Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is a form of the hormoneDHEAthat tends to be slightly elevated in people withpolycystic ovarian syndrome(PCOS).If your healthcare provider suspects or is monitoring your PCOS, they may order a blood test to measure your levels.
The amount of DHEAS in your blood can help your provider evaluate PCOS and rule out other medical conditions that have similar symptoms.
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Changes In DHEAS Levels
DHEAS levels change throughout stages of development:
Almost all of the DHEA circulating in the bloodstream is in the form of DHEAS.
Abnormal levels:
Extreme elevations of the hormone may indicate another cause, such as an androgen-producing adrenal tumor.
Normal Levels
Roughly 20% to 30% of people with PCOS have elevated DHEAS levels.
Throughout the course of your treatment for PCOS, a healthcare provider may measure your DHEAS and other hormones.
Supplements
Since DHEAS levels naturally decline with age, some females take DHEA supplements, which are purported to reduce signs of aging, improve bone density, ease depression and improve libido.
However, the existing data shows that while it may help depression, it does not appear to improve bone health, quality of life, or sexual function in older adults.
In fact, it may be unsafe when used orally in high doses or long term. There is concern that higher than normal DHEA levels may increase the risk of breast cancer or other hormone-sensitive cancers.
Medications and DHEAS Levels
Several medications can alter your DHEAS level.
These changes are typically not significant enough to impact the clinical treatment of PCOS or create confusion in diagnosing PCOS or secondary conditions.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Goodarzi MO, Carmina E, Azziz R.DHEA, DHEAS and PCOS.J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2015;145:213-225. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.06.003Carmina E, Longo RA.Increased prevalence of elevated DHEAS in PCOS women with non-classic (B or C) phenotypes: a retrospective analysis in patients aged 20 to 29 years.Cells. 2022;11(20):3255. doi:10.3390/cells11203255Elhassan YS, Idkowiak J, Smith K, et al.Causes, patterns, and severity of androgen excess in 1205 consecutively recruited women.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(3):1214-1223. doi:10.1210/jc.2017-02426Elraiyah T, Sonbol MB, Wang Z, et al.Clinical review: The benefits and harms of systemic dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(10):3536-3542. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2261Charoensri S, Chailurkit L, Muntham D, Bunnag P.Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in assessing the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2017;7:42–46. doi:10.1016/j.jcte.2017.01.001
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Goodarzi MO, Carmina E, Azziz R.DHEA, DHEAS and PCOS.J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2015;145:213-225. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.06.003Carmina E, Longo RA.Increased prevalence of elevated DHEAS in PCOS women with non-classic (B or C) phenotypes: a retrospective analysis in patients aged 20 to 29 years.Cells. 2022;11(20):3255. doi:10.3390/cells11203255Elhassan YS, Idkowiak J, Smith K, et al.Causes, patterns, and severity of androgen excess in 1205 consecutively recruited women.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(3):1214-1223. doi:10.1210/jc.2017-02426Elraiyah T, Sonbol MB, Wang Z, et al.Clinical review: The benefits and harms of systemic dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(10):3536-3542. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2261Charoensri S, Chailurkit L, Muntham D, Bunnag P.Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in assessing the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2017;7:42–46. doi:10.1016/j.jcte.2017.01.001
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Goodarzi MO, Carmina E, Azziz R.DHEA, DHEAS and PCOS.J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2015;145:213-225. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.06.003Carmina E, Longo RA.Increased prevalence of elevated DHEAS in PCOS women with non-classic (B or C) phenotypes: a retrospective analysis in patients aged 20 to 29 years.Cells. 2022;11(20):3255. doi:10.3390/cells11203255Elhassan YS, Idkowiak J, Smith K, et al.Causes, patterns, and severity of androgen excess in 1205 consecutively recruited women.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(3):1214-1223. doi:10.1210/jc.2017-02426Elraiyah T, Sonbol MB, Wang Z, et al.Clinical review: The benefits and harms of systemic dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(10):3536-3542. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2261Charoensri S, Chailurkit L, Muntham D, Bunnag P.Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in assessing the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2017;7:42–46. doi:10.1016/j.jcte.2017.01.001
Goodarzi MO, Carmina E, Azziz R.DHEA, DHEAS and PCOS.J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2015;145:213-225. doi:10.1016/j.jsbmb.2014.06.003
Carmina E, Longo RA.Increased prevalence of elevated DHEAS in PCOS women with non-classic (B or C) phenotypes: a retrospective analysis in patients aged 20 to 29 years.Cells. 2022;11(20):3255. doi:10.3390/cells11203255
Elhassan YS, Idkowiak J, Smith K, et al.Causes, patterns, and severity of androgen excess in 1205 consecutively recruited women.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2018;103(3):1214-1223. doi:10.1210/jc.2017-02426
Elraiyah T, Sonbol MB, Wang Z, et al.Clinical review: The benefits and harms of systemic dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in postmenopausal women with normal adrenal function: a systematic review and meta-analysis.J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2014;99(10):3536-3542. doi:10.1210/jc.2014-2261
Charoensri S, Chailurkit L, Muntham D, Bunnag P.Serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in assessing the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.J Clin Transl Endocrinol. 2017;7:42–46. doi:10.1016/j.jcte.2017.01.001
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