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 10 August 2023, the (United States) Mayo Clinic 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”.5

Vaginal Atrophy

How effective is DHEA for the treatment of vaginal atrophy?

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

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

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”.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:

DHEA“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.

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
  4. BMS TV: Testosterone Explained
  5. BMS TV: Urogenital Atrophy
  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. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens
  13. Endometrial Safety of Low-Dose Vaginal Estrogens [Video]
  14. FAQs: Your Sexual Health
  15. FDA 101: Dietary Supplements
  16. How Do I Deal With Vaginal Atrophy? — Ask Dr Jean
  17. I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – E9: The Menopause: Can Every Woman That Wants It Have HRT?
  18. Information for Consumers on Using Dietary Supplements
  19. Is It Really ‘FDA Approved?’
  20. 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
  21. Lack of Evidence Supporting DHEA for Improved Overall Health for Women
  22. 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]
  23. 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]
  24. 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]
  25. Libido
  26. Lubricant Alternatives: What To Use and What To Avoid
  27. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms [Video]
  28. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Dietary Supplements Useful In Some Situations, But Also Can Be Harmful
  29. Menopause
  30. Menopause
  31. Menopause
  32. Menopause & Herbs
  33. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  34. Menopause Patient Information: 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  35. Menopause Patient Information: 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause [Video]
  36. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Common Conditions Associated With Menopause and Midlife
  37. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  38. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: What Is Menopause?
  39. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide
  40. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  41. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  42. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  43. Menopause, Perimenopause, Hormone Therapy and Other Treatments With Madelyn Butler, MD [Podcast]
  44. Menopause: Understanding the Changes and Finding Relief | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 256
  45. Mixing Medications and Dietary Supplements Can Endanger Your Health
  46. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Dietary and Herbal Supplements
  47. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  48. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  49. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  50. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Soy
  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. Prosayla Supported By ISSWSH [International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health]
  57. Safety of Natural Therapies
  58. Supplementation of Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) In Pre-and Postmenopausal Women – Position Statement of Expert Panel of Polish Menopause and Andropause Society
  59. Supplements for Menopause Symptoms: Are They Safe?
  60. The 2020 Genitourinary Syndrome of Menopause Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society
  61. The Truth About Menopause Supplements | Dr Sarah Berry
  62. The Utilization of Dehydroepiandrosterone As A Sexual Hormone Precursor In Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: An Overview
  63. Therapy for the Effects of Menopause
  64. Tips To Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  65. Urogenital Problems: Vaginal Atrophy: Vaginal Dryness, Soreness and Painful Sex
  66. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  67. Vaginal Atrophy
  68. Vaginal Dehydroepiandrosterone Compared To Other Methods of Treating Vaginal and Vulvar Atrophy Associated With Menopause
  69. Vaginal Dryness
  70. Vaginal Dryness
  71. Vaginal Dryness
  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. Vaginal Dryness: What To Do About It
  76. Vaginal Oestrogen
  77. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  78. Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
  79. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  80. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  81. Video Series-2024: Preparing for Your Menopause Health Care Visit [13 January 2024]
  82. Videos & Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Preventing Bone Loss At Menopause [March 2024]
  83. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Is Testosterone the Answer To Low Libido?
  84. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: What Women Should Know About Menopause and Brain Fog
  85. Webinars: Previous – Non-Hormonal Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  86. Webinars: Previous – Non-Pharmacological Interventions For VMS
  87. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit
  88. Wild Yam

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: 22 June 2024
  2. Dehydroepiandrosterone: What Is Dehydroepiandrosterone? Last Reviewed: June 2020. You and Your Hormones https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/dehydroepiandrosterone/ Accessed: 22 June 2024
  3. Dehydroepiandrosterone: What Is Dehydroepiandrosterone? Last Reviewed: June 2020. You and Your Hormones https://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/dehydroepiandrosterone/ Accessed: 22 June 2024
  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: 22 June 2024
  5. DHEA: What the Research Says. 10 August 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 22 June 2024
  6. DHEA: What the Research Says. 10 August 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 22 June 2024
  7. 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: 22 June 2024
  8. DHEA: How Effective Is It? Last Reviewed: 24 July 2023. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/331.html Accessed: 22 June 2024
  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: 22 June 2024
  10. DHEA: Overview. 10 August 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-dhea/art-20364199 Accessed: 22 June 2024
  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: 22 June 2024
Topic Last Updated: 22 June 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 22 June 2024

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