Ask Our Doctors – Archive
Our Medical Directors are outstanding physicians that you will find to be very personable and compassionate, who take care to ensure that you have the most cutting-edge fertility treatments at your disposal. This is your outlet to ask your questions to the doctors.
Hi Dr Sher, I’m 48 no children and attempted my 1st IVF cycle in August. 17 eggs were collected but only 2 made it to day 3 and they were transferred unsuccessfully. I recently read introducing DHEA into the body 3 months prior to IVF and then triggering and retrieving earlier smaller follicles is a more successful approach for women in advanced age. I would like to know given my age would such a protocol that is more individualised be worth considering.
Hi Harriet,
In my opinion, IVF using own eggs at 48y, is really an exercise in futility. You need egg donation.
Sorry!
Geoff Sher
900-780-7437
ADDENDUM:
Potential Downsides of DHEA Supplementation in Preparing for IVF: Why take the Risk?
Geoffrey Sher MD
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), is steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands and ovary. It is involved in producing the male hormones, androstenedione testosterone and also estrogen. DHEA blood levels tend to decline naturally with age.
Under the effect if luteinizing hormone (LH), DHEA is metabolized to testosterone in ovarian connective tissue (theca/stroma). Thereupon the testosterone is transported to the granulosa cells that form the innermost layer of the ovarian follicles where, under the influence of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-induced desmolase and aromatase enzymatic activity the testosterone is converted to estradiol. As this happens, granulosa cells multiply, follicle fluid volume increases along with estrogen output and egg development is promoted.
It is recognition of the essential/indispensable role that male hormones (mainly testosterone) play in follicle and egg development that prompted the belief that by giving DHEA and boosting ovarian testosterone production might benefit follicle/egg development. This belief was given some credence by an Israeli study that in 2010 reported on improved fertility when a group of infertile women were given the administration of 75mg of oral DHEA for 5 months. However, this study was seriously flawed by the fact that it did not separate out women who had diminished ovarian reserve, older women and those with PCOS, all of whom have increased LH-induced production of testosterone. In fact, we recently completed a study (currently being processed for publication) where we conclusively showed that when follicular fluid testosterone levels exceeded a certain threshold, egg quality was seriously prejudiced as evidenced by a marked increase in the incidence of egg chromosomal defects (aneuploidy).
Consider the following: Ovarian testosterone is needed for follicular development. However, the amount required is small. Too much ovarian testosterone spills over into the follicular fluid and has a deleterious effect on egg/follicle development. Some women (women with diminished ovarian reserve –DOR, older women and those with polycystic ovarian syndrome-PCOS) who tend to have increased LH biological activity, already over-produce testosterone. To such women, the administration of DHEA to such women, by “adding fuel to the fire” can be decidedly prejudicial, in my opinion. Young women with normal ovarian reserve do not over produce LH-induced ovarian testosterone, and are thus probably not at significant risk from DHEA supplementation. It is noteworthy that to date, none of the studies that suggest a benefit from DHEA therapy have differentiated between young healthy normal women with normal ovarian reserve on the one hand and older women, those with DOR and women with PCOS on the other hand.
In Some countries DHEA treatment requires a medical prescription and medical supervision. Not so in the U.S.A where it can be bought over the counter. Since DHEA is involved in sex hormone production, including testosterone and estrogen, individuals with malignant conditions that may be hormone dependent (certain types of breast cancer or testicular cancer) should not receive DHEA supplementation. Also, if overdosed with DHEA some “sensitive women” might so increase their blood concentrations of testosterone that they develop increased aggressive tendencies or male characteristics such as hirsuites (increased hair growth) and a deepening voice. DHEA can also interact other medications, such as barbiturates, corticosteroids, insulin and with other oral diabetic medications.
BUT the strongest argument against the use of routine DHEA supplementation is the potential risk of compromising egg quality in certain categories of women and since there is presently no convincing evidence of any benefit, why take the risk in using it on anyone.
Finally, for those who in spite of the above, still feel compelled to take DHEA, the best advice I can give is to consult their health care providers before starting the process.
Addendum: One potential advantage of DHEA therapy if used appropriately came from a study conducted by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MI and reported in the November 2004 issue of the “Journal of the American Medical Association” which showed that judicious (selective) administration of 50mg DHEA daily for 6 months resulted in a significant reduction of abdominal fat and blood insulin in elderly women.
.
Hi Dr Shir, I have two C grade frozen embryo’s in storage ready to use. They have both been PGD Tested. Are C graded embryo’s less likely to take than an A or B grade?
Probably so!
