Accidentally took DHEA for first 12 weeks of pregnancy

[JoJo333]

Hi Im freaking out please advise.

I was told back in August 2019 that I have diminished ovarian reserve. I was advised to take DHEA supplement, I have been taking 25mg daily for 6 months. I fell pregnant in December and had my 12 week scan today and everything was fine thank goodness.

Stupidly I’ve only just realised this evening I should of have stopped taking the DHEA supplement when I found out I was pregnant. Therefore I’ve been taking it through the whole of my first trimester. I’m now worried what the side affects to the baby could be?

Can anyone advise please as I’m worried? Has anyone else done this?

Obviously I will not take it anymore.

what does it say on the leaflet?

Well, as you know, it's not supposed to be taken in pregnancy. However, there's nothing you can do about it now. I couldn't find any literature on what happens when you do take it in pregnancy, so maybe they just think it would be a bad idea and have advised against it to be on the safe side?

All it says is don't take when pregnant or breast feeding. I've googled but I can't seem to find anything on the affects of the baby

All I found was this.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: DHEA is POSSIBLY UNSAFE when taken during pregnancy or breast-feeding. It can cause higher than normal levels of a male hormone called androgen. This might be harmful to the baby. Do not use DHEA if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.

I did wonder if it might be that, due to its side effects including voice deepening and facial hair.

I've found the following:

'Individuals exposed to atypical concentrations of testosterone or other androgenic hormones prenatally, for example, because of genetic conditions or because their mothers were prescribed hormones during pregnancy, have been consistently found to show increased male-typical juvenile play behavior, alterations in sexual orientation and gender identity (the sense of self as male or female), and increased tendencies to engage in physically aggressive behavior.'

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4350266/

So, if you're having a boy it might just make them more stereotypically masculine.

If you're having a girl it might have effects on them in later life:

www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/03/190318151730.htm

But either way, it doesn't look like it's likely to cause any huge birth defects, more affect personality and things like that. And it affects different people different ways, so it might not have much of an impact at all.

Thanks Becausereasons for finding this for me.

I'm worried out my mind and feel terrible for not knowing this before.

I was taking a small dosage of 25mg where some people take 75mg.

Well I've stopped now will just hope for the best I suppose. Thanks for your help.

Has anyone done this?

Sorry I couldn't be more help. Don't blame yourself- you got into a habit and just didn't think about it. It could've happened to anyone, and it's unlikely to cause massive issues. You'll probably never know if it had an effect or not, and that's true for a lot of what we do in pregnancy. You can't control for everything and no one is perfect. Don't beat yourself up about it.

Thank you. My fertility consultant recommended I take it and I got into a routine of taking one every morning with breakfast and just assumed it was all ok. He didn't say to stop taking when pregnant. It's only cause I looked at it this evening and it said not to take when pregnant.

I feel awful

Your fertility consultant should have mentioned it really- I'd consider complaining if I were you, if only so he remembers to mention it to people in future. Most people don't read the medication leaflets.

better try to see gp tomorrow.
you only took on first trimester, maybe affects less or non on that period, you can ask that.

Thanks for the help and advice.

I will contact my GP tomorrow, thanks again

Don’t beat yourself up OP I’d take your Gp’s advice but from what I can see it won’t cause any serious effecrs

Thanks

I'd contact your consultant and go through it with them they are likely to be more aware than your gp. I took DHEA for approximately 1 week after we found out I was pregnant on the higher dose - DS was conceived naturally just before an ivf round - no issues with DS or me. There is some literature I remember about DHEA potentially helping to lower miscarriage risk in older mothers in tests which are ongoing.

Mommybear1 thanks for letting me know. Yes I have reached out to the consultant, GP, any company I can find online and the manufacturer from where I brought it. So just waiting for a response. I have also read it help reduce miscarriage and I am 41 and have miscarried before. I have also read this the below.

Are There Any DHEA Side Effects on Baby?
It is recommended that DHEA supplementation be discontinued once you are pregnant. At CHR, patients are instructed to stop taking DHEA after the second positive pregnancy test, i.e., rising hCG levels. This is not necessarily because DHEA has any negative side effects on the baby; rather, patients do not need DHEA supplementation once pregnant because the bodythe placenta, actuallynaturally produces more DHEA during pregnancy.

I'm on a treatment for ms and that isn't suitable to take during pregnancy

I did ask the nurse what would happen if I was to become pregnant out of curiosity and she said they'd prescribe charcoal tablets to get it out of my system quicker

Not sure if it helps but might be worth looking into

Thanks fraggle45. Were you taking DHEA?

I will ask about the charcoal tablets

Personally I wouldn't worry about this @JoJo333

Through my 2nd pregnancy I took DHEA with no one mentioning anything. That was a few years ago though. DS is a healthy 5 year old.

Of course just go on the advice given by your consultant.

Thank you mama2b2.....thanks for the reassurance.

I went to my local pharmacy and asked them this morning and he said don't worry too much as it says stop when you find out you are pregnant so it obviously allows for the cross over so he said basically you have been taking it for 8 weeks whilst pregnant.

So mama2b2 you took it through the whole 9 months? Also can you remember what dosage?

@JoJo333 I can't remember the exact dosage as it was a few years ago but it was definitely low-dosage I remember that. I think it was 8 months I took it for. Started taking it before I found out I was pregnant.

Just remember to take folic acid and of course vitamin supplements. I'm a little bit older than you and it worked for me.

Ok thanks.

Yes I have been taking that since I started the DHEA. I'm still waiting to hear back from my consultant. So mama2b2 you don't think I have anything to worry about?

I mean there's not an awful lot I do now really is there?

No just try not worrying I know easier said than done right?
Just continue to go to scans and definitely take consultant's advice. You should also be having extra scans?
@JoJo333