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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 side effects?
Regan
Senior Member Senior Member
Just wondering if anyone has experienced negative side effects from taking DHEA, and what doses and times? I'm trying to take 75mg a day (25mg in three doses) and the timing to take a pill THREE times a day just seems a bit out of reach! I have experienced terrible irritability and depression when taking this in the past, but am trying IVF again, and my doctor really thinks it helps improve ovarian reserve. I've read literature on BOTH sides of the debate, some people thinking it does more harm than good, and other doctors swearing by it. All *I* know is that it helped improve my eggs retrieved a little the months I took it, so I'm trying again... But I can't afford to become single and jobless due to my irritability and depression! This fertility journey is stressful enough without the extra imbalance!
Any thoughts would be appreciated! I know there has to be some premature ovarian failure and/or diminished ovarian reserve ladies out there!
~Regan
Any thoughts would be appreciated! I know there has to be some premature ovarian failure and/or diminished ovarian reserve ladies out there!
~Regan
Comments
Yes, I have spoken to a few doctors about the side effects, and the fertility doctor really felt strongly that I should try to take them, to improve my IVF response. All I know about DHEA is that it's a natural hormone produced by the body, and taking supplemental DHEA (in pills like I am taking) it is supposed to improve the number of eggs produced per cycle. I did have a better response, from 2 to 6 the last cycle of IVF I had, so I am trying again.
On a side note, and no one is going to believe this, I feel better! I think the DHEA has leveled out, or I'm just really optimistic about my next pregnancy attempt, but I've been nesting (I usually hate spring cleaning) and doing more things with less sleep (exercising more and working a little more at my job). Can't say for sure it's just not a really good point in my cycle, or that I did some nice things for myself (pedicure, eyebrow wax and hair cut, feeling SEXY!) or if it's the DHEA, but this has been a better week. Why not chalk it up to the nice support here, and the fact that I can be so honest here and feel such support?! Who knows...
So I'm bearing with the side effects, and not even dreading all the side effects of the Follistim and Menopur... going to ride this roller coaster of good feeling until it's next turn!
Hope everyone enjoyed St. Patrick's Day...
"May the wind behind you not be the result of the leftover corned beef and cabbage you just ate"!
~Regan
I paid out of pocket for it, wanting to start everything right away. But, I asked Freedom Pharmacy if they had any idea why DHEA was not covered; the pharmacist I talked with at FFP did not know. She did NOT tell me that it is because DHEA is not medicine. I bought it from FFP because if my doctor prescribed it then it must be something that might help me, and it did not occur to me there would be such a tremendous difference in price from every place else. But, I thought I would shop around for purposes of future purchases of DHEA to see if any other pharmacies would sell it at a lower cost. I checked lots of places, at local stores and online.
I was stunned to see that the highest prices to be paid anywhere else was the price range of $44-$20, but the typical price at most pharmacies and health food stores was about $6 here in Michigan. I visited my local Walgreen to ask the pharmacist to ask if he knew of any reason DHEA might cost so much at Freedom Fertility Pharmacy; he also was very surprised. He called FFP for me, but he never got an answer. I called FFP again to ask why FFP charged me so much for something that is not even an actual medication without telling me that DHEA is more along the lines of merely a vitamin, available to anybody who wants to buy it. This time, FFP informed me that they mix their DHEA themselves. So what?!? I was not happy about this. I can understand a slight mark-up, but this is completely unreasonable. It also is horribly sneaky. I complained to the nurse who prepared my prescriptions and she also was quite surprised; their office did not know FFP was charging more than 15 times what most places charge for DHEA.
I feel like I was ripped off, but I cannot do anything about it I guess. So, I just thought I should at least share this experience in case anyone else wants to shop around 1st rather than pay for overpriced dietary supplements...especially if you might initially be under the misimpression that DHEA is a prescription drug rather than a nutritional supplement.
Glad you figured out how to get the DHEA affordably! On a side note, I'm not having terrible side effects, they seem to come and go, but I certainly don't feel like myself. But it's still a small price to pay for better follicle response... so I'm working on it!
~Regan