My husband's urologist put him on Androgel (DHEA) to help with a completion problem. I was told I couldn't even touch his skin for 6 hours after using. It is supposed to be absolutely HORRIBLE for women. It completely counteracts everything your body wants to have happen when trying to get pregnant. When we started going to the RE he told my DH to stop using it immediately because not only was it extremely drangerous for me to be around it also is known to lower sperm count. So if you are using it as a woman and your partner touches it, his sperm count could lower. Just my opinion, but everything I have heard about it...I don't want to be anywhere in the same room as it.

I was actually taking it for awhile for depression issues. My counselor recommended it for a natural way to deal with depression. It did seem to help. However, my RE wanted me to stop prior to treatment for FET. He said they just don't know enough about it. However, I have also seen that they are adding it to prenatal vitamins because it is suppose to be good for fetal development. So who knows.

When I got pregnant with my son who is now 10, I was taking 25mg daily of DHEA. I took it for the first 6.5 weeks of pregnancy because I didn't know I was pregnant. My husband takes 25 mg daily now and he has super sperm so it doesn't seem to be affecting his sperm negatively at all.

I saw something about the use of DHEA on the Early Show either yesterday morning or Tuesday morning. Apparently it is helping women get and stay pregnant. The doctor they interviewed said it cut down the risk of m/c in half. They also interviewed another doctor who is not currently using it in his practice but does not think it can hurt at all. I know someone mentioned it being in prenatal vitamins---I am not sure if it is but I know that my prenatal vitamins have DHA which is an omega oil to help with fetal brain development (and a whole list of other things) my prenatals do not have DHEA which is a type of steroid.

Hey you guys
Yes there are some published results on DHEA and fertility but the jury is still out.
It is used in women of "advanced maternal age" who dont produce much when stimulated for IVF cycles. A couple studies are pending at 75 mg a day of DHEA...so lets wait on results.Dr Paulson at USC who Im on faculty with is hesitant to use it and warns of the masculine side effects (excess hair growth, deepening of voice) with extended use.
Dr O.

Dr O, thanks for your insight. After my first failed IVF cycle, my RE suggested that he may add this next time. I definitely want to research DHEA before starting it. Don't think I can deal with the masculine side effects.

Anyone had any experience (positive or negative) with DHEA?

This is intersting to read...my doc had me on Bromocriptine to actually reduce my testosterone levels...has anyone else been on this? I call it the "evil pill" ha ha

I was on DHEA for a few months before my 2nd in vitro cycle. I actually produced less eggs, but I think that was because I had a cyst on my ovary and not from the DHEA. I was on 75 mg per day. I did not have any masculine side effects, except that I sort of thought like a guy. Sad, sappy things didn't upset me, and it helped with my depression since I was off my meds for that. I thought it was funny, and thought maybe it was a placebo effect, but now I don't take it and I actually can tell the difference. My doc did say to stop taking it as of the transfer though.

I take bromocriptine for elevated parlodel levels, but not for testosterone issues.

Hi guys, I can speak wonders for DHEA. I just turned 41 years old in August. After trying to actively conceived (using ovulation predictors) and no luck, I decided to start researching on the internet about ways to conceived and also started seeing a fertility specialist but because I live in England, and it is the national health system, they are a bit slow. So I started seeing him 3 months ago and they did all sorts of tests and it happened that my DH sperm was on the low side (he had a vasectomy reversal) and my ovarian reserve was low (7.9) and I was low on iron. SO I did research and found out that taking DHEA (new studies that not many doctors know about) can reverse ovarian againg. Apparently some woman who was 42 and harvesting her eggs for later use started taking it and 3 to 4 months later, her ovaries were like those of a 25 year old and the quality of the eggs were excellent too... this is what I found from another website... (copy and paste) http://fmyworld.blogspot.com/2009/03/more-on-dhea.html I went for something called a HyCoSy (they put a blue dye to make sure that your fallopian tubes are not blocked) and nothing was wrong with me. Also I already have 2 children... I had my next appointment with the specialist where they said they were going to try Clomid for 3 months first, then my choice was either IUI or IVF... I was supposed to have waited until day 2 of my period to start the tablets but... MY PERIOD NEVER CAME! At ripe old age of 41, lol, after trying for years to conceived, on the 3rd month of taking DHEA tablets, I spontaneously conceived!!! By the way, I told the specialist I was doing this and he said that was great and that he had written a paper about that!!!! SO DHEA DOES WORK... and by the way, I never ever ever ever had any bad side effect... in fact, I felt younger, happier and could exercise better. I had also been given Metformin but only took it for a few days (as I was already pregnant and I did not know!) but I have read its Ok to take it whilst pregnant... but that is another topic for another day... So it is a great thing. Do some research but make sure that the publised results are from this year because there is stuff on the net published from years ago...

Just a few days ago I saw a different show (Dr. G: Medical Examiner), where a 50-something woman died unexpectedly, and it turned out it was because of the supplements she was taking. She was taking over 40 a day, but the primary culprit was DHEA. I don't know how much she was taking, but obviously it was excessive. I'm sure it's not typical for it to cause death, but the lesson is to make sure you're not going crazy with the supplements without being advised by your doctor!

I took 75mg of DHEA preparing for my second ivf cycle. I have diminished ovarian reserve and did not even make it to retrieval during my first ivf cycle. During my second cycle I had 5 eggs retrieved. Not sure this is what made the difference, but my RE said it would not hurt anything. He said there are differing opinions about whether or not it really helps, but we were up for trying anything!!!!

my testosterone level was little bit low. so the doctor told me to take 10 mg of DHEA because it is a precursor for testosterone.
Prenatal vitamins donot have DHEA. They have DHA (u are right Kyspier).
It doesnot hurt to ask your doctor about DHEA. Each case is different. it might work for some and not for others.
Good luck to all.