What is DHEA-S?
DHEA-S (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate) is an androgen, a male-type sex hormone, found in both men and women. It is made mostly in the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys, with smaller amounts from the testicles and ovaries. The body uses it to make testosterone and estrogen, and it helps with sexual development at puberty.
Because nearly all of it comes from the adrenal glands, doctors use DHEA-S mainly to check adrenal function and look for adrenal tumors, and in women to investigate signs of too much DHEA-S, such as extra body and facial hair, acne, a deeper voice or irregular periods. Levels peak around puberty and then fall with age, which is why a single adult range would be meaningless.
DHEA-S normal range by age
| Age | Women µg/dL | Women µmol/L | Men µg/dL | Men µmol/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 to 29 | 45 to 320 | 1.2 to 8.7 | 110 to 510 | 3.0 to 14.0 |
| 30 to 39 | 40 to 325 | 1.1 to 8.8 | 110 to 370 | 3.0 to 10.0 |
| 40 to 49 | 25 to 220 | 0.7 to 6.0 | 45 to 345 | 1.2 to 9.4 |
| 50 to 59 | 15 to 170 | 0.4 to 4.6 | 25 to 240 | 0.7 to 6.5 |
| 60 and over | Under 145 | Under 3.9 | Under 204 | Under 5.5 |
Source: MedlinePlus. To convert µg/dL to µmol/L, multiply by about 0.0271. Some labs use finer age bands; ARUP, for example, splits adults into ten-year bands from 25 and reports separate ranges for 20 to 24. Always use the range for your age on your report.
MedlinePlus. From age 60, the range is under 145 µg/dL.
MedlinePlus. From age 60, the range is under 204 µg/dL.
What high DHEA-S means
MedlinePlus lists these causes of high DHEA-S:
- Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common hormone disorder in women of childbearing age
- Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), an inherited condition in which the adrenal glands make too many male hormones
- An adrenal gland tumor, benign or cancerous
- Early puberty in children, and rarely an ovarian tumor
Taking DHEA supplements raises DHEA-S too, so mention them before testing. In women, a high DHEA-S with symptoms such as excess hair, acne or irregular periods is worth taking to your doctor, who will usually check testosterone and other hormones alongside it. Because an adrenal tumor is one possible cause, a result far above the range for your age should go to your doctor promptly.
Worked example: a high DHEA-S at 26
Say a 26-year-old woman with acne, extra facial hair and irregular periods gets a DHEA-S of 410 µg/dL. MedlinePlus's range for women 18 to 29 is 45 to 320 µg/dL, so she is about 28% above the upper limit. She takes no DHEA supplements, which rules out the simplest explanation.
MedlinePlus lists PCOS, congenital adrenal hyperplasia and adrenal tumors as causes of a high result, and says DHEA-S is usually read with other sex hormone tests. Her symptoms match the signs of excess androgens that prompt the test in women.
Questions for the doctor: Should we check total and free testosterone, SHBG, LH and FSH? Is my level high enough to look at the adrenal glands directly? Should we repeat it before deciding anything? Our PCOS blood test guide lists the usual markers.
What low DHEA-S means
Low DHEA-S is normal with age. Below the range for your age, MedlinePlus links it to:
- Addison disease and other forms of adrenal insufficiency, in which the adrenal glands make too little hormone
- Hypopituitarism, where the pituitary does not make enough of its hormones
- Taking glucocorticoid (steroid) medicines
Adrenal insufficiency usually comes with low cortisol and symptoms such as long-lasting fatigue, weight loss and weakness, so a low DHEA-S on its own, in someone who feels well, is rarely the whole story. When an adrenal disorder is the cause, MedlinePlus lists symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, dehydration and craving salt.
What can change DHEA-S
- Age. The biggest factor by far. DHEA-S falls steadily through adulthood in both sexes.
- DHEA supplements raise it. MedlinePlus notes there is no reliable evidence that DHEA supplements prevent aging-related conditions, and warns they may cause serious side effects. Talk to your doctor before taking them.
- Steroid medicines (glucocorticoids) lower it.
- Adrenal and pituitary disease, as above.
How to test DHEA-S
- No special preparation is needed (MedlinePlus).
- Tell whoever orders the test about DHEA or DHEA-S supplements and any steroid medicines.
- Compare your result with the range for your age and sex, not a general adult range.
The cortisol:DHEA-S ratio
Some panels, including SiPhox's, report a cortisol:DHEA-S ratio or a testosterone:cortisol ratio. We found no clinical guideline that uses either ratio to diagnose anything, so read them as background, not as a stress score to act on.
Common questions about DHEA-S
What is tested with DHEA-S?
MedlinePlus says a DHEA-S test is often done with other sex hormone tests: testosterone for men and estrogen for women. For an adrenal question, cortisol is the natural partner, since adrenal insufficiency usually comes with low cortisol too.
Why would a child be tested?
MedlinePlus lists baby girls whose external genitals do not look clearly male or female, and boys with signs of early puberty. Children have their own ranges, so adult bands do not apply.
Which at-home tests include DHEA-S
SiPhox Health measures DHEA-S on three panels: Longevity Essentials (the default panel, for men and women), Hormone Focus and Ultimate 360. Heart & Metabolic, Thyroid Focus and GLP Optimization do not include it. Longevity Essentials also includes cortisol, sex hormones, ApoB, HbA1c and vitamin D, so most people get DHEA-S without choosing a special panel. Women looking at PCOS may prefer Hormone Focus, which adds free testosterone, prolactin and progesterone. See our at-home hormone test guide for women and SiPhox review.
A note on home samples: SiPhox's partner lab tests capillary blood collected from the upper arm. SiPhox says its results show a 95% to 99% correlation with venous draws in its own quarterly comparisons against Labcorp and Quest, but it has not published a study of the EasyDraw device. If a result would change a treatment decision, confirm it with a venous test through your doctor.
Longevity Essentials
The default panel: heart, metabolic, hormone and inflammation markers in one draw.
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Hormone Focus
Sex hormones for men and women, including PSA for men and progesterone for women.
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Ultimate 360
Everything on the four core panels plus iron studies, B12 and folate, GGT and PSA.
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What is a normal DHEA-S level for a woman?
It depends on age: 45 to 320 µg/dL at 18 to 29, 40 to 325 at 30 to 39, 25 to 220 at 40 to 49, 15 to 170 at 50 to 59 and under 145 µg/dL after 59 (MedlinePlus).
What is a normal DHEA-S level for a man?
110 to 510 µg/dL at 18 to 29, 110 to 370 at 30 to 39, 45 to 345 at 40 to 49, 25 to 240 at 50 to 59 and under 204 µg/dL after 59 (MedlinePlus).
Is DHEA the same as DHEA-S?
They are closely related. DHEA-S is the sulfated form of DHEA, and it is what a DHEA-S blood test measures. Supplements sold as DHEA raise DHEA-S results.
Should I take DHEA if my level is low?
Not without your doctor. MedlinePlus says there is no reliable evidence that DHEA supplements prevent aging-related conditions and warns they may cause serious side effects. A low level for your age can also signal an adrenal or pituitary problem that needs its own workup.