Saturday, January 23, 2010

I got drained for DHEA

I got my period on Thursday and today is Day 3. The magic day 3 whence all shall be known and understood about fertility and one's hormone levels. I have been contemplating a 3 month course of DHEA and today I went to my GP and asked him to prescribe me 75mg of DHEA per day and to do some blood tests on me. Because he knows me and my all-too-medical-head very well, he merely nodded and did my bidding. So I am now waiting on results for all these ...

DHEA
DHEA-S
DHEA-T
testosterone - free
FSH
LH
oestrogen
progesterone
Vit D, 25-Hydroxy
Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) Ab
Antithyroglobulin Ab
inhibin B
AMH
thyroid function
liver function
iron studies

I will go back once a month and get most of them re-tested so as to monitor everything properly. it shall be interesting and I shall treat it like a science experiment.

Today my step-daughter asked, for the kazillionth time, if her father and I were going to have a baby. Usually when she asks I say "Maybe ... we're trying", but today I said that I thought that we probably wouldn't. That we'd been trying for two years now and it was very unlikely that it would happen. I felt all glum and pessimistic and realistic and sad while saying this.

The Little Guy piped up from the back-seat "Can't you just take a pill?" and we all laughed.

I wish it was so easy.

For now I shall brave the testosterone storm that may swamp me and take my 75mg of DHEA in the hope that an IVF cycle in May results in more/better eggs and a pregnancy. Otherwise it's the end of the road for us. If anyone out there has anything good to tell me about DHEA, please do so. I'd love a story about a late-thirties poor responder who took DHEA for 12 weeks and got pregnant.

10 comments:

  1. Oooh, a science experiment. How intriguing. :)

    I actually think the biggest difference between my first two failed cycles and my current (maybe working?) cycle is that I took a 3-month break between #2 and #3. A nice long break might be just the variable to get you back on track....during my break, I lost 10 lbs of my IVF flab (perhaps you don't need to do this, SexyPundy) and I gobbled down high-dose vitamins and lots of vitamin C. KB was put on Clomid and Vitmain C along with Proxeed, which may have helped fertilization. Just a few more variables to think about, that might prime the ol' gametes for a better cycle....or maybe just find that magic pill!

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  2. Good for you for getting the hormone screen done! I am convinced that there is something to hormone imbalance and poor ovarian response - please post your results when you get them. I will be seeing Dr. Lovely on Wednesday and will be talking to him about DHEA - I'll post what he says about it...as you know, I took 75mg/day from July to Dec and just recently started back on it at 50mg/day. FWIW, I felt amazing on it for the first 4 months. Apparently a lot of women have that response. There are a LOT of studies showing that there are poor responders who DO have great success with DHEA. Check out the Centre for Human Reproduction website for updates on their research on it. My last doctor told me it's usually 4 months before it starts to benefit people, but it can happen in less time. I wish you all the best with it.
    Love,
    Maddy

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  3. Ugh....this better go through....

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  4. Great, so if I type in a plea, that gets posted, but my 'proper' comments got stuck in midwaybooza twice!

    Well, I just hope that the outcome can be used to your complete benefit.....do keep us posted!

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  5. Just wishing you all the very best luck with DHEA and your next cycles. I think getting monitoring test was a great idea and I hope you see some good results.

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  6. I don't have any experience with DHEA, but I'm here cheering you on!

    Hopefully, this will be your magic ticket, along with the break and you'll have a great response!

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  7. I wish I had info for you but I got nothing in this case. I really hope this "science experiment" works for you!

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  8. Yes yes, good luck! I'm looking forward to reading more about the experiment. I'm tempted to go and do the same...

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  9. Just found your blog when doing a search on DHEA, and wanted to wish you lots and lots of luck with it. I took it for 2 months but, somewhat idiotically, didn't have baselines done beforehand. I've just been off it for a month, had the tests, and am thinking of going on it again. Fingers very crossed for you.

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  10. Hi, I'm new to your site and am very curious about DHEA. Looking forward to following along for the ride! Good luck!

    T

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"Scout yonder's been readin' ever since she was born." I wasn't quite so precocious but I do love reading comments!