Written by Aparna Hari
In recent times there is an increasing tendency in couples to postpone childbearing for varied reasons. This may end up in subfertility or infertility affecting 10%-15% (1) of couples of reproductive age. As women cross the childbearing age the ovarian reserve (OR) comes down. A good OR is an indication that the woman has high-quality eggs and achieves pregnancy. DHEA supplements for fertility may come in handy in such situations.
Most women with age-related infertility have diminished ovarian reserve or DOR. In few women, ovarian reserve becomes low or poor at an early age which is known as premature ovarian aging. For fertility doctors both these conditions are challenging for a successful IVF outcome. Among the various supporting medications to deal with these conditions, DHEA is gaining interest among the experts to help mitigate infertility issues to a certain extent.
In This Article
DHEA is a precursor reproductive hormone. DHEA stands for Dehydroepiandrosterone. It can be naturally found in Jerusalem artichoke( a root vegetable).
In humans, it is produced both by adrenal glands which are present on top of kidneys, and by the ovaries. DHEA is the precursor for two important reproductive hormones estrogen and testosterone. DHEA levels decrease as we age(2),(3).
Yes, many current studies suggest that DHEA can promote fertility by improving ovarian function therefore increasing the chances of pregnancy, and reducing the miscarriage rates by reducing the abnormal division of chromosomes. The studies suggest that DHEA helps in increasing the success of IVF outcomes by improving the ovarian reserve and its response (4),(5).
DHEA supplementation can increase the ovarian reserve and also stimulate the ovarian response to produce follicles that yield eggs required for fertilization and embryo formation (6).
Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) also called age-related infertility is a condition in which there will be less production of oocytes ( the cells that turn into ovum or egg required for fertilization). DOR is one of the major causes of infertility in women who delay conception in childbearing age.
This condition may lead to fewer chances of pregnancy, a high rate of miscarriage, increase in cancellation rate while treating infertility using different Assisted Reproductive Technologies.
In females having Decreased Ovarian Reserve(DOR) and Poor ovarian response (POR) DHEA supplementation can help stimulate the production of follicles, thereby increasing the production of oocytes otherwise called eggs which are required for fertilization (6A).
As DHEA is a precursor to testosterone, consumption of DHEA is naturally expected to increase the testosterone levels in males increasing the sexual function in males with low energy, low libido, and erectile dysfunction. (7).
DHEA supplementation can be beneficial for (3A),(8),(9)
Here are the top ways in which DHEA can benefit your fertility.
As DHEA is a precursor hormone for androgen, it helps in improving the diminished ovarian reserve by increasing the number of ovarian follicles and mature eggs. This will benefit women who have age-related fertility issues
This also benefits the women who undergo IVF for more egg retrieval as DHEA plays a role in ovarian stimuli to increase egg production (6B).
The egg quality depends on the number of chromosomes it is having. Poor-quality eggs show abnormal numbers of chromosomes. DHEA supplementation can play a role in the formation of chromosomes without abnormality thereby increasing the quality of eggs (10).
DHEA plays a role in the formation of embryos and their division. Thus increasing the quality of embryos can lead to desired outcomes in women undergoing IVF and other reproductive assisted technologies.
Also, DHEA may assist in better implantation of embryos by increasing the endometrial thickness and blood flow to it which is important for better implantation and embryos to grow further.
DHEA can improve several sexual dysfunctions such as vaginal atrophy, sexual interest, dryness of the vagina, and sexual frequency, especially in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.
PCOS, age-related and stress-related hormone imbalance, and menstrual cycle issues can be controlled using DHEA as it is a precursor for androgens that regulate overall hormonal health in women (11).
As DHEA is a precursor of testosterone, DEA supplementation can obviously improve testosterone levels that help in erectile dysfunction (11).
DHEA may have side effects due to its hormonal nature. Always consulting the doctor and discussing the side effects is important.
Your healthcare practitioner will set the dose of DHEA depending on your gender, age, blood levels of DHEA, and your health conditions. The general recommended DHEA dosage for fertility is 25 mg thrice daily. Obese women may increase their daily intake to about 100 mg (12).
Always take DHEA under the supervision of doctors as it may have direct hormonal effects on the body. Whether to take DHEA long-term use or short-term depends on your condition and the outcome you are looking for.
You may take DHEA in the morning to be in sync with the natural system as the body also makes DHEA during this time.
DHEA can be taken orally and is available in different forms such as
DHEA supplements for fertility can help women with age-related infertility and women having premature ovarian aging. Most IVF doctors find it challenging when there is no or less scope for egg retrieval for IVF to be successful. Using DHEA supplementation upon doctors’ advice can help many women facing unsuccessful IVF by increasing the number of eggs for retrieval and the quality of eggs which in turn increases the chances of pregnancy and minimizes the miscarriage rates. Always follow up with a doctor while using DHEA.
Studies say a minimum of two months of DHEA supplementation is required before retrieving the eggs for IVF. Over a period of four to five months supplementation is required to show its maximum efficacy.
If you conceive while using DHEA, your health care professional may ask you to stop the supplementation after your second positive pregnancy test.
References:
Her experience in impactful writing combined with her background in Home Sciences makes Aparna the perfect candidate for content writing in the pregnancy and parenting niche.Read more.
Can Chlamydia Cause Infertility in Men and Women?
Meditation For Getting Pregnant – Does it Help, Types and Tips
Can Assisted Hatching Improve IVF Success?
AMH Testing For Ovarian Reserve – How Does it Help and How is it Done
Diagnostic Tests For Male Infertility – When to Consider, Tips and List of Tests
Best Diet For Female Fertility – Everything You Need to Know
Get regular updates, great recommendations and other right stuff at the right time.