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Does DHEA really work?

winofairywinofairy
in Infertility Veterans

My new RE told me to start taking 25mg when I saw her for my IVF consult on the 13th of Feb.  I've been taking nightly but I've noticed my hair is starting to fall out and I've got two huge tumors (zits) growing on each side of my face.  Ugghhh!

Does this stuff really work? 

Thankfully I will only have to take it another month!

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06.10.12 +HPT 06.12.12 Beta #1 = 2,770 06.14.12 Beta #2 = 6,300
1st U/S 06.18.12 2nd U/S 06.25.12
09.24.12 It's a Boy!! ---> Jacob Owen

Our IF Journey Began: October 2009
**8 Failed IUI's, 1 Blighted Ovum, & 1 Failed IVF**
Dx: MFI, DOR w/MTHFR Homozygous A1298C & Hypothyroidism
03.2012 Lab Results: FSH 6.83 AMH 0.67 TSH 3.8 E2 17
SA 156 million 93% motility 3% morphology

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**~PAIF/SAIF Always Welcome~**
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Re: Does DHEA really work?

  • Roxie5739Roxie5739 member

    I can tell you if it worked for me in around a week or so. I have been on it for 3 months, initially I only had oily hair and skin and then in last few weeks I started to get zits. I dropped to 25mg 2x a day but I know that some cannot take it for the side effects.

    I would speak to your RE again on it as once I told mine I got acne they told me to drop the dosage.

     

    Multiple ectopics, 2 failed IVF's
    IVF #1: Did not get to ET, embies all failed PGD (major chromosomal defects)
    IVF #2: We have 2 chromosomally perfect embies as a result of PGD (Boy/Girl) 1 failed the thaw (Girl) Transferred 1, yet ended as a c/p
    Thought it was the end of our TTC Journey 6/20/2012
    SHOCK BFP 9/28/2012: IT'S A BOY! and everything is normal !!!!!!

    Little A born 38w 2d on 05/23/13 and is a true miracle for this IF Vet!
     

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  • Edwina.McDunnoughEdwina.McDunnough
    Those are common s/e but I don't get what you mean by "work," it can aid in increasing numbers if you are DOR, but it's no magic elixir, and some REs believe it has a negative effect on DOR patients specifically.
    +++
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  • jlcrane78jlcrane78 member
    My RE says there is no scientific evidence DHEA will help DOR patients. He would not authorize me to take it, and judging by the side effects i am glad!
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  • chloeelynchloeelyn
    I just started taking it. My RE suggested 3x a day for 3months. I've been on it for almost 2 weeks and have noticed acne. I never have acne and have been dealing with giant breakouts in the past week its awful. Also, I've had headaches 7 out of the last 10 days. I cant tell if the headaches are stress related or now. But the DHEA is most definetly giving me cystic acne. My RE said to drop down to 2x a day if I had any issues. I sent him an email today to see what he says, is acne a big enough deal to drop down the dosage? What if I "need" 3x a day to make a difference?
    Natural M/C:@5 wks 7/31/07 Natural M/C:@5 wks 12/27/09 Missed M/C, D&C:@9 wks 06/13/11
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  • Jackie2200Jackie2200 member

    I don't think it's a magic elixer either.  I got pregnant with twins from IVF#1 and didn't take it.  I got pregnant from IVF#4 and did take it, but interistingly enough, I had the worst response ever to stims on IVF#4--they only got one egg after 21 days of stims.  Who knows...I'm still in the camp that alot of this is a crap shoot!

