Understanding DHEA for Women
As we’ve mentioned in our previous blog posts, hormones are chemical messengers that tell your body what to do – and when to do it. Scientists have identified over 50 hormones in the human body, controlling a multitude of bodily processes.
DHEA is one of the hormones naturally produced in the adrenal glands. It functions as a precursor to male and female sex hormones – including testosterone and estrogen.
Because DHEA levels naturally decline with age, people use DHEA supplements for anti-aging, performance enhancement, menopausal relief, and more. Read on to learn the benefits and risks of taking DHEA for women.
What Is DHEA?
While scientists don’t fully understand every aspect of DHEA and how it affects women specifically, they do know that it functions as a precursor to male and female sex hormones. (That means it’s converted into testosterone and estrogen.)
DHEA levels peak in your mid-twenties, then gradually decline with age. Unfortunately, that drop is linked to several age-related symptoms like fatigue, reduced libido, and mood swings. However, supplementing with DHEA has helped many women mitigate some of these symptoms.
However, if you suffer from severe hormonal acne or thinning hair, DHEA might not be the right choice for you. That’s why we recommend consulting with your functional medicine provider beforehand. Ideally, we’d use a comprehensive hormone test — like the DUTCH test — to understand your unique hormonal makeup and determine how your body metabolizes hormones.
Benefits of Supplementing with DHEA for Women
Here are a few reasons why women choose to take DHEA supplements:
Supports Bone Health
Research indicates that DHEA supplementation can help maintain bone density in women – especially postmenopausal women with a higher risk of osteoporosis.
Improves Cognition and Mood
Low DHEA levels are linked to symptoms of depression and cognitive decline. While more research is needed, supplementing with DHEA has been shown to improve symptoms compared to a placebo.
Boosts Libido
Preliminary research suggests that DHEA supplementation enhances the sex drive of older women – most likely by increasing testosterone in the body. Remember that DHEA (in females) is converted into both estrogen and testosterone.
Relieves Menopausal Symptoms
DHEA supplementation might help women seek relief from menopausal symptoms including decreased sex drive, vaginal dryness, and a dull skin tone.
Supports Healthy Aging
In theory, taking DHEA for women can slow the aging process while improving cognitive function, body composition, and overall well-being. However, more research is needed to better understand how DHEA combats these effects of aging.
Precautions of DHEA FOR WMEN
If you’re under 40, you shouldn’t take DHEA unless your natural DHEA levels are low. And since there are potential side effects and interactions with certain medications, everyone who takes DHEA should only do so under the watchful eye of their healthcare provider.
Because DHEA is used to make estrogen and testosterone, people with hormone-related cancers or conditions — breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, testicular cancer, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, etc. — should not take DHEA supplements without first consulting thier healthcare provider. You should not take DHEA if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
Understanding DHEA Levels
A DHEA Sulfate test can help determine whether you have imbalanced DHEA levels.
Symptoms of High DHEA
Symptoms of high DHEA in women and girls may include:
Acne
Deepening of voice
Male pattern hair loss
Increased muscular growth
Excess body and facial hair
Symptoms of Low DHEA
There are several reasons why one might have low DHEA levels (beyond the normal decline of aging). Symptoms of low DHEA that are caused by an adrenal gland disorder (called Addison’s disease) include:
Dizziness
Dehydration
Craving salt
Nausea or vomiting
Unexplained weight loss
Additionally, symptoms of low DHEA related to aging include:
Lower libido
Atrophy (or thinning) of vaginal tissues – which can cause painful intercourse or bleeding
Holistic Hormone Treatment in Denver
Supplementing with DHEA for women can offer a wide range of benefits. However, it’s not without risks, and should not be used without the guidance of a healthcare provider.
As a leading functional medicine practice in Denver for over 17 years, Denver Holistic Medicine can help you restore hormonal imbalances through all stages of female reproduction – through perimenopause and into menopause. We utilize a variety of natural and safe treatment options including in-depth lab analysis, nutraceutical supplementation, nutritional guidance, stress management education, immune and endocrine support, and more.
We work with all our patients on an individualized basis to develop the safest and most effective treatment plan for you. Schedule an appointment today to get started.