Pregnancy in a lady with premature ovarian failure following dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) treatment

Abstract

Poor responders are real challenges for infertility physicians, as they produce lesser numbers of oocytes after ovulation stimulation. Fertility begins to decline after 30 years of age in women. Hence, in elderly women, diminution of ovarian reserve is a reality. Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) may be found in young women as well. Ovarian reserve test (ORT) are many, but among them, estimation of follicle-stimulating Hormone (FSH), antral follicle count (AFC) by ultrasound, and estimation of anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH) are far more standardized. In recent years, one of the androgens called dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) has been tried to elevate ovulatory response in DOR patients. DHEA mostly brings the sleeping follicular pool to functional pool and prevents apoptosis of many follicles, thereby, promoting ovulatory response of ovaries with diminished ovarian functions. One such case with premature ovarian failure (POF) has been presented here, who conceived after DHEA treatment. Though escape ovulation can happen in postmenopausal patients, here the lady conceived with DHEA treatment 7 years after achieving premature menopause, during which she suffered from complete secondary amenorrhea.