DHEA

“DHEA production decreases as people grow older, but the significance of this change, including whether it affects aging and menopause symptoms, is unclear”.1

Umbrella
What may the DHEA Umbrella include?

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

  • Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
  • Prasterone

Definition

What is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)?

DotS the definition of DHEA may vary. The (United States) National Center for Complimentary and Integrative Health’s (NCCIH) definition is:

  • “Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a substance that’s naturally made in the body, where it’s converted into the hormones testosterone and estrogen”.2

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:

“A synthetic version of DHEA is available in pill form. It’s sold as a dietary supplement in the United States. Studies have shown quality control of this supplement to often be low”.3

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 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”.4

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 research hasn’t proved this to be true”.5

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and DHEA?

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

“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”.6

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”.7

The Mayo Clinic also note:

“Limited research suggests that DHEA might improve vaginal dryness in postmenopausal women and that the supplement might improve bone mineral density in elderly people with low DHEA. But improvements in bone density were small compared with those seen after treatment with approved osteoporosis medications. Research on the effects of DHEA on well-being and body composition has had mixed results, and most studies indicate no effect of DHEA on cognitive function or on muscle size or strength”.8

Vaginal Atrophy

How effective is DHEA for the treatment of vaginal atrophy?

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

  • “Dehydroepiandrasterone (DHEA) is a hormone-containing insert placed into the vagina nightly for the treatment of painful intercourse caused by vaginal atrophy. Although DHEA can be converted in the body to other hormones, including estrogen, blood levels of hormones do not appear to increase with vaginal use of low-dose DHEA”.9

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

“Likely Effective for…

  • Thinning of vaginal tissue (vaginal atrophy). The walls of the vagina can become thinner after menopause. This can cause pain during sex. Using vaginal inserts containing DHEA can reduce pain during sex by up to 15% in women after menopause. A prescription DHEA product is available for this condition”.10

Changes

In women, what changes may result from choosing to use DHEA?

In Anti-Aging Hormones: What Are the Risks of Taking DHEA Without A Doctor’s Advice? the (United States) Hormone Health Network (HHN) note:

DHEA
“In women, DHEA can cause change related to an increase in testosterone: irregular menstrual periods, increased facial hair, increased sweating, smaller breasts, and a deeper voice”.11

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”.12

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 HHN explain:

“Some side effects disappear when DHEA is stopped, but it is not yet clear if other side effects might be permanent. The FDA does not monitor the quality of DHEA supplements, so they may vary widely in terms of how much actual DHEA is in them. As with human growth hormone, DHEA supplements can be dangerous or ineffective”.13

