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Vol 91, No 9 (2020)
Review paper
Published online: 2020-09-30
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Supplementation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in pre- and postmenopausal women — position statement of expert panel of Polish Menopause and Andropause Society

Michal Rabijewski1, Lucyna Papierska2, Malgorzata Binkowska3, Radoslaw Maksym1, Katarzyna Jankowska2, Wioletta Skrzypulec-Plinta4, Wojciech Zgliczynski2
DOI: 10.5603/GP.2020.0091
·
Pubmed: 33030737
·
Ginekol Pol 2020;91(9):554-562.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Reproductive Health, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
  2. Department of Endocrinology of the Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland, Warsaw, Poland
  3. Department of Gynecological Oncology and Obstetrics, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
  4. Department of Gynecological Disease Prevention and Sexology, Chair of Women’s Health, School of Health Sciences, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland

open access

Vol 91, No 9 (2020)
REVIEW PAPERS Gynecology
Published online: 2020-09-30

Abstract

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentration decreases with age, therefore, DHEA has been considered a hormone
that reduces the symptoms associated with aging, so the usefulness of DHEA in premenopausal and postmenopausal
women, and the options of hormone therapy have received a large amount of attention. The effectiveness of DHEA in the
premenopausal women remains unclear, while in postmenopausal women with coexisting estrogens deficiency is controversial.
Despite many years of study, the use of DHEA is still controversial, especially regarding its effectiveness. The aim
of present article was to evaluate DHEA specific effects on metabolic parameters, bone mineral density, insulin resistance
as well as the therapeutic potential of DHEA in pre- and postmenopausal women using measures of sexual activity, cognition
and well-being. The summary of this article is the position statement of expert group of the Polish Menopause and
Andropause Society regarding the efficacy and safety of DHEA supplementation in women. We concluded, that currently
available clinical trials and meta-analyses indicate that DHEA supplementation is effective in women with adrenal insufficiency
and chronically treated with exogenous glucocorticoids, postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density
and/or osteoporosis, premenopausal women with sexual disorders and low libido, and in women with vulvovaginal atrophy
due to menopause or genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Currently available clinical trials also suggest that DHEA
supplementation is probably effective in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual disorders, infertile women with
diminished ovarian reserve, women suffering from depression and anxiety, and women with obesity and insulin resistance.
No serious adverse effects have been reported.

Abstract

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) concentration decreases with age, therefore, DHEA has been considered a hormone
that reduces the symptoms associated with aging, so the usefulness of DHEA in premenopausal and postmenopausal
women, and the options of hormone therapy have received a large amount of attention. The effectiveness of DHEA in the
premenopausal women remains unclear, while in postmenopausal women with coexisting estrogens deficiency is controversial.
Despite many years of study, the use of DHEA is still controversial, especially regarding its effectiveness. The aim
of present article was to evaluate DHEA specific effects on metabolic parameters, bone mineral density, insulin resistance
as well as the therapeutic potential of DHEA in pre- and postmenopausal women using measures of sexual activity, cognition
and well-being. The summary of this article is the position statement of expert group of the Polish Menopause and
Andropause Society regarding the efficacy and safety of DHEA supplementation in women. We concluded, that currently
available clinical trials and meta-analyses indicate that DHEA supplementation is effective in women with adrenal insufficiency
and chronically treated with exogenous glucocorticoids, postmenopausal women with low bone mineral density
and/or osteoporosis, premenopausal women with sexual disorders and low libido, and in women with vulvovaginal atrophy
due to menopause or genitourinary syndrome of menopause. Currently available clinical trials also suggest that DHEA
supplementation is probably effective in postmenopausal women with hypoactive sexual disorders, infertile women with
diminished ovarian reserve, women suffering from depression and anxiety, and women with obesity and insulin resistance.
No serious adverse effects have been reported.

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Keywords

dehydroepiandrosterone; perimenopause; menopause

About this article
Title

Supplementation of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in pre- and postmenopausal women — position statement of expert panel of Polish Menopause and Andropause Society

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Vol 91, No 9 (2020)

Article type

Review paper

Pages

554-562

Published online

2020-09-30

Page views

6221

Article views/downloads

5176

DOI

10.5603/GP.2020.0091

Pubmed

33030737

Bibliographic record

Ginekol Pol 2020;91(9):554-562.

Keywords

dehydroepiandrosterone
perimenopause
menopause

Authors

Michal Rabijewski
Lucyna Papierska
Malgorzata Binkowska
Radoslaw Maksym
Katarzyna Jankowska
Wioletta Skrzypulec-Plinta
Wojciech Zgliczynski

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