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 Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth – What the Science Says About Complementary Approaches for Menopause Symptoms: Natural Products – DHEA the (United States) National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) elaborate on:

“DHEA production decreases as people grow older, but the significance of this change, including whether it affects aging and menopause symptoms, is unclear”.5

In DHEA: Evidence the Mayo Clinic also note:

  • “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”.6

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and DHEA?

In Hormone Therapy Help Desk: ET, EPT, and More the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) explain:

“Androgens – – Often called “male hormones,” androgens are also produced in the female body as testosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), among others, but in much lower quantities than in men. Insufficient androgen levels at any age are thought to contribute to fatigue, mood changes, and lowered sex drive. There is no dramatic change in androgen levels at menopause; androgen production seems to be affected more by aging, although women who have their ovaries removed (surgical menopause) sometimes experience a sharper drop in their levels of testosterone. Interestingly, testosterone has been found to increase again in older women”.7

Menopause Symptoms

How effective is DHEA for the treatment of menopause symptoms?

The NCCIH note:

  • “It’s uncertain whether DHEA is useful in treating menopause symptoms”.8

Vaginal Atrophy

How effective is DHEA for the treatment of vaginal atrophy?

In DHEA: Evidence the Mayo Clinic note:

  • “Vaginal atrophy. Limited research suggests that DHEA might improve vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women”.9

On page two in Vaginal Dryness: Treatment Options – Other Prescription Therapies the NAMS explain:

  • “Dehydroepiandrasterone (DHEA; Prasterone) is a hormone-containing insert placed in the vagina nightly that reduces vaginal dryness and discomfort with sexual activity”.10

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”.11

Dietary Supplement

Is DHEA available as a dietary supplement?

DotC (Depending on the Country) DHEA may be available as a dietary supplement. In Healthy Aging: In-Depth – DHEA: Evidence for Anti-Aging Claims Is Weak – What Is DHEA? the (United States) Mayo Clinic explain:

DHEA“Manufactured versions of DHEA are available as a tablet, capsule and powder, as well as in creams and gels placed on the skin. DHEA is sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. Studies have shown quality control of the supplement to often be low”.12

Safe or Not

Are DHEA supplements safe?

According to the NCCIH:

  • “The long-term safety of taking DHEA supplements is unknown. Some evidence suggests that even short-term use of these supplements may have harmful effects, including liver damage”.13

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

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:

“If you’re considering taking DHEA, get the facts. Research doesn’t necessarily support the supplement’s anti-aging claims”.14

