What are the symptoms of high DHEA?

Symptoms of high levels of DHEAS in women and girls may include:

• Excess body and facial hair growth.
• Deepening of voice.
• Menstrual irregularities.
• Acne.
• Increased muscularity.
• Hair loss at the top of the head.

What does it mean when your DHEA levels are high?

If your level of DHEA-S is high, it means that your body is making too much of the hormones. This excess may be related to adrenal cancer, tumors, or excess growth of adrenal hormone-producing tissue (hyperplasia). If your DHEA level is low, it may mean that your adrenal glands are not making enough hormones.

Does high DHEA mean cancer?

Extremely high levels (>700 or 800 ug/dL) in women are suggestive of a hormone-secreting adrenal tumor. By contrast, DHEA-S04 levels are typically normal in the presence of ovarian tumors.

Can stress cause high DHEA levels?

These data show that DHEAS concentrations increase in response to both acute and chronic (repeated) stress and provide another measure of HPA activity that parallels cortisol during acute responses to stress but diverges in chronic or repeated stress.

Can DHEA affect your thyroid level?

These data suggest that dehydroepiandrosterone alters thyroid hormone status and in so doing, affects energy balance by increasing metabolic rate and decreasing fat stores.

What does a DHEA test show?

DHEA stands for dehydroepiandrosterone. It is a weak male hormone (androgen) produced by the adrenal glands in both men and women. The DHEA-sulfate test measures the amount of DHEA-sulfate in the blood.

Does DHEA affect cortisol levels?

DHEA administration resulted in a decrease in plasma cortisol concentrations (mean, peak, and/or AUC) in healthy older women and men.

Can you lower DHEA levels?

DHEA may make insulin and drugs used to lower blood sugar less effective, raising the risk of high blood sugar. Drugs that can decrease or lower the levels of DHEA in the body include: Antipsychotic medications, including chlorpromazine (Thorazine) and quetiapine (Seroquel) Budesonide (Pulmicort)

What are the common causes of elevated DHEA levels?

Adrenal disease is the main cause of high DHEA levels, according to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry. Adrenal tumors — either benign or cancerous growths that attach themselves to the adrenal glands — may cause an overproduction of the DHEA hormone. Adrenal hyperplasia, a swelling of the gland, can also cause high levels of DHEA.

How does DHEA help with hormone imbalance symptoms?

By having the right levels of DHEA, it can alleviate physical problems caused by hormone imbalances and emotional upheaval as well. This hormone acts like the gatekeeper for your other hormones. Without it, production and levels for all your other ones can drop drastically.

How can I lower my DHEA naturally?

Watch for natural reductions with age. DHEA levels usually peak right around the age of 20 when a person becomes fully hormonally and physically mature.

What does DHEA do for your body?

DHEA helps improve the body’s natural ability to use energy and burn fat, two metabolic processes that usually decline as someone ages. DHEA helps shuttle glucose to cells for energy, reduce insulin levels and stimulate fat burning . As I mentioned earlier, DHEA improves lean muscle mass.