Geoff Sher
Are Intralipid Infusions available for people who are able to get pregnant naturally but have lost 7 pregnancies?
Yes! However, I would not recommend its use until a definitive diagnosis of autoimmune versus alloimmune implantation dysfunction is diagnosed.
Geoff Sher
Hello, are you offering sclerotherapy treatment for endometrioma for ptswho are not interested in fertility option?
Im have excruciating pain and looking for other options that laparoscopic surgery
Thank you for your time
We should talk!
The precise mechanism by which ovarian endometrioma causes infertility is unknown. In women with ovarian endometriomas, infertility is potentially associated with a decreased oocyte retrieval rate, reduced oocyte quality and reduced embryo quality. I personally believe that it is local irritation caused by the cystic space occupying lesion within the ovary that irritates surrounding connective tissue increasing ovarian testosterone production which in turn permeates ovarian follicles resulting in compromised follicle and egg development in the affected ovary (ies)
Traditional surgical treatment of endometriomas involves gaining access to the ovary (ies) through an abdominal incision, or via laparoscopy, for drainage of the cyst contents and subsequent removal or ablation of the cyst wall. Unfortunately, in many cases, normal ovarian tissue is inadvertently removed along with the cyst wall, which may decrease the number of available oocytes for subsequent fertility treatment. A large percentage of such women have advanced stage disease and have had multiple previous surgeries. In the presence of pelvic adhesions, visualization of anatomic structures may be inadequate, leading to a higher incidence of cyst recurrence. This may further diminish the potential response to ovarian stimulation with gonadotropins. Additionally, women with advanced endometriosis are more likely to develop pelvic adhesions as well as an increased risk of surgical complications.
About 15 years ago I introduced sclerotherapy to treat women who had endometriomas and were preparing for IVF treatment. Sclerotherapy is an effective non-surgical treatment for endometriosis of the ovary. Ovarian sclerotherapy involves ultrasound-guided aspiration of endometrioma content followed by the introduction into the cyst cavity of a sclerosing agent such as 5% tetracycline hydrochloride (my preference), 95% ethanol or methotrexate either under local anesthesia or with the patient receiving conscious sedation. The sclerosing agent destroys the endometrium lining the inside of the endometrioma and prevents cyst recurrence. Sclerotherapy is much less invasive than laparoscopic surgery and takes approximately 20–30 min to perform. Unlike other treatment options, it will not damage healthy surrounding ovarian tissue and is thus also less likely to reduce ovarian reserve. Risks of sclerotherapy treatment are uncommon but they include infection, pain (due to leaking of the sclerosing agent into the pelvic cavity, internal bleeding, and recurrence in about 10% of cases. To prevent this, I infuse about 250cc of sterile normal saline solution into the pelvic cavity before performing sclerotherapy so that any leakage of the sclerosing agent into the pelvis will be diluted. Thereupon at the conclusion of the procedure, I aspirate the solution from the pelvis and with it , most of the potentially irritating sclerosing agent. In more than 70% of cases, treatment will result in disappearance of the lesion within 6 to 8 weeks. In 20% of cases, residual seroma develops within 6 weeks. Simple transvaginal drainage of the residual cyst will in most cases lead to permanent dissolution.
Ovarian sclerotherapy can be performed under local anesthesia or under general anesthesia. It has the advantage of being an ambulatory office-based procedure at a low cost, with a low incidence of significant post-procedural pain or complications, and the avoidance of the need for surgery.
Sclerotherapy is a safe and effective alternative to surgery. It is a definitive treatment, even for recurrent ovarian endometriomas, in properly selected patients planning to undergo IVF. Since the procedure is associated with a small, but realistic possibility of adhesion formation, it should only be used in cases where IVF is the only fertility treatment appropriate for a patient. Women who intend to try and conceive through natural conception or intrauterine insemination will be better off undergoing standard laparotomy or laparoscopy to treat their endometriomas.
If you are interested in my advice or medical services, I urge you to contact my patient concierge, ASAP to set up a Skype or an in-person consultation with me. You can also set this up by emailing concierge@sherivf.com or by calling 702-533-2691 and/or 800-780-743. You can also enroll for a consultation with me, online at http://www.SherIVF.com.
Also, my book, “In Vitro Fertilization, the ART of Making Babies” is available as a down-load through http://www.Amazon.com .
Geoffrey Sher MD
Dear Dr Sher,
Thanks for your answer could I ask why you do not prefer DHEA, Besides I would like to know if my DHEA is 55 and my AMH is 2.2 and my age is 36, should I take DHEA, Also some doctors diagnose me as endometriosis what about DHEA with endometriosis. Thanks again.