DHEA

“In women, dehydroepiandrosterone is an important source
of oestrogens in the body – it provides about 75%
of oestrogens before the menopause, and 100%…”.1

Umbrella

What may the DHEA Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
  • Prasterone
  • Synthetic Versions – Fidelin, Fluasterone, Prastera and Prasterone

Definition

What is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)?

DotS the definition of DHEA may vary. In Dehydroepiandrosterone: What Is Dehydroepiandrosterone? the (United States) You and Your Hormones, an education resource from the Society for Endocrinology’s (NCCIH), definition is:

“Dehydroepiandrosterone is a precursor hormone, which means it has little biological effect on its own, but has powerful effects when converted into other hormones such as testosterone and oestradiol”.2

Oestrogen

What is the association between DHEA and oestrogen?

In Dehydroepiandrosterone: What Is Dehydroepiandrosterone? You and Your Hormones explain:

“In women, dehydroepiandrosterone is an important source of oestrogens in the body – it provides about 75% of oestrogens before the menopause, and 100% of oestrogens in the body after menopause”.3

Women

What is the association between DHEA and women?

In Dehydroepiandrosterone: What happens If I Have Too Little Dehydroepiandrosterone? You and Your Hormones note:

“In women, low levels of dehydroepiandrosterone are associated with low libido, reduced bone mineral density and osteoporosis. However, supplementation with commercially available dehydroepiandrosterone is not recommended as there is concern about numerous possible side-effects”.4

Aging

Is there an association between aging and DHEA?

In DHEA: What the Research Says, dated 20 March 2025, the (United States) Mayo Clinic note:

“Research on DHEA for specific conditions includes:

  • Aging. In theory, taking DHEA supplements to maintain DHEA levels could slow the aging process, possibly improving well-being, cognitive function and body composition. But so far research hasn’t proved this to be true. More studies are needed to better understand whether DHEA supplementation can counteract some of the effects of aging. A small study suggested that taking DHEA supplements might improve skin hydration and firmness, and decrease aging spots in elderly adults”.5

Vaginal Atrophy

How effective is DHEA for the treatment of vaginal atrophy?

In DHEA: What the Research Says the Mayo Clinic also note:

  • “Vaginal atrophy. Limited research suggests that DHEA might improve vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women”.6

On page two in Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Vaginal Hormone Therapy the Menopause Society (formerly the North American Menopause Society) includes:

  • “Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA; prasterone) is a hormone-containing insert placed in the vagina nightly that reduces vaginal dryness or pain with sexual activity”.7

In DHEA: How Effective Is It? the (United States) MedlinePlus note the effectiveness rating is:

“Likely Effective for…

  • Thinning of vaginal tissue (vaginal atrophy). Using vaginal inserts containing DHEA can reduce pain during sex by up to 15% after menopause. A prescription DHEA product is available for this condition”.8

Postmenopausal Sexual Dysfunction

How effective is DHEA for the treatment of postmenopausal sexual dysfunction?

In The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Considerations for All Women At Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy, published online 30 October 2023, the authors explain:

“With respect to androgen therapy, the Global Consensus Position Statement advises the following:

  • Oral DHEA is not effective for the treatment of postmenopausal sexual dysfunction. In addition, systemic DHEA has not been found to be clinically beneficial for the treatment or prevention of any other symptoms or conditions”.9

Dietary Supplement

Is DHEA available as a dietary supplement?

DotC (Depending on the Country) DHEA may be available as a dietary supplement. In DHEA: Overview the Mayo Clinic explain:

“A synthetic version of DHEA is available as a tablet, capsule, powder, topical cream and gel”.10

Safe or Not

Are DHEA supplements safe?

In DHEA: Safety and Side Effects the Mayo Clinic explain the safety and side effects of DHEA and elaborate on possible medication interactions.

In The Utilization of Dehydroepiandrosterone As A Sexual Hormone Precursor In Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: An Overview: 6. Conclusions, published online 29 December 2021, the authors elaborate on:

“By focusing on anti-aging properties of DHEA, it may be appealing to take DHEA during midlife or late life since this hormone is sold over the counter and on the internet. However, DHEA supplements for both premenopausal and postmenopausal women are not advised due to unknown long-term effects. DHEA is a precursor for many androgenic and estrogenic entities, and its metabolic pathways may differ between genders and among ages. The efficacy of DHEA has been studied in inadequate sample sizes, thus yielding inconsistent results in postmenopausal women. Therefore, large-scale randomized, controlled trials, with comparable dosages and adequate treatment durations are warranted to further understand the risks and benefits of DHEA, and draw reliable conclusions”.11

Health Care Provider

What if I choose to use DHEA supplements?

If you choose to use DHEA supplements it may be in your best interest to also choose to talk to your health care provider about this.

The Mayo Clinic note:

“While some research suggests that DHEA might be slightly helpful in treating depression and vaginal atrophy, there’s little evidence to support anti-aging claims. Also, DHEA use can cause serious side effects. Avoid using this supplement”.12

