title: No evidence to support the concept that low serum dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sulfate (s) levels are associated with less oocyte production or lower pregnancy rates.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if in a population of women with diminished oocyte reserve as evidenced by day 3 serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels > 12 mIU/ml women with lower dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-s) levels produce fewer oocytes or have lower pregnancy rates following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) compared to women with higher levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  The women were divided into poor responders (producing < or = 4 oocytes) following oocyte retrieval or good responders (> or = 5 oocytes). Mean DHEA-s levels were compared in poor vs good responders and in the subgroups of those who conceived vs those who did not conceive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The data clearly showed no association with low DHEA-s levels and response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation or pregnancy rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In women with elevated serum FSH low DHEA levels do not suggest that supplementation with DHEA would improve response or pregnancy rate. These data do not preclude the possibility that there is a small subset of women with normal oocyte reserve who also fail to respond to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for some unknown reason and the problem could be remediable by DHEA supplementation.
authors: The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, NJ, USA. laurie@ccivf.com
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Borman
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Check
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Mitchell-Williams
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Cohen
mesh_terms: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone