DHEA is a sex hormone secreted by both men and women.
DHEA is a sex hormone secreted by both men and women.
The DHEA hormone is produced in the adrenal glands. Its normal concentration supports the body’s adequate production of testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone.
DHEA (S-DHEAS)
- The DHEA hormone is a precursor to testosterone.
- The concentration of the DHEA hormone can be measured with a laboratory test.
- The adrenal glands produce dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS).
What is DHEA (S-DHEAS)?
DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone (S-DHEAS), is a hormone naturally produced by our body. The concentration of the DHEA hormone in the body decreases with age. The adrenal glands produce dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS).
How does DHEA work?
The DHEA hormone is produced in the adrenal glands. Its normal concentration supports the body’s adequate production of testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. These hormones affect our fertility, mood, women’s menstrual cycle, and the onset and success of pregnancy.
The DHEA hormone is most abundant in the body between the ages of 20-30, after which the amount gradually decreases with aging. Its concentration drops by up to 20% per decade. At the age of 70, only 10% of the original amount of the hormone remains.
When is the DHEA hormone measurement done?
The DHEA hormone can be measured when the function of the hormones in the adrenal cortex is being studied.
In women, the DHEA hormone may be measured when investigating ovarian insufficiency and excessive hair growth, known as hirsutism.
Where can I order a DHEA hormone measurement?
You can order the DHEAS test from Puhti’s website. All Puhti tests can be ordered without a doctor’s referral. A doctor’s remote consultation can be easily ordered separately directly from the end of the result report if you want to discuss your results and health, if the results deviate from reference values, if you have symptoms, or if there is suspicion of a disease.
Individual tests can be easily added to the same order, for example, with a more comprehensive test package. This way, sampling can be done at once, and you get comprehensive information about the body’s function. It is a good idea to check several health and daily coping-related indicators at once.
S-DHEAS reference values
The table below shows the reference values for women.
| Age | S-DHEAS [µmol/l] |
| 15 – 19 years | 1.76 – 9.99 |
| 20 – 24 years | 4.02 – 11.05 |
| 25 – 34 years | 2.69 – 9.23 |
| 35 – 44 years | 1.66 – 9.15 |
| 45 – 54 years | 0.95 – 6.95 |
| 55 – 64 years | 0.52 – 5.56 |
| 65 – 74 years | 0.24 – 6.68 |
| over 75 years | 0.33 – 4.18 |
The table below shows the reference values for men.
| Age | S-DHEAS [µmol/l] |
| 15 – 19 years | 1.90 – 13.35 |
| 20 – 24 years | 5.73 – 13.35 |
| 25 – 34 years | 4.34 – 12.19 |
| 35 – 44 years | 2.42 – 11.59 |
| 45 – 54 years | 1.19 – 8.98 |
| 55 – 64 years | 1.41 – 8.01 |
| 65 – 74 years | 0.92 – 6.76 |
| over 75 years | 0.43 – 3.34 |
