played around a bit with all the supplements out there. My period will be due around end of the month so let’s see ..... I am expecting nothing as it is the first vaguely normal cycle since January so might need a couple more before we stand a real chance.....

@Janefx40 hope you are still enjoying that peace and freedom.... I think the key with DHEA is knowing if you convert it to testosterone or oestrogen and then whether you are trying ivf or naturally. I would take small doses of trying naturally (which I know you are not) and maybe higher doses if you are going to induce ovulation anyway..... but who knows?!

I am doing the DUTCH test today which measures all sorts of hormones and will be interesting- lots of saliva and urine samples but all do-able from home.

Hi Both @Janefx40 and @Mamalicious44 how’s are you? How’s things going for you both at the minute?

For me I’ve been taking DHEA again for about the last month. I took 50-75mg per day (was targeting 75mg per day but often forgot at lunchtime). I’ve retested my levels of testosterone(total and Free) Estradiol and DHEA-S.

DHEA is now higher than the top level reference range, as is total testosterone. Estradiol seems ok now and Free testosterone is on the top end of the reference range.

I’d like to get everything in the top 1/3rd of the reference range so just planning how to do that. I.e. shall I stop for a week for levels to drop then start taking only 25mg per day going forward to maintain it, or will 25mg per day keep pushing it up further again. Who knows. It’s a fine balance.

Have you found a dosage which successfully maintains levels before rather than increasing?

@Carlos18 and @Janefx40
Nice to hear from you. Well regarding DHEA I am not taking at all at the moment. My cycle is back to normal and I did another DHEA and testosterone test 2 weeks ago. This is a good month after stopping DHEA 75mg altogether and both are still high but within normal range. I may test again in a few weeks just to make sure I am not stopping but it seems like I must store it for a long time? Not sure if that helps? Maybe test again on 25mg after a few weeks and see?

We are going to try normal way for a couple of months and see. Have been doing low
Light laser therapy and taking some Chinese herbs. Also, I splurged a bit and had a “spirit baby” session after reading Walter Makichens book. It was incredible. Can’t really explain in a post what happened and I am usually quite cynical about these things. Has really soothed me and made me feel less needy or jumpy about it all.

@Janefx40 hope you are still enjoying the present moment and not too stressed x

@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

@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

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

Sorry to hear that @Mamalicious44. Are you certain? How do you track? X

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.

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

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?

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

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.....

@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

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

@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 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

@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

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

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

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 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 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