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics 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
  4. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  5. Consumer Health: Treating Vaginal Dryness After Menopause
  6. DHEA
  7. DHEA
  8. DHEA: Safety and Side Effects
  9. Dehydroepiandrosterone
  10. Dehydroepiandrosterone for Women In the Peri- or Postmenopausal Phase
  11. Dietary Supplements
  12. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
  13. How Do I Deal With Vaginal Atrophy? — Ask Dr Jean
  14. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause: Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  15. Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements
  16. Is It Really ‘FDA Approved?’
  17. 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
  18. Lack of Evidence Supporting DHEA for Improved Overall Health for Women
  19. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  20. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Sexual Wellbeing and Intimacy During and After Menopause [+ Video: Menopause Is the End of Your Sex Life]
  21. Libido
  22. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [Video]
  23. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Dietary Supplements Useful In Some Situations, But Also Can Be Harmful
  24. Menopause
  25. Menopause
  26. Menopause
  27. Menopause & Herbs
  28. Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause
  29. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  30. Menopause Patient Information: 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  31. Menopause Patient Information: 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause [Video]
  32. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  33. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  34. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: What Is Menopause?
  35. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  36. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  37. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  38. Menopause, Wellbeing and Health: A Care Pathway From the European Menopause and Andropause Society
  39. Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health
  40. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  41. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 5 Tips: What Consumers Need To Know About Dietary Supplements
  42. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Are You Considering A Complementary Health Approach?
  43. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Dietary and Herbal Supplements
  44. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  45. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  46. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth: What the Science Says About Complementary Health Approaches for Menopausal Symptoms – Natural Products: DHEA
  47. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  48. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Safe Use of Complementary Health Products and Practices
  49. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  50. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Tips on Complementary Health Practices
  51. Natural Remedies To Help Manage Perimenopause Symptoms
  52. Natural Therapies & Supplements
  53. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  54. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  55. Prescribing Testosterone and DHEA: The Role of Androgens In Women
  56. Safety of Natural Therapies
  57. Supplementation of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) In Pre-and Postmenopausal Women – Position Statement of Expert Panel of Polish Menopause and Andropause Society
  58. Supplements for Menopause Symptoms: Are They Safe?
  59. Testosterone Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  60. The 2020 Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  61. The Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause: An Overview of the Recent Data
  62. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  63. Urogenital Atrophy Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  64. Urogenital Problems: Vaginal Atrophy: Vaginal Dryness, Soreness and Painful Sex
  65. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  66. Vaginal Atrophy
  67. Vaginal Dehydroepiandrosterone Compared To Other Methods of Treating Vaginal and Vulvar Atrophy Associated With Menopause
  68. Vaginal Dryness
  69. Vaginal Dryness
  70. Vaginal Dryness
  71. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It?
  72. 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?
  73. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  74. Vaginal Dryness: Treatment Options – Other Prescription Therapies – Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
  75. Video Series-2021: Treatment Options for Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Issues
  76. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  77. Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
  78. Video Series-2023
  79. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Bone Health
  80. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Bone Health What Why and How
  81. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Is Testosterone the Answer To Low Libido?
  82. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
  83. Webinars: Previous – Osteoporosis for Midlife Women and Beyond
  84. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
  85. Wild Yam
  86. Women’s Wellness: Painful Sex After Menopause – DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am in my late 50s and have recently found that sex is becoming quite uncomfortable. I am assuming this is because I’m past menopause, but what’s the best way to make sex less painful?
  87. Your Sexual Health

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: 06 April 2023
  2. Dehydroepiandrosterone: What Is Dehydroepiandrosterone? Last Reviewed: June 2020. You and Your Hormones https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/dehydroepiandrosterone/ Accessed: 06 April 2023
  3. Dehydroepiandrosterone: What Is Dehydroepiandrosterone? Last Reviewed: June 2020. You and Your Hormones https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/dehydroepiandrosterone/ Accessed: 06 April 2023
  4. Dehydroepiandrosterone: What happens If I Have Too Little Dehydroepiandrosterone? Last Reviewed: June 2022. You and Your Hormones https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/dehydroepiandrosterone/ Accessed: 06 April 2023
  5. Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth – What the Science Says About Complementary Approaches for Menopause Symptoms: Natural Products – DHEA. Last Updated: May 2017. National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/menopausal-symptoms-in-depth Accessed: 06 April 2023
  6. DHEA: Evidence. 12 February 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 06 April 2023
  7. Hormone Therapy Help Desk: ET, EPT, and More. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/hormone-help-desk-et-ept-and-more Accessed: 06 April 2023
  8. Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth – What the Science Says About Complementary Approaches for Menopause Symptoms: Natural Products – DHEA. Last Updated: May 2017. National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/menopausal-symptoms-in-depth Accessed: 06 April 2023
  9. DHEA: Evidence. 12 February 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 06 April 2023
  10. Vaginal Dryness: Treatment Options – Other Prescription Therapies. 2022:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/for-women/mn-vaginal-dryness.pdf Accessed: 06 April 2023
  11. Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth – What the Science Says About Complementary Approaches for Menopause Symptoms: Natural Products – DHEA. Last Updated: May 2017. National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/menopausal-symptoms-in-depth Accessed: 06 April 2023
  12. DHEA: How Effective Is It? Last Reviewed: 02 April 2022. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/331.html Accessed: 06 April 2023
  13. Menopausal Symptoms: In Depth – What the Science Says About Complementary Approaches for Menopause Symptoms: Natural Products – DHEA. Last Updated: May 2017. National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/menopausal-symptoms-in-depth Accessed: 06 April 2023
  14. DHEA: Evidence. 12 February 2021. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 06 April 2023
Topic Last Updated: 06 April 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 06 April 2023

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