Low DHEA Symptoms In Females: Causes, Effects & How To Boost Levels

What Is DHEA?

DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone, is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands. DHEA supplements are added for many reasons, including bone density improvement, stress reduction, and estrogen balance. 

Consider DHEA to be a multi-task superstar in your body. It is a precursor hormone, which means that it prepares the body to make a variety of other hormones important for different body functions.

• Estrogen: The main female sex hormone that allows a woman to regulate her menstrual cycle, enables bone density, and supports her reproductive abilities. 
• Testosterone: A male-driven hormone. However, control over one’s libido, as well as muscle strength and mood, is also necessary for women. 
• Cortisol: The stress hormone that enables the regulation of stress levels in the body as well as blood sugar levels.
• Progesterone: Necessary for period control, pregnancy change, and general reproductive fitness.

Did You Know?
DHEA levels rise till the age of 30 and then slowly reduce in later years. 

The decline can be a bit gradual for some women while it can be utterly drastic for others, resulting in issues for them when it comes to their health and well-being.

Symptoms Of Low DHEA In Women

Excessively low DHEA levels may hamper the body’s capacity to produce adequate amounts of estrogen and testosterone, which in turn is likely to result in a variety of symptoms. Let’s delve into them:

1. Tiredness And Lacking Energy

Does it seem to you like your batteries are always running on fumes, irrespective of the amount of sleep you get? This could be due to low DHEA levels. DHEA deficiency can lead to exhaustion even after a full night’s rest due to the lack of energy metabolism, which is part of DHEA’s function.

• Chronic fatigue despite restful sleep.
• Lack of motivation to undertake even the easiest of tasks.
• Hardly able to remain alert or attentive to daily activities.

2. Hypoactive Sexual Desire (Low Libido)

If you are not too keen to get up, that is to say, your interest in sex has gone down the drain, then low DHEA could be partly responsible. This is because DHEA deficiency adversely affects a woman’s sexual drive and satisfaction, as it is needed for the production of testosterone.

• Lack of sexual desire.
• Inability to become sexually stimulated or reach orgasm.

3. Fluctuating Emotions And Mood Disorders  

Does it feel like your feelings are all mixed up? DHEA has a deep influence on brain functioning and even one’s mood. Low levels have been linked to irritability, anxiety, and even depression.  

• Changes in mood, anger issues.
• Continuous feeling like life is not worth living or sad, which indicates depression.  
• Heightened levels of tension or worry.  

4. Gaining Weight Or Difficulty Losing Weight

Finding it very hard to lose weight even when you are dieting and exercising? DHEA is crucial for metabolism, as well as the distribution of body fat. Low levels tend to go hand in hand with a slower metabolism, which can result in greater difficulty in losing weight.  

• Reasonless gaining weight, mostly around the waist.  
• Harder to get rid of weight despite following a healthy regimen.  

5. Less Bone Strength  

DHEA is not only about one’s hormones; it is also essential to one’s skeletal system. Lower levels tend to be linked to the amount of osteoporosis and higher chances of suffering fractures amongst women after menopause.  

• Weak or brittle bones.  
• Greater chances of fracture and bone injuries.  
• Pain in the joints, as well as a state of stiffness.

6. Hair Loss

DHEA is significant in maintaining hair growth and health. Deficiency may lead to excessive shedding and hair thinning.  

• Thinning hair, especially from the crown.  
• Shedding of hair increases with time.  

7. Hot Flashes And Night Sweats  

DHEA is involved in the production of Estrogen, so low amounts are linked to hot flashes and night sweats similar to symptoms of menopause.  

• Unexpected and intense heat, especially during the night.  
• Sweating too much without engaging in strenuous activity.  

Read the article; Hot Flashes Explained: Triggers, Relief Tips, and More for a better understanding of this.

8. Memory Issues And Brain Fog  

Struggling to remember basic things? Having trouble focusing? These can be signs of decreased levels of DHEA, which is known to affect cognitive function.  

• Difficulty in paying attention or arranging things.  
• Slow or foggy feeling in the head.  

