|
DHEA Treatment for Infertility
By Robyn
Nazar, RN BSN
The use of DHEA treatment is an emerging development
in the treatment of infertility for women. Studies are
showing significant results in improving pregnancy rates
in women with premature ovarian failure, advanced maternal
age, and diminished ovarian reserves. Treatment programs
are beginning to surface and their great success is
pioneering the way to make DHEA a standard treatment
practice for infertility.
What is DHEA?
DHEA is an abbreviation for dehydroepiandrosterone,
a natural steroid hormone produced abundantly by the
adrenal gland. Circulating DHEA is converted by the
body into testosterone. It is available in an over-the-counter
supplement form has been studied for its effects on
the female reproductive system as well as cognitive
function, mood, longevity, lupus, menopause, muscle
growth and osteoporosis. Although available over the
counter, DHEA treatment should be carefully monitored
by a physician. Inappropriate DHEA use can halt ovulation,
alter one’s menstrual cycle and cause undesirable
side effects including excessive hair growth and acne.
| How does DHEA relate to
infertility?
Every woman is born with a finite number of eggs
available for reproductive potential. As a woman
ages her supply, or reserve, of eggs slowly decreases.
Typically, by age 35 a woman’s reserve begins
to drop dramatically. When the egg supply becomes
very low, it is called diminished
ovarian reserves (DOR). DOR is one of the
most common causes of infertility in women over
the age of 35. However, in some cases women under
35 may experience premature diminished ovarian
reserves. One notable cause of DOR is decreased
DHEA levels. Aging, stress, genetics and other
lifestyle factors can negatively affect the production
of DHEA, thus resulting in impaired reproductive
system.
|
|
Get more information
about...
|
Positive Effects Of DHEA Supplementation on
Fertility
A study published by Tel
Aviv University in 2010 showed that women who received
DHEA supplements were three times more likely to become
pregnant than those who did not. The women in the study
who were given DHEA had a pregnancy success rate of
23% as opposed to the control group success rate of
4%.They also discovered that of those who go pregnant
in both groups, the DHEA group had significantly healthier
pregnancies and deliveries.
The
Center for Human Reproduction in New York has also
released several studies on DHEA. Their findings have
shown that DHEA significantly improves ovarian reserves
as well as reduces miscarriage rates in DOR patients.
Here are some of the positive fertility effects of DHEA
treatment that this infertility center has reported:
- Increases egg and embryo counts
- Improves egg and embryo quality
- Decreases amount of time to achieve pregnancy in
fertility treatment
- Increases spontaneous pregnancy rates
- Improves IVF
pregnancy rates
- Decreases miscarriage rates
- Decreases rates of chromosomally abnormal embryos
Although the research still remains preliminary, these
findings hold great promise for the future of infertility.
DHEA supplementation should not be used as a fertility
treatment without the supervision of infertility physicians
experienced in DHEA treatment programs.
Get more information about:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
