Androgens (dehydroepiandrosterone or testosterone) for women undergoing assisted reproduction
Naik S, Lepine S, Nagels HE, Siristatidis CS, Kroon B, McDowell S
Published in Cochrane Database Syst Rev, Vol. 6 (6), pp. CD009749
Methodology
Cochrane systematic review of 28 randomised trials (1,533 women given an androgen, 1,469 controls) of DHEA or testosterone before or during assisted reproduction, mostly in poor responders to IVF. Certainty rated with GRADE.
Key Findings
DHEA versus placebo or no treatment likely made little to no difference to live birth or ongoing pregnancy (OR 1.30, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.76; 9 RCTs, 1,433 women; moderate certainty) or clinical pregnancy (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.49; 13 RCTs), and likely did not reduce miscarriage. Testosterone pre-treatment likely improved live birth (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.61 to 3.99).
Conclusions
Pre-treatment with DHEA likely results in little to no difference in live birth and clinical pregnancy rates in poor responders undergoing IVF; testosterone likely improves them.
Limitations
Many included trials were unblinded and poorly reported, with small samples; adverse events were sparsely reported.
Supplements Studied
DHEA likely results in little to no difference in live birth/ongoing pregnancy rates
Outcomes Measured
DHEA likely results in little to no difference in live birth/ongoing pregnancy rates
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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