Learn more about the hormone DHEA including if it can help out with erectile dysfunction.
DHEA, or Dehydroepiandrosterone, is a steroid hormone that is mainly made in the adrenal glands above the kidneys in both men and women (but smaller amounts are produced elsewhere in the body, too.
We know that DHEA serves as a precursor for the main male and female hormones testosterone and estradiol, respectively. And, it may play a role in healthy sexual functioning, including erectile function.
For this reason, some researchers have studied DHEA for ED, and some people may look into using DHEA for improved sexual function. But, is there any truth behind DHEA helping to improve ED? What do the studies tell us so far?
Below, we will cover just what DHEA is, the purported benefits of supplementing with DHEA, review if DHEA can help men with ED, and outline the potential risks and warnings of using DHEA supplements.
As we mentioned above, DHEA is a hormone that is a precursor to testosterone and estradiol.
DHEA is made in the human body mostly from the adrenal glands, but some is also made by your gonads, brain, skin, and fat tissue.
DHEA levels peak in your 20s and naturally decline about 10% per decade as you age.
Some people opt to supplement with DHEA for a few different reasons, some of which may or may not be backed by adequate studies.
For vaginal atrophy, there is a well-studied prescription DHEA vaginal insert under the generic name Prasterone which is FDA-approved for this indication.
Under the less-well-studied category, depression, adrenal insufficiency, and osteoporosis are all issues that are said to potentially benefit from DHEA.
Always talk with your doctor before starting on any supplement, especially one that is a hormone. If your doctor wants you to give it a try, follow their exact instructions on dosage and usage.
Maybe, but it’s not fully clear yet. The use of DHEA for men with ED is not as well studied as the use of DHEA for vaginal atrophy in women, so we don’t quite know yet if it helps, how much it might help, or the recommended dosages that may work best.
Below, are a few studies that suggest DHEA may have a positive effect on ED or hormone levels in certain scenarios. But, it is important to note the small scales of these trials.
One 2013 study with 8 middle-aged men (and 8 younger men as controls) looked into if DHEA can boost testosterone levels in older men, and if it can have an effect on lessening the usual temporary testosterone decline that occurs after high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercises. On separate days, the same men were given either a placebo or a DHEA supplement before doing cycling HIIT exercises, and then their testosterone levels were measured. According to the researchers, taking DHEA before HIIT training was able to prevent testosterone decline from the training, and elevated free testosterone.
A 1999 study recruited 40 men from an impotence clinic that had ED, but that also had normal hormone levels aside from low serum DHEA levels. Half of the men were randomly assigned to take a placebo, and the other half were assigned to take 50mg of DHEA every day for 6 months. At the end of the 6 months. All of the men then filled out a 15-question questionnaire (IIEF) to measure improvements in their erectile function. The researchers concluded that the DHEA group was associated with higher mean scores on all five portions of the IIEF questionnaire.
DHEA is a hormone, so it’s not exactly as safe to use on a whim as say, vitamin C or Magnesium.
It is possible that too much DHEA can elevate your hormones too high, and increase your risk of hormone-related health concerns, or not be appropriate for people with a history of hormone-related cancers.
There may also be issues for people with liver conditions, or people with high cholesterol due to the possibility of lowering your “good” HDL cholesterol.
Interactions with your current medications may also be a concern. Drugs for anticoagulation, depression, liver disease, hormone replacement, or even the tuberculosis vaccine may interact with DHEA supplements.
Always check with your doctor before starting on a supplement and make sure they are a good fit for you.
Some small studies suggest that there might be some promise in certain situations for ED help with DHEA. But, we definitely need bigger studies and more information with wider ranges of men to make that conclusion.
If you want to give DHEA for ED a try, in order to play it safe, always go to your doctor first to make sure it is safe for you. Since DHEA is a hormone, there may be some dangers or drug interactions from using it for some people.
While DHEA may have promise for ED, further studies are needed to really nail down the actual benefits, dosages, and in what scenarios it may be a good idea for use.
In the meantime, if you are looking for a well-studied, effective, and relatively safe treatment for ED, FDA-approved PDE-5 inhibitors like Sildenafil or Tadalafil from Strut may be a good option for you.
To see if you are a good fit for Sildenafil or Tadalafil treatment, simply select the medication you are interested in, and complete a free online questionnaire-based telemedicine consultation in under 15 minutes. Then, our U.S. doctor will review your information and issue a prescription, if appropriate for you. Finally, your medication will be put together at a U.S. pharmacy and shipped to your front door with our free and fast shipping.
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