If you spend any time on the fertility forums, you see a lot of women using, debating, and fearing DHEA as the “it” supplement to fix their POF or unexplained fertility.
I have not seen any reason on those forums for me to trust it to work. Instead, I found list after list of women dealing with nasty side effects from the DHEA, and a lot of fears of what it can do to our bodies in the long term.
- oily skin
- acne
- hair loss
- permanent hormonal damage
Lately, my random research led me to more information on Premature Ovarian Failure – Premature Ovarian Insufficiency – and Premature Ovarian Aging. The Center for Human Reproduction in New York has done a particularly fabulous job catching my attention with their in depth research.
http://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/premature_ovarian_failure.html
I had been completely against using DHEA without a doctor following my case closely. Mostly for those reasons listed above.
Then I read this:
http://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/premature_ovaries.html
The investigators at CHR have been using the mild male hormone dehydroepiandrosterone DHEA now for a number of years very successfully in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), whether their ovarian impairment is due to advanced age or premature ovarian aging (POA). In doing so, we have been able to demonstrate that in such women DHEA supplementation has quite remarkable beneficial effects (see Table 1), which all can be summarized as rejuvenating ovarian function
Not qualifying for their treatment program for POA (mentioned later in that article), and not wanting to possibly spend all that time on a placebo, I am seriously considering leaping onto the DHEA bandwagon.
After all, the fertility boards have not given me hope that DHEA really works, but then again, the fertility boards are not great at giving me hope for anything. I have yet to see any posts that indicate royal jelly, or wheat grass, or yoga is what got a woman pregnant. Yet, here I am.
Leaping yet again,
~ Ashley Sue
PS. Here are some more fantastic links to look at if considering DHEA yourself.
- http://jim-lowrance.suite101.com/when-is-dhea-supplementation-beneficial-a142890
- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100701145535.htm
- http://www.centerforhumanreprod.com/dhea.html
- http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/forums/pregnancy-fertility/threads/121525/lower-fsh-increase-egg-with-dhea/
- http://www.moderninfertilitytreatments.com/dhea/dhea-treatment-has-positive-results-for-infertility/
Hi Ashley,
I’m in the same boat with my POA diagnosis. I’m from the midwest and have found little support for my condition that doesn’t include an “unexplained infertility” diagnosis. Frustrating.
But you’re right, CHR has a great program! I went to New York (LOVE) and met with Dr. Gleicher. I’m currently on a DHEA supplement regimen and have seen fairly positive results with respects to my high FSH level.
I suggest you check it out… http://www.fertinatal.com/products.php
Best of luck!
Best of luck to you, Rachel! Indeed, we gals have to take control ourselves and FIND doctor who make us a priority in their regiment. Happy to hear you have a doctor and regimen that are showing good signs!
Cheers to you (and us all!)!