Dhea or not??

[Sunshinelove8]

Hi all , after recurrent miscarriages all at 8-9 weeks , I suspect I have egg quality issues ( all other tests were clear except low amh)
I read it starts with the egg book which suggested it’s beneficial and there are a lot of studies showing how for ivf especially it improves egg quality / quantity retrieved etc However, my fertility consultant said stop it immediately and he’s seen it negatively impact his ivf clients . So I’m totally confused ! Wondered if any of you out there had experience of it working / not working ? X

Dhea can have a negative impact if you don’t need it. It shouldn’t be taken on your own - it’s a hormone not a supplement like coq10. You need a blood test to see what your testosterone level is and that will determine whether it might help or not. For example, I am on DHEA. My testosterone was 0.1 so essentially 0 and it should be close to 2. I have blood tests every 3 weeks before I can get any more prescribed to make sure I don’t go above 2 which can then be bad for egg quality.

So if you’re taking it with no idea what you’re testosterone is I agree with your consultant to stop immediately but I would get your levels checked too.

It didn't work for me, had my worst IVF cycle while taking it. Have since stopped and responded much better. As PP said it can help some but you need to be tested first (my levels were never checked despite the clinic being the ones telling me to take it ).

I am sorry to hear of your recurrent MCs. Have you had any other tests such as thyroid levels/thrombophilia screen/lupus anticoagulant?

Thanks ladies , didn’t know this ! Where can you get the blood tests done ? My consultant just said no to it and didn’t mention any blood tests ! X

You could probably ask your GP for a blood test. My clinic did it for me. I am paying privately though - if you are also it could even be worth finding a new consultant if he won’t even test your testosterone!!!

Yeah it’s weird as they’re happy to test everything else - like nk cells etc! I’m away for a week so ordered a home test just to get my levels checked and if they are low I’ll follow up with the consultant - thanks again

It's so frustrating isn't it! My clinic said it was up to me but they wouldn't recommend it or advise against it or have anything to do with it (helpful ), but I have low ovarian reserve and was keen to consider DHEA after reading It starts with the egg and a rubbish first cycle.

I ordered blood tests myself online via medichecks for Testosterone and DHEA-S. I then started DHEA which I bought online when my levels came back as low and plan on rechecking my bloods via medichecks after a month to keep an eye on my levels. The clinic are aware, just not a part of the process at all!

I can’t believe your clinics are so blasé about it! Mine wouldn’t even prescribe it to me without making sure my levels were officially checked in the clinic!!! Definitely be careful as it can make egg quality worse. I would advise a proper gp blood test as I would worry about how accurate those do at home ones are. If it helps my testosterone was 0.1 and I took 25 of DHEA x3 times a day. Three months later my levels were 1.75 I also had no side effects at all indicating I did need it - I’ve heard of people getting extra hair, spots and deeper voice. If you get these it’s likely you are taking too much and need to reduce down dose. For some women 25 once a day is enough. I had egg collection today so I will let you know if any impact on egg quality in a few days.

Thanks and good luck ! Keep us updated 🤞

This is interesting to read as I have been going through the same stuff myself. I took it for my last 2 cycles and I did respond much better than expected however, I'm concerned that it got too high for cycle 2 as my skin went from bad to worse. Cycle 2 was a bfp but sadly it turned out to be ectopic. My consultant wasn't too concerned with testing, he said it's the level in the follicle and not the blood that counts although, he did think it was worth testing due to my symptoms 🤔. @starsareblazing I ordered my test through medichecks too as it is cheaper than the clinic but I couldn't do it. I went faint both times and couldn't get enough blood 😬. You'd think after 2 rounds I'd be fine! So in the end it's cost me more money as I'm now having it done at my clinic tomorrow.

It'll be interesting to see how we all get on with our levels.

Hey guys any results back yet? @SpyroC omg I just did the medichecks one - I thought stupidly it was a pinprick of blood or something not a mini vial ! My dh had to do it for me while I looked away . I think I’d do a blood test GP one too next time ! I’m just waiting for results now x

@Racinglikeapronow how was your egg collection , hope it was successful 🤞

Hi @Sunshinelove8 well I Would describe the past 6 days as an absolute sh*tshow to be honest!!! But I think the DHEA has made a difference.

