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Navigating perimenopause and menopause often brings a host of changes, with hot flashes and night sweats being among the most common and disruptive. Many women seek information about various approaches to manage these vasomotor symptoms, including hormonal options.
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone produced naturally by the body that can be converted into other hormones, including estrogens and androgens. Given its role as a precursor, some women wonder if DHEA supplementation might offer support for menopausal symptoms like hot flashes. This article explores the current understanding of DHEA’s potential role based on available research.
What Are Hot Flashes and Night Sweats?
Hot flashes, also known as vasomotor symptoms (VMS), are sudden feelings of intense heat that spread across the body, often accompanied by sweating, flushing, and a rapid heartbeat. When they occur during sleep, they are called night sweats [1]. These symptoms are a hallmark of the menopausal transition and can significantly affect a woman’s quality of life and sleep.
The exact mechanisms behind hot flashes are complex, but they are thought to be related to fluctuating hormone levels, particularly estrogen, which can affect the brain’s temperature regulation center [2].
The Role of DHEA in the Body
DHEA is a steroid hormone produced primarily by the adrenal glands. It serves as a precursor, meaning the body can convert it into other hormones, including androgens (like testosterone) and estrogens [3]. Levels of DHEA tend to decline with age, which is why some individuals consider supplementation.
Because DHEA can influence the levels of other sex steroids, there’s interest in its potential effects on hormone-related symptoms experienced during perimenopause and menopause. Sex steroids, including androgens, can influence neurotransmitters that play a role in mood and other functions [4].
DHEA and Vasomotor Symptoms: What the Evidence Says
When considering DHEA for hot flashes, it’s important to review the available research carefully. A systematic review published in 2015 examined the use of DHEA for women in the peri- or postmenopausal phase. This review concluded that there was insufficient evidence from randomized controlled trials to determine the effects of DHEA on vasomotor symptoms [5]. This indicates that, as of that review, robust data specifically linking DHEA to a reduction in hot flashes was lacking.
More recent discussions at events like the IMS World Congress 2024 continue to refine best practice approaches for menopause management. While various strategies are discussed, the specific role and strong evidence for DHEA in significantly reducing hot flashes are still areas where more definitive research is needed [6].
It’s also worth noting that while other hormonal therapies, such as estrogen replacement therapy, have been studied for their effects on symptoms like depressed mood in perimenopausal women [7], and basal hormone levels have been examined in relation to mood [8], direct, strong evidence for DHEA specifically targeting hot flashes remains limited. Some approaches like traditional acupuncture have been explored for vasomotor symptoms in pilot trials [9], illustrating the variety of research avenues.
Compounded Bioidentical Hormones and DHEA
DHEA is sometimes included in compounded bioidentical hormone therapy (cBHT). A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on cBHT in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women assessed safety and efficacy. This review concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support the general use of cBHT, including DHEA, for menopausal symptoms due to a lack of high-quality studies [10]. This further underscores the need for more rigorous research specific to DHEA’s effects on hot flashes.
Understanding ‘Limited Evidence’
When health information states ‘limited evidence,’ it means that while some studies may exist, they might be small, not well-controlled, or produce inconsistent results. It also means that there isn’t enough high-quality, large-scale research to definitively conclude that a particular intervention is effective or ineffective for a specific purpose. For DHEA and hot flashes, this means that while some individuals might report personal experiences, the scientific community has not yet gathered enough robust data to confirm its widespread effectiveness.
This is not to say that DHEA cannot have an impact on hormone levels or other aspects of health, but rather that its specific role in alleviating hot flashes needs further investigation through well-designed clinical trials.
References
- Managing Menopausal Symptoms: Common Questions and Answers. American family physician, 2023
- The relationship of longitudinal change in reproductive hormones and vasomotor symptoms during the menopausal transition. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2005
- Androgen replacement in menopause. Current women’s health reports, 2001
- Optimizing quality of life through sex steroids by their effects on neurotransmitters. Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society, 2019
- Dehydroepiandrosterone for women in the peri- or postmenopausal phase. The Cochrane database of systematic reviews, 2015
- State of the art in menopause: current best practice approaches from the IMS World Congress 2024, Melbourne. Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society, 2025
- Critical appraisal of effects of estrogen replacement therapy on symptoms of depressed mood. Archives of women’s mental health, 2002
- Basal plasma hormone levels in depressed perimenopausal women. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 2002
- A pilot randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial of traditional acupuncture for vasomotor symptoms and mechanistic pathways of menopause. Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 2012
- Safety and efficacy of compounded bioidentical hormone therapy (cBHT) in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Menopause (New York, N.Y.), 2022
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice; consult a qualified healthcare provider before starting any supplement. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
