DHEA-S: what it is, what it tells you and when it’s tested

DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate) is a hormone made almost entirely by the adrenal glands. Your body uses it as a reserve to make male and female hormones. It peaks in young adulthood and then falls, year after year. It is not the same as the DHEA supplement, although the supplement raises it.

When it’s tested

Doctors mostly order it for women with signs of too many male hormones: extra hair on the face and body, acne that will not clear, irregular periods, thinning hair. It is used when looking for polycystic ovary syndrome, usually when testosterone is not raised.

It is also tested when these signs appear quickly or are very marked, to rule out an adrenal tumour, which is rare. In children, when puberty seems to start too early. And in adrenal and pituitary conditions.

It is not a prevention test, nor a way to measure how young you are. Rosa does not test it. Instead it looks at insulin, blood sugar and TSH, which matter when periods are irregular or polycystic ovaries are suspected.

What it tells you, and what it does not

If it is high, your adrenal glands are making more androgens than usual. The reason is usually benign, such as polycystic ovary syndrome. If it is very high, your doctor looks for other causes.

If it is low, it is often just age. It can also fall with steroid medicines, or when the adrenal glands or the pituitary work less.

It does not tell you your biological age, and it does not tell you whether you need a supplement. DHEA taken to feel younger has not shown clear benefits, and guidelines do not advise it for routine use.

That is why it is read together with other tests:

Normal DHEA-S levels

There is no single normal range: it depends on age and sex. DHEA-S peaks around 20, then slowly falls. After 70, the average is about a fifth of what it was when young. Men have higher levels than women on average.

That is why your report gives a range for your age and sex. For example, a large Italian hospital lab gives 1500 to 4800 ng/mL for an adult man and 200 to 800 ng/mL for a woman after menopause. If your report uses µg/dL, the number is ten times smaller.

It changes little from month to month and between seasons, so a single test is fairly reliable. Follow your lab’s instructions on timing and fasting.

If your DHEA-S is high or low

What can skew the result

A few things shift DHEA-S without any disease. Tell your doctor about them.

When to worry

Talk to your doctor if:

Frequently asked questions

What are normal DHEA-S levels? They depend on age and sex. Your report gives the range for you. For example, a large Italian hospital lab gives 1500 to 4800 ng/mL for an adult man.

What is the difference between DHEA and DHEA-S? DHEA-S is the form found in the blood in larger amounts, and it is more stable, so it is the one measured. DHEA is also sold as a supplement, which the body turns into DHEA-S.

What does high DHEA-S mean in a woman? That the adrenal glands are making more androgens. It often goes with polycystic ovary syndrome. If it is very high or symptoms come on quickly, your doctor looks for other causes, such as an adrenal tumour, which is rare.

My DHEA-S is low: should I take DHEA? Not on your own. A low result is often just age, and guidelines do not advise DHEA for routine use. Talk to your doctor.

Does Rosa test DHEA-S? No. Rosa measures insulin, blood sugar and TSH, which matter when polycystic ovary syndrome is suspected. If your doctor wants DHEA-S, they order it separately.

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