I was wondering if anyone had any experience of this?
My first IVF resulted in a BFN, only got 2 eggs, 1 fertilised. FSH is 12. I am 34, the clinic was shocked at how poorly I responded on the maximum dosage of menopur.
Now I have been told to take DHEA for 3 months then come back...
Sorry to hear that things didn't work out for you.
I'm on my 2nd cycle and it was canceled due to only having 2 mature folli's. I was on 5 Menopur and responded poorly only had 4 folli's and only 2 of those were mature enough to use. I did better the 1st cycle on 4 Menopur. I was very dissappointed after going through al the meds. Doc said it could be just this cycle and I could respond differently in next cycle. I am 33 and like you the clinic were dissapointed with my results.
Why must you take DHEA? My clinic don't want to check my bloods or do any tests... don't know if this is a good or a bad thing. I'm starting again next month.
Perhaps you should look into taking DHEA too...take a look at the DHEA post on the general forum, lots of good info about it.
I don't want to waste my NHS attempts if there's such a low chance of success...apparently taking DHEA for 3 or 4 months before trying again really improves egg numbers and quality, and the side effects are mostly good ones!
I've been doing lots of reseach on the net since I started this thread, and am am actually quite excited, rather than feeling really down about it all. I started taking it yesterday.
I know time is of the essence, but what's another 3 months in such a long journey, especially if it works!
I am 38 and doing my 3rd IVF in the last year, I have not responded well the last 2 attempts - 1st try 7 follicles and 2 fertalised 2nd try 3 follicles and 1 fertalised. I have good FSH levels and AMH so they just think I am one of the few who does not respond well to the drugs last 2 X I was on Gonal-f this time I was changed to menpure-rubbish with the names of these drugs sorry. Anyhow I started taking DHEA about 4 months ago after my failed 2nd ivf under the recomendation of the accupunturist I went to- I read up on it and was very excited I msut stress it is by far better to get the micronized version sent from the usa as this is by far more effective.
Both my consultant at home and at Care are neither for or against DHEA as it seem like more sesearch is done in the states and no hard evidence is availble here.
I have just had my second scan and they see 7 follicles all growing well and pretty much the same size so EC shoud be this week. I was disapointed that I had not responed better after taking 75g of DHEA for the past months but at the same time I think each ivf cycle your body is becoming more used to the medication and if you respond even slightly better it is worth taking any step- also the egg quality may be better and give me more of a chance this time.
The side effects for me have been mostly in my skin which has become oily ( great for me as I have very dry skin) but if you are prone to acne this can make it worse, and I have noticed my hair falling out a little- nothing too bad.
Athough I am not a success story for the DHEA I do think it is worth looking into and would keep taking it myself if this cycle fails.
Other things I take are - agnus cactus, vit D, bee pollen (in a breakfast shake), wheatgrass (shake again), vit E
Thanks for the advice - I'll get the micronised version next time then as I only have a month's supply and the one I was prescribed by my GP (after a lot of hassle and arm-twisting!) is a fast-release capsule.
Did you get yours from ?
I've seen others on here recommending that site. It's hard to verify if sites are genuine as I've heard horror stories about fake drugs on the net with rat poison and stuff in it!
I am just approaching egg collection on my 2nd cycle with the NHS.
First cycle everything went like clock work and produced 10 follicles on puregon 200iu but only 2 fertilised ending up in a BFN.
Before starting the 2nd cycle my Consultant (this is the only time I have seen him as the unit is Nurse lead) requested I had an AMH test which came out at 6.5 which is at the top end of low! Initially I was pretty distressed as was classed as a poor responder?! had not even considered this as thought 10 was a pretty good result. I then heard about DHEA and thought I would give it a go.
I started my DHEA in September on 100mg per day. They recommend 3 months prior to treatment starting. I started my 2nd IVF cycle at the beginning of November and continued with the DHEA. I have been on buserilin finjections twice daily for 18 days, followed by menopure 150iu and Gonal F 225 iu.