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to DHEA?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to DHEA?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. Adrenal Hormones: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
  2. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  3. BMS Statement on Testosterone [26 July 2024]
  4. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  5. BMS TV: Urogenital Atrophy
  6. Complementary Medicines and Therapies: Options for Menopausal Symptoms
  7. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  8. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  9. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2024 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Preparing for Your Menopause Healthcare Visit
  10. DHEA
  11. DHEA
  12. DHEA: Safety and Side Effects
  13. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  14. Dehydroepiandrosterone
  15. Dehydroepiandrosterone for Women In the Peri- or Postmenopausal Phase
  16. Dietary Supplements
  17. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens
  18. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens [Video]
  19. Experts Answer Your Menopause Questions In New Video
  20. FAQs: Your Sexual Health
  21. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
  22. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  23. Find An AMS Member [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  24. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  25. First Symptoms of Menopause
  26. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  27. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  28. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause
  29. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Vaginal Hormone Therapy – Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
  30. HRT Questions Answered
  31. Here’s What You Need To Know About Menopause [Video]
  32. How To Manage Menopausal Symptoms
  33. How To Talk To Your Doctor About Painful Sex
    DHEA
  34. Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements
  35. Is It Really ‘FDA Approved?’
  36. Joint Position Statement By the British Menopause Society, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Society for Endocrinology on Best Practice Recommendations for the Care of Women Experiencing the Menopause
  37. Lack of Evidence Supporting DHEA for Improved Overall Health for Women
  38. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms of Menopause [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP] [Other Languages and Formats]
  39. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing, Intimacy and Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life] [Other Languages and Formats]
  40. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Treating Menopause Symptoms [+ Video: Does the Menopause Happen Suddenly] [Other Languages and Formats]
  41. Lubricant Alternatives: What To Use and What To Avoid
  42. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [Video]
  43. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Dietary Supplements Useful In Some Situations, But Also Can Be Harmful
  44. Menopause
  45. Menopause
  46. Menopause
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  47. Menopause
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  48. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  49. Menopause Patient Information: 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  50. Menopause Patient Information: 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause [Video]
  51. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  52. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  53. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  54. Menopause: Identification and Management [NICE Guideline Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024]
    DHEA
  55. Menopause: Identification and Management: NICE Guideline [NG23] Published: 12 November 2015 Last Updated: 07 November 2024
  56. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  57. Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health
  58. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Dietary and Herbal Supplements
  59. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  60. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  61. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  62. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  63. National Women’s Health Week 2025 [11-17 May]: Navigating the Road to Menopause
    DHEA
  64. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  65. Natural Therapies
  66. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  67. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  68. Perimenopause and Menopause Checklist: Translated Checklists
  69. Perimenopause and Menopause Symptom Checklist
    DHEA
  70. Prescribing Testosterone and DHEA: The Role of Androgens In Women
  71. Prosayla Supported By ISSWSH [International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health]
  72. Safety of Natural Therapies
  73. Sex and Sexual Health
  74. Supplements: What Works, What Doesn’t and the Truth About Menowashing [08 June 2025]
  75. The Utilization of Dehydroepiandrosterone As A Sexual Hormone Precursor In Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: An Overview
  76. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  77. Top Menopause Questions Answered: Hormones, Bones, Sex & Sleep
  78. Treatments for Menopause
  79. Urogenital Problems
  80. Vaginal Atrophy
  81. Vaginal Dehydroepiandrosterone Compared To Other Methods of Treating Vaginal and Vulvar Atrophy Associated With Menopause
  82. Vaginal Dryness
  83. Vaginal Dryness
  84. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It? I’m postmenopausal and often have vaginal dryness, which makes intercourse painful. Is there anything I can do about it?
  85. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  86. Vaginal Dryness: What To Do About It
  87. Vaginal Oestrogen
  88. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Menopause and Hormone Therapy: Current Perspectives and Controversies [18 October 2024]
  89. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Preventing Bone Loss At Menopause
  90. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Is Testosterone the Answer To Low Libido?
  91. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
  92. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  93. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  94. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
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  96. What Is the Menopause?DHEA
  97. What Types of Vaginal Oestrogens Are There?
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  99. Wild Yam
  100. World Menopause Day 2024: Leaflet for Women [Multiply Languages]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Dehydroepiandrosterone: What Is Dehydroepiandrosterone? Last Reviewed: June 2020. You and Your Hormones https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/dehydroepiandrosterone/ Accessed: 29 July 2025
  2. Dehydroepiandrosterone: What Is Dehydroepiandrosterone? Last Reviewed: June 2020. You and Your Hormones https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/dehydroepiandrosterone/ Accessed: 29 July 2025
  3. Dehydroepiandrosterone: What Is Dehydroepiandrosterone? Last Reviewed: June 2020. You and Your Hormones https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/dehydroepiandrosterone/ Accessed: 29 July 2025
  4. Dehydroepiandrosterone: What happens If I Have Too Little Dehydroepiandrosterone? Last Reviewed: June 2020. You and Your Hormones https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/dehydroepiandrosterone/ Accessed: 29 July 2025
  5. DHEA: What the Research Says. 20 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 29 July 2025
  6. DHEA: What the Research Says. 20 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 29 July 2025
  7. Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: Vaginal Hormone Therapy. 2025:2. The Menopause Society https://menopause.org/wp-content/uploads/for-women/MenoNote-GSM.pdf Accessed: 29 July 2025
  8. DHEA: How Effective Is It? Last Reviewed: 05 July 2025. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/331.html Accessed: 29 July 2025
  9. Davis, S. R., Taylor, S., Hemachandra, C., Magraith, K., Ebeling, P. R., Jane, F., and Islam, R. M. The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause: Management – Considerations for All Women At Menopause: Menopausal Hormone Therapy. First Published Online: 30 October 2023 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13697137.2023.2258783 Accessed: 29 July 2025
  10. DHEA: Overview. 20 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 29 July 2025
  11. Tang, J., Chen, L-R., and Chen,K-H. The Utilization of Dehydroepiandrosterone As A Sexual Hormone Precursor In Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: An Overview: 6. Conclusions. Published Online: 29 December 2021 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8781653/ Accessed: 29 July 2025
  12. DHEA: Our Take – Avoid. 20 March 2025. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 29 July 2025
Topic Last Updated: 29 July 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 29 July 2025

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