Hello and welcome to the Fairfax Cryobank Family Forum!
The forum has a new look and the Fairfax Team is so excited to create the best experience for our users.
To Note:
Private Donor Groups and Private Sibling Connection Groups are now located under the category "Groups". Search the donor number in the search box and you should find exactly what you're looking for!
Questions about your forum access? Email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com
Follow these steps to join a private donor group:
1) Press "Join" at the right of the group
2) Once prompted to confirm your request please list this information so we can verify your information:
Name (under which the vial was purchased)
Email
Clinic Name
Donor number
Child Date of Birth
*If you are looking to start a private group for a PRS donor please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com with the above information and that you are looking for a PRS group*
If you have any questions about the verification process please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com
The forum has a new look and the Fairfax Team is so excited to create the best experience for our users.
To Note:
Private Donor Groups and Private Sibling Connection Groups are now located under the category "Groups". Search the donor number in the search box and you should find exactly what you're looking for!
Questions about your forum access? Email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com
Follow these steps to join a private donor group:
1) Press "Join" at the right of the group
2) Once prompted to confirm your request please list this information so we can verify your information:
Name (under which the vial was purchased)
Clinic Name
Donor number
Child Date of Birth
*If you are looking to start a private group for a PRS donor please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com with the above information and that you are looking for a PRS group*
If you have any questions about the verification process please email forum@fairfaxcryobank.com
DHEA to improve ovarian reserve
Regan
Senior Member Senior Member
Hello everyone,
Just wondering what the school of thoughts are out there about DHEA and low ovarian reserve? I read in a book that someone thought it was a "fad", but the fertility center I attend is selling it, and recommended I take 75mg day since I just had a low FSH (still waiting for the AMH results). I'm on a "holding pattern" via birth control pills, since I was supposed to start my first round of injectibles last week.
I just don't know that I can stand the wait, I know all of you know what I mean! So I'm reading all I can about premature ovarian failure, low ovarian reserve (which seem to be the same thing), and FSH and AMH and all these other acronyms! Honestly, what I've read doesn't look very promising, and I don't see the doctor until Thursday. Hopefully, I'll have a high AMH and can start injectibles. Food for thought, my FSH was 24.
Any thoughts? I don't mind taking ANOTHER vitamin, it's just the three times a day, and that I read somewhere it can take 2 months to actually improve your body.
Thanks,
~Regan
Just wondering what the school of thoughts are out there about DHEA and low ovarian reserve? I read in a book that someone thought it was a "fad", but the fertility center I attend is selling it, and recommended I take 75mg day since I just had a low FSH (still waiting for the AMH results). I'm on a "holding pattern" via birth control pills, since I was supposed to start my first round of injectibles last week.
I just don't know that I can stand the wait, I know all of you know what I mean! So I'm reading all I can about premature ovarian failure, low ovarian reserve (which seem to be the same thing), and FSH and AMH and all these other acronyms! Honestly, what I've read doesn't look very promising, and I don't see the doctor until Thursday. Hopefully, I'll have a high AMH and can start injectibles. Food for thought, my FSH was 24.
Any thoughts? I don't mind taking ANOTHER vitamin, it's just the three times a day, and that I read somewhere it can take 2 months to actually improve your body.
Thanks,
~Regan
Comments
I do not know much about DHEA but there is a posting about it in the single mothers forum under IUI vs IVF. It sounds as if one of the ladies on the forum had a friend who used it and she is trying it herself although she does not have a low reserve. I will tell you it is a question that I am definately going to ask my doctor about. While your FSH level is high my doctor told me that he has gotten women pregnant with their own eggs at a level of 23 so if the DHEA works and could bring your FSH level down even a point I think it would be worth it and might increase your chances. Good Luck and please share any info you find out about DHEA on this site as I would be greatly interested in it and I will do the same!
Robin
I'm still researching, still taking the DHEA, and will let you know what I find out on Thursday. So hard to be hopeful some days...
~Regan
I know it is difficult to stay positive but keep your head up. I have been praying for you and sending positive thoughts all week! I hope you found out good news at the doctors appointment today. I have been thinking about you a lot. Can I ask what the AMH level is? When I got the news from my doctor about the levels, I did not write them down and do not remember him talking about AMH the number that stuck out was the FSH. I will definately be asking about the AMH level the next time I go in. AF should come this week but I keep asking myself am I just imagining all the symptoms of AF?! I am trying not to stress and actually am trying not to think about it at all but I catch myself thinking about it all the time! I know that the stress is not good for me so I have been trying to do deep breathing and to refocus my thoughts but boty is that hard work. I hope that you got good news at the doctors today and I will continue to pray and send good thoughts out to you!!
Sending lots of ovary dust your way!
Robin
I think I'm the person who wrote about the DHEA in the post Robin mentioned below.
