DHEA for Diminished Ovarian Reserve

FertilityFast facts

The science supporting this drug is controversial, but research suggests that it may improve egg numbers and quality.

Although it's sold as a supplement, DHEA is actually a hormone (it can interact with other medications so important to discuss with your doctor).

What is DHEA?

It stands for dehydroepiandstrone and it's a hormone precursor produced in the adrenals and ovaries. DHEA is critical for early development of ovarian follicles.

Levels of DHEA typically decline with age, and this is thought to be one possible cause of age-related infertility. DHEA can also be low in younger women with:

• autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease,

• rheumatoid arthritis, or antibodies that attack the adrenal glands.

*autoimmunity is now a known cause of premature ovarian insufficiency

Clinical Studies on DHEA

In 2015, the independent Cochrane organisation conducted a review of studies on DHEA and concluded:

(included 17 RCT studies with a total of 1496 participants)

• Trial participants (apart from 2 of the trials) were women identified as 'poor responders' to standard IVF protocols.

• The included trials compared either testosterone or DHEA treatment with placebo or no treatment.

• When DHEA was compared with placebo or no treatment, pre treatment with DHEA was associated with higher rates of live birth or ongoing pregnancy. The overall quality if the evidence was moderate.

• Since this review, the evidence has strengthened.

• A controlled trial in 2016 found that women receiving DHEA before IVF had a much higher pregnancy rate than the controls (33 % versus 16%). A 2018 study showed similar results.

Clinical Studies on DHEA

When all of this data is combined, a so called "meta-analysis", there is a clear and consistent answer:

In poor responders, DHEA treatment before IVF results in a significantly higher likelihood of pregnancy.

For those interested in the study

Source

PMID: 27094195, PMCID: PMC4974220, DOI: 10.1007/s10815-016-0713-5

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