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

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  1. Bone Talk: 35 Ways To Stay Bone Strong
  2. DHEA
  3. DHEA
  4. DHEA: Safety and Side Effects
  5. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
  6. Dehydroepiandrosterone for Women In the Peri- or Postmenopausal Phase
  7. Despite Effectiveness Women Remain Skeptical of Hormones At Menopause—What’s the Problem?
  8. Dietary Supplements
  9. Dietary Supplements: What You Need To Know
  10. Early Menopause: Experiences and Perspectives of Women and Health Practitioners – Women’s Profiles
  11. Everything You Wanted To Know About Painful Sex… But Were Too Embarrassed To Ask
  12. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
  13. FDA Approves Intrarosa for Postmenopausal Women Experiencing Pain During Sex [Food and Drug Administration, United States] [Generic Name: Prasterone]
  14. FDA Approves Intrarosa for Sexual Symptoms of Menopause
  15. Fact Sheets and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Resources – Vaginal Estrogen Therapy
  16. Healthy Aging: In-Depth – DHEA: Evidence for Anti-Aging Claims Is Weak
  17. Hormone Help Desk: ET, EPT, and More
  18. Information About Menopause [Multiply Languages] [Videos]
  19. Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements
  20. Intercourse Was Becoming Painful – Ask Dr Jean
  21. Is It Really ‘FDA Approved?’
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  23. Lifestyle and Behavioural Modifications for Menopausal Symptoms
  24. Managing Menopause: Don’t Let Symptoms of Menopause Reduce Your Quality of Life
  25. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Dietary Supplements Useful In Some Situations, But Also Can Be Harmful
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  30. Menopause FAQs: Hormone Therapy for Menopause Symptoms
  31. Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms – Q. How can I counteract vaginal dryness during menopause?
  32. Menopause FAQs: Your Health After Menopause
  33. Menopause Treatment
  34. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
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  38. Menopause – How Will It Affect My Health? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  39. Menopause – Will It Affect My Sex Life? [Multiply Languages] [Video]
  40. Menopause, Perimenopause, and Postmenopause
  41. Menopause: Changes In the Body and Keeping Healthy [Video Interview Stories]
  42. Menopause: Getting Older [Video Interview Stories]
  43. Menopause: Libido, Vaginal Dryness and Urinary Problems and the Menopause [Video Interview Stories]
  44. Menopause: Medicines To Help You
  45. Menopause: Menopause – Hormone Treatments
  46. Menopause: Overview [Video Interview Stories]
  47. Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health
  48. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  49. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 5 Tips: What Consumers Need To Know About Dietary Supplements
  50. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Are You Considering A Complementary Health Approach?
  51. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Dietary and Herbal Supplements
  52. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  53. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  54. 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
  55. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  56. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Safe Use of Complementary Health Products and Practices
  57. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  58. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Tips on Complementary Health Practices
  59. Natural Therapies & Supplements
  60. Office of Dietary Supplements: Dietary Supplement Fact Sheets
  61. Prasterone Vaginal
  62. Recent Review Confirms Safety of Low Dose Vaginal Estrogen: July 2019
  63. Safety of Natural Therapies
  64. Testosterone Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  65. Urogenital Atrophy Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  66. Urogenital Problems: Vaginal Atrophy: Vaginal Dryness, Soreness and Painful Sex
  67. Vaginal Dryness
  68. Vaginal Dryness
  69. Vaginal Dryness After Menopause: How To Treat It?
  70. 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?
  71. Vaginal Dryness Alternative Treatments
  72. Vaginal Dryness: Treatment Options – Other Prescription Therapies – Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
  73. Video Series-2018 – Moisturizers, Lubricants, and Prasterone
  74. Video Series-2019 – Physical Therapy In the Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction
  75. Video Series-2019 – Talking To Your Clinician About Sexual Health Concerns
  76. Video Series-2019 – What Is New In Hormone Therapy?
  77. Video Series-2020 – Bone Health What You Need To Know
  78. Vulvovaginal Symptoms After Menopause
  79. Wild Yam
  80. Will Menopause Affect My Sex Life? [+ Video]
  81. Vaginal and Vulval Treatment OptionsWomen Can Breathe Sigh of Relief When Using Vaginal Estrogen To Treat Menopause Symptoms
  82. 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?
  83. Women’s Wellness: Signs and Symptoms of Vaginal Health Problems
  84. World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2018 – Patient Information Leaflet: Sexual Wellbeing After Menopause [Multiply Languages]
  85. World Menopause Day: World Menopause Day 2019 – Patient Information Leaflet: Testosterone for Women At Midlife [Multiply Languages]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. 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: 17 September 2020
  2. 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: 17 September 2020
  3. Healthy Aging: In-Depth – DHEA: Evidence for Anti-Aging Claims Is Weak – What Is DHEA? 05 October 2017. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/dhea/art-20045605 Accessed: 17 September 2020
  4. 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: 17 September 2020
  5. DHEA: Evidence. 14 December 2017. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 17 September 2020
  6. Hormone Therapy Help Desk: ET, EPT, and More – Androgens. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopauseflashes/menopause-symptoms-and-treatments/hormone-help-desk-et-ept-and-more Accessed: 17 September 2020
  7. 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: 17 September 2020
  8. Healthy Aging: In-Depth – DHEA: Evidence for Anti-Aging Claims Is Weak – What Does DHEA Have To Do With Aging? 05 October 2017. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/art-20045605 Accessed: 17 September 2020
  9. Vaginal Dryness: Treatment Options – Other Prescription Therapies. 2018:2. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/for-women/mn-vaginal-dryness.pdf Accessed: 17 September 2020
  10. DHEA: How Effective Is It? Last Reviewed: 19 August 2020. Page Last Updated: 15 September 2020. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/331.html Accessed: 17 September 2020
  11. Anti-Aging Hormones: What Are the Risks of Taking DHEA Without A Doctor’s Advice? Last Updated: December 2018. Hormone Health Network https://www.hormone.org/hormones-and-health/steroid-and-hormone-abuse/anti-aging-hormones Accessed: 17 September 2020
  12. 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: 17 September 2020
  13. Anti-Aging Hormones: What Are the Risks of Taking DHEA Without A Doctor’s Advice? Last Updated: December 2018. Hormone Health Network https://www.hormone.org/hormones-and-health/steroid-and-hormone-abuse/anti-aging-hormones Accessed: 17 September 2020

Topic Last Updated: 17 September 2020 – Topic Last Reviewed: 17 September 2020
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