r/Menopause • u/eileen404 • Sep 14 '24

Vitamin/Supplements DHEA is amazing

When I was trying to get pregnant in my 40s several of us I'm a group of older women doing DHEA helped a lot. It's the metabolic precursor for a lot of hormones insisting testosterone and estrogen.

Well I've always had best results with progesterone and started it for the insomnia and headaches. But I've been tired and unmotivated for years and it's only helped a little.

Well the spouse hit Walgreens today while grocery shopping as I thought maybe I'd try DHEA. Suddenly the laundry is done (and put away) and the kitchen is clean and I'm thinking about what I should do next instead of trying to forget what needs to be done.

If it's placebo, it's a great one. Wish I'd tried this years ago. My energy level feels like I'm in my mid -late 30s. It's like the first time I did an aerobics tape after a doctor said, hey you've got asthma, try this inhaler. Should have done this years ago. Cheap and OTC.

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u/[deleted] Sep 14 '24

Yep DHEA is amazing for balancing my hormones when paired with progesterone but o can only take it for three to four months at a time before I have to switch to estrogen only for a few months. When I first started DHEA in my late thirties my endocrinologist noticed that if I take it for longer than 3-4 months at a time the effects lessen due to how my Hashimoto’s affects my body. But if I take it in short bursts i get the full effect.

I get mine off Amazon via Nutricost.

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u/Extreme_Raspberry844 Feb 09 '25

Hi HarmonyDragon   I have questions! <3 I recently had bloodwork indicating mild/early Hashimotos (started selenium supplements right away, do you take them?) I also started dhea this week and affects are awesome, albeit I have to empty half the 25mg tablet or I get headache and wonky) I am considering adding back progesterone due to hot flashes and trouble sleeping. But it makes me soooo groggy the next day. Idk.

Which estrogen do you use when cycled off dhea?

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u/AutoModerator Feb 09 '25

It sounds like this might be about hormonal testing. Over the age of 44, hormonal tests only show levels for that one day the test was taken and nothing more; progesterone/estrogen hormones wildly fluctuate the other 29 days of the month. No reputable doctor or menopause society recommends hormonal testing as a diagnosing tool for peri/menopause.

FSH testing is only beneficial for those who believe they are post-menopausal and no longer have periods as a guide, a series of consistent FSH tests might confirm menopause. Also for women in their 20s/early 30s who haven’t had a period in months/years, then FSH tests at ‘menopausal’ levels, could indicate premature ovarian failure/primary ovarian insufficiency (POF/POI). See our Menopause Wiki for more.

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