Unfortuantely I have responded poorly this time with only 3 follicles despite the increase in drugs etc. When I told the hospital I was using DHEA they were surprised and believe that it may have effected my poor reponse. Apparently DHEA produces oestradol which they are trying to lower in IVF. My oestrodol levels showed as 60 when at the same point in cycle 1 they were at the optimum of 40. ANything below 75 is where you should be for them to carry on to the stimulating stage.
I have been give the option of cancelling the treatment and starting again, and am now so annoyed with myself for using the DHEA and potentially effecting my outcome. Unfortunately I will never know if this adversely effected it. I have given it some considerable thought and decided to go ahead with EC this thursday as although the chances are slim with only 3 follies, it only takes one and I only ended up with 2 embryos following my last cycle. Who knows they could be great quality?
I am not sure if you are supposed to take once you are on the ivf meds like I did, but speak to your clinic and see what they say. I had heard so many good stories about this I felt I had nothing to loose by trying. Keeping everything crossed and trying to be positive.
Firstly I'm sorry to hear that you've responded poorly this cycle, and secondly I'd like to thank you for sharing your knowledge of DHEA to help others.
Your post has come at an interesting time for me, as I too am due to start my second cycle. I rang Bart's, who are notoriously hard to get hold of , to request my schedule for my 'microdose flare' protocol and they included all the drugs, but no mention of DHEA.
I asked them, what do I do about taking the DHEA, do I continue as I have on 75mg per day for the past 3 months, or stop and they asked why am I taking DHEA and where did I get it from?! They said it isn't something they'd recommend!!
Well, since THEY prescribed it to me you can imagine how shocked and confused I was, especially as my GP refused to give it to me and they insisted it was correct, despite being unlicensed, and then gave it to me from their own pharmacy!!
I obviously reacted with shock and anger and they then backtracked and said if they prescribed it it was fine after all, but to stop taking it (75mg per day) before starting any stimulation injections....
From what you've said in your post about oestradol (sp?) levels it makes sense that they have changed their tune now....
We put so much trust and faith in these clinics and I'm beginning to wonder if they know what they or doing, or even really care about the outcome.
I feel that we have had pretty shoddy care (or lack of) from Barts and now to be told this by them is another nail in the coffin...
Perhaps DHEA is not the wonder drug I was led to believe it was by the clinic I trusted....
What a week! We managed to make it to the hosiptal for egg collection despite a foot of snow, but the stress of it all!!!
They retrieved 4 in the end, but 2 were not mature and the other 2 were good enough for ICSI. Only ended up with 1 being transferred on day 2 so not sure if this is a good sign.
Now its a waiting game. I go from being positive one minute to being negative as I am today. Am using the ZW CD which is great for relaxation and positive visualisation, so keeping everything crossed, but feeling a bit like a period is coming today, although I have had cramping ever since EC.
I am signed off work for 2 weeks , as my job is very demanding and want to give myself the best chance of success, so I am trying to keep busy by meeting up with friends who have no idea what we are doing!
When do you start your next cycle ? From my experience I would stop the DHEA once you start your meds as it is supposed to have done its job in the 3 months?. My accupuncturist was always a bit skeptical about it but it looked too exciting a chance not to try.
UPDATE:Well having tried the DHEA I am now totally against it!!
I was only told what a wonder drug it was, everything I read online said it was a miracle cure, then Barts recommended it and gave me a prescription...
What followed was a horrendous cycle, only 1 egg of poor quality that didn't even fertilise.
When I went for my final scan before EC the doctor (who I'd never met before) asked why on earth I'd been taking DHEA, that he didn't recommend it and that I shouldn't believe everything I read on the internet!! I was gutted, and told him it was his own clinic that prescribed it...cue lots of paper-shuffling and uncomfortable silences...
I am so sorry to all the people who read my DHEA post and subsequently took it, and iIonly hope that I am the exception and that everyone else had a good response on it....
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