title: Clinical application of dehydroepiandrosterone in reproduction: A review of the evidence.
abstract: The effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) therapy on improvement of reproduction outcome is uncertain. Many earlier studies have shown conflicting results. Therefore, a review of the literature is needed to explore the role of DHEA in reproduction. We conducted a literature search of MEDLINE (Ovid) and Pub-Med (2000-June 2014) for all relevant articles that included the terms "dehydroepiandrosterone," "DHEA," and "in vitro fertilization." Among the search-identified articles, seven prospective self-controlled studies and four retrospective case-control studies showed DHEA as an adjuvant therapy able to improve in vitro fertilization outcomes in poor responders (women with diminished ovarian reserve and/or poor ovarian response). However, four randomized controlled trials did not support the benefit of DHEA therapy for poor responders. By contrast, one prospective randomized study showed that DHEA might be beneficial to reproduction in women without diminished ovarian reserve (normal responders). In summary, a review of the previously published studies does not provide clear evidence that DHEA can be a useful treatment to improve ovarian function in poor responders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Su-Ao and Yuanshan Branch, Yilan, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Biological Science, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Li-Te
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Biological Science, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Pharmacy and Graduate Institute of Pharmaceutical Technology, Tajen University, Pingtung County, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Kuan-Hao
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tsui
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Division of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Immunology Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: phwang@vghtpe.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Peng-Hui
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D010053:Ovary / Q000502:physiology; D016649:Primary Ovarian Insufficiency / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone
keywords: dehydroepiandrosterone; diminished ovarian reserve; poor responders; reproduction