Anyone else have high DHEA levels?

[LaurenM.]

Good luck at your u/s today! Let us know how it goes for you.

 

[GeorgiaBelle]

LaurenM,

Hi! Unfortunately, the doctor's office neglected to call in the order to the radiology department, so I wasn't able to get the ultrasound done today. I'm scheduled now for Friday, June 29th at 8:30am.

I'll be sure to let you know how the procedure goes and the results as soon as I get them.

Thank you for thinking about me!

 

[mrs_camp]

When I was 20, I went to an endocronologist after my dermatologist found I had elevated DHEA levels from some bloodwork I had done. I saw the endocronologist for a few years and we tried several different things. My DHEA levels kept going up instead of down. And honestly, I don't think that I was taking the meds like I should have been so that could have been the reason. I had a CT scan and there was no evidence of PCOS. But I do remember him telling me that I could have trouble getting pregnant.

I am now 25 and TTC. Now, the only thing going through my mind is that I could have trouble getting pregnant. We have been trying for 7 months. I know they want you to wait a year before starting fertlilty treatment at your obgyn but I decided to go ahead andget my records from the endo and make an appointment with my OBGYN to see if there was anything I needed to be concerned about or if I needed to go ahead and start with meds.

I read through my endo records and I saw that as a diagnosis he used, a form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. I am seeing the OBGYN November 7th.

I feel like my friends and family think that I am crazy. They keep saying that it takes time to get pregnant. But my thing is, I am NOT going to OBGYN because I'm not pregnant yet. I am going because I am concerned something may be wrong because of what my endo told me. What do you all think?? Am I doing the right thing??

 

[JulieJxn13]

Hi, I have previously had trouble getting pregnant. I was diagnosed with PCOS and also was very heavy. we tried some different meds for a while, but then stopped and I decided I needed to get healthy first. I have always fought with my weight and could never get it under control so I ended up having a gastric bypass with great success. We are now back TTC again and I have a new Dr that seems to want to actually help us. We ran all my levels again since I had told her about the issues in the past, and also found that my DHEAs were high. Testosterone was finally normal as were my blood sugars. I guess with PCOS it messes up with proper ovulation so she told me to try the ovulation test strips (which I am using) and that if in 4-6 months we still aren't pregnant then we will try some medications like metformin again (I was in it before because of my blood sugars and to try to help with pregnancy) I have also been doing some research on vitamins that can help and am now taking omea 3 fish oils, Maca Energy daily. I've been trying to take chaste berry but it's really nasty and hard to keep myself from gaging forever. I have been trying to find out to lower my DHEAs and this is probably the most helpful page Ive found. Thank you for sharing your info, but it seems to have stopped.... have you had success with getting pregnant?????

 

[JulieJxn13]

I am kinda in the same boat. I'm 30 and since I was fighting with not getting pregnant before I'm all over going to the dr and a specialist, even though it's only been 2 months... so you're farther along in the trying process... and as far as your family... I get it... I think it's hard if they never had trouble with this....

 

[Whitbit22]

Hi :wave:

We did have success with getting pregnant on the Dexamethasone. I went off after 13 weeks of pregnancy. I haven't had my levels tested in two years and I havent taken anymore steroids either, and just found out we are expecting number 2. I have been taking flaxseed oil longterm.

Have you been monitoring any fertility signs such as cervical position or cervical mucus? In the end this is how I could always tell I was ovulating. Have you gotten any positive strips?
I would like to see if any of the other ladies have any updates in this thread as well.

 

[natty1980]

I need to thank you all so much for your posts. I'm 33 and am going through something similar to your stories. About 8 months ago I was told I had high blood pressure and my doctor took me off Yasmin and put me on Alesse due to risks with HBP and Yasmin. I went to the gym regularly and lowered my blood pressure, however I never got my period after being on Alesse. I was always like clockwork on Yasmin but I haven't got my period since. After 3 months of no period my doctor did some bloodwork and ruled out PCOS. All my levels were normal except for the elevated DHEAs. She told us to keep TTC as she said it could happen at any time. I have had an MRI, CT Scan, UltraSound to look for blockages in my pituitary and adrenal glands that could be causing my ammenorrhea and all results come back clear. I have an appointment with my endocronologist next week and I'm hoping to hear something that will kickstart my ovulation so we can become pregnant.

I have been ammenoric for 8 months now. Anyone experience this and had success in getting pregnant?

 

[Whitbit22]

Another thing we did was a major diet change. Cut out as much processed foods as possible, and eat whole fruits and vegetables, and lean meats. We also quit using harmful chemicals like laundry detergent and SLS containing soaps. We now use ECOS laundry soap (detergent free) and dr. Bronners pure castile soaps.

If you get a chance, get The Hormone Deception. This book was a huge eye opener for me and chemicals really can cause hormone disorders.

 

[kimneedsababy]

Hello everyone. I am Kim. Thank you so much whitbit22 for this thread as there is very less information about high dheas levels and steroids prescription for ovulation and pregnancy. I was diagoned with pcos since I was 27( now 30). My dheas levels were also elevated but was on metaformin on and off. I recently met an RE who suggested a cycle of clomid/iui. He also prescribed me dexamethasone 0.5 mg. Though I wasn't sure earlier but this thread def. shows that it ain't uncommon. I have one question. Did you take dexamethasone and tried to be pregnant at the same time or were you on that pill for some time, retested your dheas levels and then tried to conceive. You see my doc has suggested a cycle of clomid right away and I am not sure if I should wait for my dheas levels to get normal. Also Gabrielle, you did mention your Re prescribed clomid and dexamethasone together just like mine. Did you start with clomid around the same time as dexamethasone too.
Any advice is appreciated.

thanks
K.

 

[Califog]

Hello! I learned that I had an imbalance at 15, I have taken birth control as a solution. Except for a brief stint in college when I stopped taking the pill and paid the price for doing so. At that time I learned that I had high DHEA.

We have started to discuss trying to have a baby, I'm 35 and still on the pill. My obgyn says I should try the minute I get off the pill. But doesn't the pill stay in your system and needs time to leave your body in order to even get pregnant? I'm sure I'll just have to take dexa...stuff, but just curious about anyone else's transition from the pill, how quickly the levels got out of control again?

Luckily, the levels were never through the roof but I had some serious issues whenever I was not on the pill.

 

[Amyc2331]

Before we conceived we knew I had a hormonal imbalance, but the doc wasnt quite sure (and still isnt) what it was. I have raised levels of DHEA and sometimes testosterone (it varies every test). And no, I don't have PCOS. The next step was a scan of my adrenal glands to rule out tumors, but I got pregnant so that was out. Then we were going to do some dexamethasone to try to bring the levels down. Well the pregnancy failed and I had my levels tested again about 4 days before the miscarriage, and they came back higher than ever in the 500s range. I think the upper 200s are normal.

I'm just looking for anyone else who may have the same problem, and if so what was the treatment? I have been scouring the internet and have found that DHEA levels can contribute to miscarriage. Also the treatment of steroids shouldnt be taken in pregnancy, but have been used successfully where the benefits outweighed the risks. So I am really anxious to get the medicine so we can begin again, but I'm just not finding much info. Any help is appreciated.

I know this is almost a decade old but if the OP sees this can you please send me a message!!!!