In our Centre we operate a special department for the treatment of women with Premature ovarian failure (POF), which is premature menopause. Also women with premature ovarian ageing (POA) and diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) may benefit from this department.
Premature ovarian failure
Following innovative and persistent studies we applied the administration of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in order to decrease the FSH in women with POF. These are women younger than 40 years of age, with no periods and FSH levels higher than 40 – 130mIU/ml. DHEA is a natural pre-hormone that is available in the market as a nutrition supplement.
The first encouraging results of the DHEA therapy were published by us in the scientific medical journal Fertility and Sterility (2009) of the American society of reproductive medicine (ASRM). Following the publication other ART Centres started using DHEA, which is an honour for us, as more women with high FSH may be aided.
Premature ovarian ageing
We also applied the DHEA therapy in women with premature ovarian ageing (POA), who are 35 – 46 years of age with FSH levels 12 – 40mIU/ml and were responding poorly in high doses of hormonal stimulation. These women may benefit from the DHEA treatment combined with milder ovarian stimulation protocols.
Diminished ovarian reserve
Finally, DHEA therapy was applied in women with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR), who have natural FSH levels but a small number of poor quality oocytes, even when high hormonal stimulation protocols are used. A high number of women with DOR may be aided with personalised mild ovarian stimulation protocols combined with DHEA administration.
Our latest results have been published in the medical journal Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology (August 2009).