DHEA

Hi Dr H! :)

I'm turning 39 in October, my husband is 38, we are trying for over a year now for our 3rd baby ( I want a :bigboy: BADLY)

Our 1st daughter was non-fertile day (right...), 2nd was 1st attempt success so this is confusing me, I know fertlitity decreases after 35 but year is a loooong time, and I'm not getting any younger lo!

I was taking 50 mg of DHEA ( 25 mg in the morning, 25 mg in the evening) without consulting a doctor. Do you think that is safe dosage or should I cut it down? Shall I continue with DHEA until I get pregnant? ( I'm taking it only from 1st day of period -> ovulation)

I want to make sure I'm ovulating and of course to sway blue. I've never tested FSH but I guess it's getting higher with each year? :think:

Also what do you think about Evening Primrose Oil? How useful it is and can it delay ovulation or mess the cycle in other ways?

Thank you in advance and please feel free to answer only if you have time or feel like it, it's not urgent at all! :)

I am curious to read the response. I bought some DHEA, but now I am afraid to take it, because of all the weird side effects! It said it causes facial hair and hair loss! Yikes!

I'm not the doctor Hobber, but my understanding is that anyone younger than late 30's should never take DHEA anyway because you already are making enough DHEA all on your own. Levels of DHEA don't really start to drop off until very late 30's-40's.

Yeah, it says on the bottle not to take it if you are under 18. I think I am NOT taking it, unless we have trouble conceiving.

Women with PCOS or PCOS like symptoms should never take DHEA either. But over on the IVF PGD boards women seem to be having lots of success with it.

It is important not to under rate the potential issues of DHEA. It is a steroid drug and should be treated as such with respect.

It is important before going on DHEA to get your levels tested and continue to have them tested. It can be counterproductive in reproduction if you already produce enough or have high levels to begin with such as PCOS patients.

On average, levels are usually okay if you under 40 years old.

I personally am on DHEA but I am 43 years old and monitor my levels. I must say it has helped me and some of my patients with DOR/POF. In relation to common side affects, for me personally menstrual issues have been my greatest issue .

For my patients, it has ranged from mild acne to menstrual disturbances. I would say the impact on side affects with my patients has been low because they are monitored.

In saying all of the above, I have some great success with patients that have used DHEA and with others no impact at all???? Testosterone therapy is another thing we have started.

Hope this helps. Hugs Dr. H

Thank you! :)

Dr H, what dhea and testosterone level should a lady at 38 have for optimum fertility?

Hi Jils04

I am just looking for my ranges chart as I thought I could post that for reference for everybody. I must say I look for correct ranges for both but also monitor side effects, results and impacts.

Hopefully, I can get this posted ASAP.

Do you know your levels? Have you been tested? Have you had full hormone profile done as I also like to see the holitsic picture and then manage dosages etc.

Biggest Hugs Dr H

No I havent had levels checked. I take 25 in the morning and 25 in the evening. Side effects have been tiredness but better mood, also after I stopped in July to give myself a drug break, I got sore left breast that turned out to be glandular and now that I'm back on dhea preparing for nov cycle, breasts are back to normal. Ive had no male effects only tiredness. Could this be too much oestrogen ?
I wonder if the women who get hair growth or loss have too much testosterone and the ones like me that are tired are getting too much oestrogen/progesterone ? Can this be bad ? My last batching cycle was better than the failed one in feb.

Hi Jils04

Sometimes tiredness can be caused by an increase in Progesterone as it can have a sedating effect on some people, I noted that even on myself when I was on Provera. Estrogen can also be a cause.

Excess Hair (such as jawline hair) or loss can be caused by excess DHEAs,Testosterone, Thyroid or general hormonal imbalance can be a cause.

Too much of any hormone is not optimum we need to strike a balance. For example to much Estrogen can cause Breast pain, Fibroids etc.

I have included a short list other may be useful of symptoms of either deficiencies or an increase in certain hormones may cause (Disclaimer: guideline only and some symptoms can mimic more serious illnesses, always see your Doctor to test and confirm ):

INCREASED ESTROGEN

- Fogginess, fatigue
- Breast Pain and increased size (swelling)
- Fibrocystic Breasts - Lumpy breasts
- Bloating - Fluid retention
- Uterine Fibroids
- Weight Gain - usually fluid
- Headaches - some notice this before a period

DECREASED ESTROGEN

- sweating
- Hot flashes
- shortness of breath /shallow breathing
- sweating especially at night
- vaginal shrinkage
- painful intercourse - due to lack of mucous and vaginal dryness
- Flaky and dry skin, scalp and hair - sometimes rashes
- Depression, anxiety and forgetfulness
- mood changes
- Heart palpitations
- yeast infections
- Libido decrease

INCREASED PROGESTERONE

- Depression
- Decrease in energy
- Drowsiness and feeling tired
- Constipation

DECREASED PROGESTERONE

- Headaches
- Decrease in Libido
- Anxiety and Depression
- Night Sweating
- Enlarged breasts and sometimes painful
- Yeast infections
- Asthma/Hay fever
- Muscular Aches and pains
- Insomnia and nightmares
- Shortness of breath
- vaginal shrinkage
- Vagueness
- Intercourse more painful due to vaginal dryness
- Dry skin and hair - Flaky
- Weight gain usually fluid retention causing bloating

INCREASED TESTOSTERONE

- Oily skin and acne - especially cystic acne around the jawline
- Increased Clitoral size
- Mood and Behavioural changes - such as feelings of aggravation, aggression and anger
- increased facial hair - specifically around jawline
- Male pattern loss of hair
- Changes in voice a more masculine or deepening or sometimes a more throaty voice


DECREASED TESTOSTERONE

- Decreased libido
- Dry skin and hair - Hair prone to splitting more
- Thinning of pubic and body hair (arms, legs)
- Reduced clitoral sensation
- Lack of energy
- Malaise
- Breasts/nipple sensitivity reduced
- Overall sense of well being reduced

Hugs Dr H x

Looks like my symptoms are more on the increased oestrogen and progesterone side so I guess Its like doing e priming before a cycle. I can live with that in the short term.
When going off dhea, I noticed a crash in hormones and yeast infection, lumpy breasts. After you finish your cycle and become pregnant, obviously you have to stop dhea but if you have a failed cycle, is it best to gradually reduce the dhea or just stop ?
Thanks so much for that list, will help a lot of dhea takers.

I tend to advise to stop it, but no problems if you gradually decrease. I personally do that myself. xx

When during a cycle do we stop taking DHEA? or do we keep taking it the whole way through?

Hi fellow Aussie :)

Normally, the whole cycle until a positive beta HCG. Sometimes we will taper down during a cycle or stop it after transfer.

By, the way I am so sorry to see that you had no response at all :( If I can be of any help, please let me know.

Big Hugs Dr H xxx

Hey Z! Im also taking 50 DHEA and got a bfp first try but lost it before 5 weeks. Now Im taking it again I will be 37 next month and I think I have some symptoms from the increased testosterone list for sure , but who know from what? Not sure it is from the dhea ...

Hi Flava

Have you just started having these symptoms since being on the DHEA?

If you do not mind me asking which symptoms?

Big Hugs

Dr H X