Update on the use of dehydroepiandrosterone supplementation among women with diminished ovarian function

Abstract

Objective: We assessed the role of DHEA supplementation on pregnancy rates in women with diminished ovarian function.

Design: This is a case control study of 190 women with diminished ovarian function. The study group includes 89 patients who used supplementation with 75 mg daily of oral, micronized DHEA for up to 4 months prior to entry into in vitro fertilization (IVF). The control group is composed of 101 couples who received infertility treatment, but did not use DHEA. The primary outcome was clinical pregnancy after the patient's initial visit. We developed a Cox proportional hazards model to compare the proportional hazards of pregnancy among women using DHEA with the controls group.

Results: Cumulative clinical pregnancy rates were significantly higher in the study group (25 pregnancies; 28.4% vs. 11 pregnancies; 11.9%; relative hazard of pregnancy in study group (HR 3.8; 95% CI 1.2-11.8; p < 0.05).

Conclusions: DHEA treatment resulted in significantly higher cumulative pregnancy rates. These data support a beneficial effect of DHEA supplementation among women with diminished ovarian function.

Figures

Fig. 1

Cumulative pregnancy rate based on Cox regression of time from initial visit to clinical pregnancy or censor by DHEA use stratified by ovarian reserve and adjusted for ART treatment, race/ethnicity, age and baseline FSH (HR 3.8; 95% CI 1.2–11.8; p < 0.05)