? about DHEA-s comprehension

dnf · 12-18-2002, 02:02 PM

I'm rather new to this all, so please excuse this post if it doesn't make much sense.

Elevated DHEA-S can be a produced from EITHER ovary or adrenal system. If it's produced by adrenal system, then you don't have PCOS. If by the ovaries, you have PCOS. Correct? Am I understanding this concept or did I get it wrong?

Is the typical treatment plan for elevated DHEA-S, the same as elevated Testosterone? Both of mine are levels are elevated and I had the suppression test already and will be speaking with my doctor soon. I'm just trying to get a handle on this concept and prepare for our upcoming conversation as best as I can.

Thanks!
dnf

janslem · 12-18-2002, 02:13 PM

HI i have high DHEA also and I still dont quite understand it! I dont understand all that doc talk. They prescibed me 0.05 mg dexamethasone to take days 1- 20 of myt cylce. Althought since i didnt really understand the med and the problem i have not taken it. I have posted on multiple boards to get some advise from others and no one has responded to me so i was scared. My RE told me that i could possibly be fertile after the first 3 weeks of taking it. That really makes me want to take it but it is a steriod and they really scare me. Do you know what your level was?? Please feel free to email me @ janslem@yahoo.com if you wanat to chat. Maybe we can research this together and get more info and understanding on it.

Thanks Janslem

Maureen77 · 12-21-2002, 05:51 AM

Trust me, it makes sense to be confused

As far as I understand it - if the only thing that is elevated are your adrenal hormones, then it points away from PCOS and towards an adrenal disorder. Testosterone is also made in the adrenal glands by the way.

With PCOS, testosterone, as well as the adrenal hormones, insulin and LH all may be elevated, so I guess that all your tests may need to be evaluated together.

In sum, high DHEA does not mean you don't have PCOS. Insulin does effect the adrenal glands too I believe, but it would make sense to rule out an adrenal problem.

indiana_troll · 12-21-2002, 12:44 PM

I have PCOS. My testosterone is normal. Insulin is normal. But my DHEA level is extremely high. That is also thanks to PCOS. You don't have to have everything elevated to have PCOS.
Patty

misty23 · 12-21-2002, 03:20 PM

I am glad I am not the only one who doesn't understand all of this. First off, I did the dexamethasone for 5 months. It lowered my levels. So I decided that I wanted to do one round of clomid and BOOM, I am PG and going strong. SO, it really did help me to get Pg and keep it this time. My fertility dr. said that women who have high dheas, coming from the adrenal gland, if they get PG, could lose the pregnancy in MC because of the level. She thinks this is why I MC before. Second, Mine is coming from my adrenal gland, from what I understood from my dr. I didnt have pcos until my adrenal gland was out of control for so long. I have read some other things about this. I guess having an adrenal gland disorder, not always something as serious as locah or cah, can show the same EXACT symptoms of PCOS. SO now I don't know weither I do have pcos, or if it was just a adrenal issues and will all go away now that my levels are normal. I guess I will be retested after I have this baby! Good luck with your quests ladies! Oh, and what were you levels?? for DHEAS?
Misty

Erin31CA · 12-22-2002, 05:56 AM

Hey...I can't explain how the DHEAS values are interpretted, but I did want to mention that DHEA and DHEAS are not the same thing. Testing your DHEA is not useful for PCOS diagnosis, but DHEAS is.

I only know this because when I was diagnosed, my gynocologist had ordered a DHEA test and said I didn't have PCOS. Then, after I insisted on seeing an endocrinologist, she looked at my blood work and said they had ordered the wrong test, and needed to order a DHEAS test, instead. She's the one who diagnosed me with PCOS, actually.

misty23 · 12-22-2002, 12:49 PM

When they test me, they actually do both. Dhea, and dheas. Now both are completetly normal though. And really, I don't know how it would explain pcos because not very many women who have PCOS have an elevated level coming from the adrenal glad. Some do, but a LOT don't!
Take care all
Misty

Pink Nails · 10-19-2009, 04:25 PM

I realize this is a very old post but I was interested in your answer. I have high DHEA too which may have caused PCOS. I see you have two lovely daughters! Which you said dex helped. Do you think the dex fixed the hormones? Did they stay fixed after pregnancy?

One endo said I might have LOCAH but I doubt it because I just don't seem to have any of the classic signs of such a serious disorder. My theory is that I caused the excess adrenal hormones by too much stress in my life. I have been on the pill which helped me but now I want to get pregnant and hopefully avoid a MC (especially since my husband has poor sperm morphology and we maybe don't have as many chances as normal couples).

Please advise me on what you think about dex, if you ever had to go on it again and how you hormomes have reacted since then. I would appreciate any insight as I think we are a more unique population of women in the pcos field.