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DHEA

Ingredient · In our DHEA Capsule and DHEA + Pregnenolone Capsule

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone, also called prasterone)

DHEA is a hormone made mostly by your adrenal glands. Your body converts it into other hormones, including small amounts of testosterone and estrogen. Levels fall steadily with age, which is why it has been studied as a midlife supplement. The results have been mixed.1,2

Abstract clear crystalline facets, illustrative ingredient artwork
DHEA

Photos are illustrations, not the medicine. The DHEA in these medicines is made in a lab.1

Mixed evidence (oral)

DHEA used inside the vagina (prasterone) is FDA-approved for painful sex caused by menopause.3 DHEA taken by mouth, as in our capsules, is not FDA-approved for any menopause symptom, and a Cochrane review found it didn't improve quality of life or menopause symptoms overall.2 Our capsules are compounded by a licensed pharmacy.4

FDA-approved for this useWell studied, used off-labelEarly evidenceLittle or no human data

The studies below used FDA-approved products or other forms. Our compounded version hasn't been studied in trials, and results may differ.

What it is

DHEA is sometimes called a "parent hormone" because your body uses it to make other hormones. Your adrenal glands make most of it, and levels peak in your twenties and then decline year after year.

Why it's in these products

Because DHEA can be converted into both androgens and estrogens, clinicians sometimes use it for women in midlife with low libido or low energy. A clinician may prescribe it alongside other treatment after reviewing your history.1,2

DHEA CapsuleDHEA + Pregnenolone Capsule

What the studies in people show

  • Cochrane reviewOral DHEA: no clear benefit for quality of lifeA Cochrane review included 28 trials with 1,273 women around or after menopause. Compared with placebo, DHEA did not improve quality of life (moderate-quality evidence). It was linked to androgen side effects, mainly acne. There may be a small benefit for sexual function, but the evidence for that was weaker.2
  • FDA labelVaginal DHEA is approved for painful sexPrasterone vaginal inserts are FDA-approved for moderate to severe pain during sex caused by vaginal changes after menopause. In four 12-week placebo-controlled trials, the most common side effect was vaginal discharge.3

What we don't know yet

We don't know which women, if any, benefit most from DHEA taken by mouth, what dose is best, or how safe long-term use is. The approved, better-studied use is vaginal, which is a different product from our capsules.2,3

Safety, in plain English

The side effect most often seen with DHEA is acne, and other androgen effects such as oily skin or unwanted hair growth are possible.2 Because your body can turn DHEA into estrogen and testosterone, your clinician will consider your personal and family history, including any hormone-sensitive conditions.

A licensed clinician reviews all of that before deciding whether DHEA is appropriate for you. Exploring it here never means you'll get a prescription.

Curious about DHEA?

Start with a free assessment. A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether treatment is appropriate. No pressure, and no prescription unless it makes sense for you.

See DHEA CapsuleHow care works

Sources

  1. PubChem, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Prasterone / DHEA (CID 5881). PubChem
  2. Scheffers CS, Armstrong S, Cantineau AE, Farquhar C, Jordan V. Dehydroepiandrosterone for women in the peri- or postmenopausal phase. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015;1:CD011066. PubMed 25879093
  3. U.S. National Library of Medicine, DailyMed. Intrarosa (prasterone) vaginal inserts: prescribing information. DailyMed
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers. FDA

Sources checked November 8, 2026. This page is general education, not medical advice, and it doesn't mean any treatment is right for you. Photos: Unsplash (zhang kaiyv, Robert Anderson).