DHEA Hormone Therapy May Be Menopause Magic

A small-scale study out of Italy has shown that there just may be an alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for women who suffer from significant effects of menopause. The use of small doses of DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)—an androgen steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands in the body—can elevate sexual interest and activity, as well as stem the tide of hot flashes so common amongst women past childbearing age.

As reported in the journal of the International Menopause Society, Climacteric, Italian researchers out of the University of Pisa, conducted a study with 48 women. One dozen of the participants took only vitamin D and calcium, while the remaining 36 was split into three groups: one taking conventional HRT with estrogen and progesterone, one on low doses of DHEA, and a third taking the synthetic steroid tibolone.

Over the course of a year the women’s menopausal symptoms were measured, including sexual interest, vaginal lubrication, hot flashes, and night sweats, by both testing hormonal levels and using the Greene Climacteric Scale. Upon completion of the study, the vitamin D group showed no difference in symptoms, while all 36 women taking some form of hormone did show improvement in symptoms across the board.

Of particular note was the increase in sexual interest and activity shown by the hormone group. At the onset of the study, all three groups had similar levels of sexual activity. After one year, the taking vitamin D had a McCoy score—which measures aspects of sexuality affected by changing sex-hormone levels—of 34.9, while those using DHEA reached 48.6, with similar results for those on traditional HRT.

According to lead author, Andrea Genazzani, "This is the first time that a controlled trial has shown that low doses of the hormone DHEA may be able to help women deal better with menopausal symptoms, as well as helping their sex life. The work shows that DHEA has potential, especially for those women who may have problems in taking more conventional HRT. But this is a small study, a proof of concept. What we need to do now is to look at a larger study, to confirm that these initial results are valid".

The study, while small, provides proof of concept and will spur additional studies into the use of DHEA for menopause, and could eventually become a standard treatment for those not wanting to use conventional HRT.