     


    TTC Since 10/08 4 IUIs=BFNx4
    IVF#1=BFP!! Twins!!
    Bradley and Billy born and lost on 2/2/11 at 19w2d due to pPROM/PTL. I miss you, little angels.
    IVF#2=BFN
    IVF#3=c/p IVF#4=Empty Follicle Syndrome; 1 mature, fertilized, & made it to blast. 5dt of "the lone ranger" on 9/6. Please stick, little one! Image and video hosting by TinyPic Lilypie First Birthday tickers
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  • jillychrisjillychris member
    My RE was 100% against DHEA when I asked. She said it can change your hormone levels, and since it's not monitored like a med would be she doesn't like it.
    2/11 Diagnosis: DOR-AMH .62, LPD and MFI-4% Morph
    IVF #1-July 2011 7/9/11-Started Stims
    7/20/11-ER:No eggs in 4/5 follicles. Left the 5th follie intact and converted to an IUI
    8/3/11-Beta #1=BFN,
    Nov, 2011 BFP #1=m/c at 7 wks 3 days
    11/11-AMH .47, IVF #2 March 2012...or not!! Surprise BFP on 2/19. Beta #1=161. Beta #2 305 Our little miracle girl is on her way! Due Oct 29, 2012
    <a href="http://s1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb461/andersenspics/?action=view
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  • BunnyintheYardBunnyintheYard

    The only times I have ever gotten a BFP (including my DD), I was taking DHEA for 2 months before I cycled.  I had a higher fert rate those cycles as well.  My dx includes poor egg quality.

    I was taking wheat grass as well the first time, and this time I took wheat grass and Coenzyme Q10.  

    I really think it makes a difference... but that's just my opinion.  You can do a scientific search on PubMed if you want to look for any DHEA and IVF research papers.  I took those supplements after hearing that CCRM suggests them.

    Good luck!! 

    dx'd with severe endo and poor egg quality 3 IUIs were all BFN IVF #1 = c/p IVF #2 = BFN IVF #3 = beautiful baby girl born 2/2011; 8/2011 Surprise BFP - natural m/c at 8w; TTC #2 2011-2012; 2 IUIs = BFN; IVF #1 = BFP 9dp5dt beta = 328; 11dp5dt = 650; 13dp5dt = 1114; 18dp5dt = 4747 BabyFetus Ticker
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  • KDR1979KDR1979 member
    TICKER WARNING. Also on iPad-sorry for format. We had a mfi diagnosis. They never got many eggs From me (I am 32 now), so my RE thought dhea might help (even though we usually had good qualityEmbryos). So, after our 4 th IVF failed, I started dhea 25 mg & took it for 4 months before our Last IVF attempt-we got a similar amount of eggs & embryos, but I am currently pregnant & we have a Frozen blast. Good luck!!!

    Wedding Fall 2007 Off OCP's since 9/08-started with BBT charts Saw Ob/gyn May 2009 Blood work normal except single copy of MTHFR Clomid 50mg May 2009 Clomid 50mg + IUI June 2009 Femara 5mg + IUI July 2009 Normal HSG July 2009 Femara 5mg + ovidrel+IUI August 2009 Femara 5mg +ovidrel + IUI September 2009 November 2009-normal lap December 2009-met with RE December/January-Injectible med cycle with IUI-Abnormal sperm morpology found-only 0-1% normal All Head defects. Jan/Feb 2010 1st IVF with ICSI-5 week chemical pregnancy :( Feb 2010-male infertility doc says DH's anatomy and blood work are normal so nothing he can do. :( FET July 2010-BFP! Twin m/c @ 5.5 wks :( Dec/Jan 2011 IVF #2 Only 4 eggs retrieved-Ganirelix dose messed up BFFN Feb/March 2011 IVF #3 ER 3/9 9 eggs, 7 fertilized, ET 3/14, No frosties. BFN IVF #4 ER 8/22 9R,7F ET 8/25-3 embies, 1 frostie! Beta 9/2= 54, 9/6=274, 9/8=625, 9/12=2953, 9/16 greater than 10,000. B/G TWINS born April 2012 @ 36wks & 1 day! July 2014-going back for the frozen embryo! ET 7/28, heartbeat seen at 6wks1day with SCH. Miscarriage confirmed at 6wks4days





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