For context, my last round I got 6 eggs, 2 immature 4 mature and all 4 fertilised. On the morning of Day 3 all 4 had stopped developing between days 2-3. I was on 225 of Gonal f, 75 of menopur and I was on tons of vitamins including Ubiquinol.

This round I got a fertility nutritionist, lost 20lbs (all ivf /stress weight from past two failed rounds) cut out sugar, low carb, intermittent fasting (15/9) and x3 meals a day no snacks. Usual no caffiene and alcohol. I took 75mg of DHEA and melatonin. My Stims was upped to 450 menopur.

Anyway egg collection was a disaster. 7 eggs so only one more than last time and 1 ‘soft’ (?) 2 immature 2 chromosonally abnormal and 2 mature. So we had written it off as our worst round yet and we’re researching donor eggs as it would be our 3rd round with no blasts.

Anyway by some miracle the 2 of them fertilised, on day 3 both were 9 cell and both has compacted on day 4 so we started to get our hopes up for a day 5 blast. Got call saying growth had slowed a bit so pushing transfer to Day 6 which I’ve just had and by some miracle both made it. One expanding blast grade 4AA and one hatching blast grade 5BA. So they transferred the 5AB and froze the 4AA.

So I think it was the DHeA and healthy lifestyle that helped rather than extra menopur as We actually did disasterously egg collection. I feel like my testosterone was prob way too low and that impacted quality whereas this time the two we got were fighters.

Obviously day 6 not as good but it’s the first time we made blastocysts and the grading is good so we are delighted.

So anyone in similar position I would definitely try DHeA but honestly make sure you actually need it as it can damage egg quality otherwise.

Omg !! I’m so delighted for you ! When will you know if you’re pregnant? Crossing everything x

Thanks! Not for two weeks now but it’s the furthest we’ve gotten so fingers crossed.good luck also hope the DHEA gets sorted out with your consultant soon

@Sunshinelove8 it's horrible isn't it! But it would've only cost me £65 and that was for way more stuff than just testosterone and DHEA s. I've had to pay £135 just for the two through my clinic 😬. I forgot to call for my result today but I'll update tomorrow. When do you get yours?

@SpyroC I get mine either Monday or Tuesday , if I have low levels do I go to my gp then ? My consultant wasn’t interested. Yes let me know yours !
@Racinglikeapronow oh I’m wishing you the best of luck 💓 keep us updated xxx

@Racinglikeapronow
Can I please ask where did you buy melatonin from? I struggle with sleep and sought it might help. X

Hi hun I take that - I got it on prescription from doctor , take 3 mg . Also can help egg quality x

@Chicasimona I asked my consultant to prescribe it and he did no questions asked. My nutritionist recommended it. My consultant said he didn’t believe it helped with egg quality but if I wanted it I could have it as it wouldn’t do any harm.

It helps with sleep I think personally. I couldn’t sleep at all and was having nightmares after the d&c and it’s helped me get a much more restful night x

My results are still not back 😬. I'm just taking 25mg now. My consultant suggested 50mg so I might up it tomorrow. I get it from biovea. Be warned it's a US site so takes ages to come. you can only get it here through prescription but my clinic tell me to get it from biovea for some reason. You can get Melatonin from them too but GPS seem to not mind prescribing that.

Hey guys I got my result back it’s 0.7 , so I should be taking dhea right? X

@Racinglikeapronow and @SpyroC

I left my bleeding dhea at home in London and up north for two weeks

My clinic said they like it to be closer to 2 so definitely room to improve there however it is within normal range which is apparently from 0.3 to 2. So under 0.3 is low. However I think it would definitely be worth getting above 1.5 to see if it makes a difference. Do try do it with clinic though as I have read a lot about this and it can really affect egg quality if it’s too high. And enjoy your holidays 😃

Yeah it’s argc abc they are quite anti dhea , I have a call with consultant Thursday and will broach it again but he may just tell me not to take it again . Hmm . How are you feeling lovely ? Testing not too far away 🤞🤞