What Is DHEA?

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the adrenal glands that is sold in supplement form. The body uses DHEA to produce the female and male sex hormones estrogen and testosterone.

By taking DHEA in supplement form, some experts believe that you may be able to slow aging, increase muscle mass, improve fertility, or treat medical conditions like osteoporosis and depression. The clinical studies supporting these claims are generally weak.

DHEA may help fight depression, osteoporosis, and more.

DHEA comes in many forms, including tablets, capsules, tinctures, powders, and topical creams. They can be purchased online and at many drugstores or nutritional supplements stores.

This article explores the possible benefits and risks of taking DHEA supplements, including side effects and drug interactions. It also offers tips on how to DHEA supplements safely.

Here is what some of the latest clinical research suggests:

Aging Skin

In theory, taking DHEA could slow aging by restoring estrogen and testosterone levels to where they were in your 20s. Both are known to stimulate the production of collagen in the skin. By doing so, the skin may be plumper and have far few wrinkles.

Pain During Sex

In clinical studies, Intrarosa has proven to effectively decrease vaginal dryness and pain during sex without causing significant side effects.6

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the thinning of bones common in postmenopausal women due to steep drops in estrogen. By restoring estrogen levels, osteoporosis can hypothetically be delayed, prevented, or minimized by DHEA.

Depression

DHEA may help some people with clinical depression.

Infertility

Even so, DHEA is generally regarded as safe when taken at doses of 50 mg daily in adults. Higher doses may not be as safe.

Common side effects of DHEA include:1

• Oily skin
• Acne
• Upset stomach