When I spoke to my RE about me taking it (although I have a "normal" FSH), he told me that I can take the DHEA 25 mg/a day....so I have been. I thought, "what the heck?" i might as well try...there's some info online about the benefits of DHEA...It appears to still be unclear of the benefits, but some studies seemed positive.
Good luck to you!
Good to know I'm not alone on this journey, thank you for your replies.
I went to the doctor today, and no one really focused on the low AMH (<0.08 was my result after all). I'm still hoping for a lab error, but with a FSH of 24, it's just not likely.
I was all set with an ultrasound, but the NP thought she saw a cyst. The bad part is that I really don't like this NP, she couldn't find my left ovary last week, or yesterday, and she didn't even know I had my AMH level drawn, or what it was, despite the fact that she ordered it. I was concerned if I wasn't a nurse, or a patient who could advocate for myself, she would have missed something entirely. When you lose confidence with a provider, it's just all downhill from there.
So when she called me back, after I had my classes on injections, received a schedule to start the stimulation tonight, and told me to hold the boat, I was upset. She said I have an elevated estrogen, now she's sure I do have a cyst producing estrogen, that she didn't visualize (although she didn't admit this). I asked to speak with the doctor, and was elated that he had time for a conversation. He's instilled a lot more confidence with me, and I just feel more comfortable with him. He wants to see me in the morning, to do an ultrasound himself, and will drain a cyst if he sees one, so we can process with stimulation tomorrow. If he doesn't see anything that can be drained, then it will be off the birth control pills, hopefully initiate another cycle, and then start over again next month. He did say something interesting that elevated FSH can drive ovarian cysts to form, there's some correlation there, so maybe that's why I keep getting cysts. But he also said that getting me stimulated and moving forward might be a good thing, so still waiting to see.
The uncomfortable part is that they only use local anesthetic to drain the cyst, using a needle through the vaginal wall into the ovary. I'm a big baby, but whatever it takes is all I keep saying!
On the positive side, I saw a woman 34 weeks with twins, who was just beaming! Despite her hugeness, holy cow did it look like there were 4 in there! It's so nice to hear positive stories, even though sometimes I feel selfish in wanting my own happiness. :?
I'm still taking the DHEA, I am taking 75mcg a day, but I don't think it's micronized, that's something I'll check in to, thanks for the tips! And the support,
Good luck to all,
~Regan
And sorry...it's supposed to be "micronized"...misspelled it.
I did see the fertility specialist last week, I just forgot to post. He did an ultrasound, found my left ovary right away, but decided not to drain the cyst. He put me on 5 days provera, which I just finished thank heavens, and I will see him on Monday, hopefully after my period starts, and we can start stimulation this cycle.
More waiting, and he didn't make me ecstatic by having the NP whom couldn't find my ovary and that totally confused me in the room. Explained it was a team approach, and basically just made me "get over" my feelings of lost faith in her. But I left feeling more confident with his explanations. He mentioned the DHEA for the low ovarian reserve, and when I showed him the bottle, he didn't make a fuss about it not labelled as micronized. I really don't know what that means, but they sell both in the office. I think they are ALL micronized, just that some don't say it on the bottle, but I could be wrong on that (it's happened before)
The best part was when he explained to my partner and I that we needed to talk to my ovaries, and tell them how much they are loved!
Sending good thoughts everyone's way...
~Regan
So sorry that the doc had the NP in the room. It sounds like it would be nice if he was the only one that you were dealing with. I hope that the 5 days of provera helps and that you get good news on monday. I thought I was the only one that "talked" to my ovary!
I will be sending positive thoughts and prayers your way! Oh, and lots and lots of baby dust!
Robin
Did you ever get your AMH levels? I am so glad your FSH came down, here's hoping to some developing follies!
I went for an u/s and blood work yesterday, I had a b-day over the weekend and turned 36 and had to make sure my ovaries didn't feel any older. This NP (yes, yet another one) said it looked as if the cyst was resolving after the provera, and did not have as much trouble visualizing my left ovary (go her!). I felt comfortable with her advise, even though it was different from what I had heard before. She said to come back in on Friday, and even if I haven't had a cycle before then (the Provera didn't bring one on yet) that we might be able to start stimulation.
Still a waiting game, but I've been so busy with my sister visiting this week, that I honestly didn't notice. I think I read that some people clean their houses and keep busy, and I am not a believer! I have been too busy to stress or worry, and am in a good place, taking things one day at a time.
Here's hoping THIS month is the month for everyone!
~Regan
My amh levels were the same as yours but the doc didn't seem to focus on that level. 8 had 1 large follie develop and another smaller one! Although the smaller one is not in contention still happy that 1 was there! It only takes one! Went in for the iui today! The doc commented on the numbers of donor, which he never does. He said he was impressed with the numbers 18 mil with 64% mobility! I will take it here's hoping for a great month! Although it already is for me that I was able to do the iui! It will happen for us! I had to do higher doses of the injectables but it worked well so I can deal. I hope you are able to join me this month!
Robin