Causes Of Low DHEA In Women  

There are many reasons for a drop in DHEA levels, and some of them could make you feel rather different. Knowing what causes low DHEA can help you take measures to ensure good health. 

1. Age

Regardless of how much we wish to deny it, ageing is an undeniable part of life and comes with a relocation of hormone levels. One of the most noticeable changes occurs with DHEA levels, which begin to drop after the age of 30.

In her seventies or eighties, a woman would have only a fraction of DHEA as compared to her earlier life. As DHEA is the building block for other hormones like estrogen and testosterone, its drop can severely affect energy levels, mood, and even one’s well-being. Eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly could help mitigate these effects.

2. Menopause

Menopause is perhaps one of the most impactful transitions in a woman’s life, considering that it is hormonal in nature. Along with the decline in estrogen and progesterone, DHEA also takes a hit. DHEA helps in the production of certain hormones, so its decline can lead to tiredness, fatigue, mood swings, and lower energy levels. 

Loss of skin elasticity, bone density, and even cognitive sharpness is common for most women. Proper nutrition, exercise, and stress management can ease the transition by supporting your body during this natural phase of life.

3. Chronic Stress

Do you ever feel like stress is exhausting you? This is not simply an over-exaggeration, as there are biological reasons behind it. Chronic stress puts an unreasonable burden on the adrenal glands, resulting in an imbalance in cortisol and depletion of DHEA. Stressed individuals require advanced hormonal effort for their bodies to function optimally.

If left unattended, this imbalance will likely zap your energy and irritate you, causing an array of other potential health problems ranging from sleep complications to weakened immunity. Hormonal and adrenal balance can be maintained through meditation, deep breathing, and exercise, which are helpful in managing stress.

4. Adrenal Insufficiency Or Disease

When an adrenal gland is deficient, it has a hard time producing adequate DHEA. Because of conditions like Addison’s disease or hypoaldosteronism, which disrupts adrenal function, one tends to have low DHEA. 

DHEA levels can drop low enough to cause other symptoms such as tiredness, low blood pressure, muscle weakness, and cravings for excessive salt. In the case of unexplained malaise, testing for primary adrenal disorder is worth considering. 

Seeking medical attention will help elucidate what steps should be taken.

5. Inadequate Nutrition

Your body requires vital elements such as zinc, Vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids for proper production of DHEA instead of an excess of sugar and unhealthy fats, which will cause more harm than good. Consuming whole and nutrient-dense foods such as leafy greens, nuts, seeds, and lean meat will allow for better hormonal balance without adverse reactions.

6. Certain Medications

Long-term use of certain meds, especially Corticosteroids, hinders the body from being able to synthesise DHEA, leading to fatigue, mood disorders, and eventual weakness of bones. If you are on these medications, it is best to consult your physician to determine the best course of action.  

How To Improve DHEA In Women

Mild ailments like chronic tiredness, mood disorder, and lethargy can also stem from low DHEA and experiencing these might be an indicator for you. You’d be happy to know that there are both medical and non-medical methods to restore order. 

Making certain regular lifestyle changes, like taking supplements or undergoing surgical procedures when necessary, can help the body regulate its optimal DHEA levels.   

1. Modifications To One’s Lifestyle 

As stated before, even the smallest of changes can tip the scale towards a higher hormone balance.   

• Regular Exercise: Supplementing that with strength training, lifting weights, and HIIT can stimulate the production of DHEA. Adrenal glands produce hormones, and exercise serves to stimulate them.  
• Stress Management: Deep breathing, yoga, and meditation help deal with cortisol and support healthy levels of DHEA.  Lower stress level allows the adrenal to function optimally. 

(Note: Reach out to Nirva Health if you feel like having professional guidance for practising yoga from experts from the comfort of your home.)

• Eat leafy vegetables, lean meats, whole grain foods, and healthy oils for fat to help your body with hormone production. Foods like berries and nuts that are high in antioxidants can also cause inflammatory effects and promote adrenal health.
• Don’t neglect the impact of good sleep! With inadequate sleep, cortisol levels increase, which will reduce DHEA. To enhance the quality of sleep, try to aim for 7-9 hours of sleep without interruptions.
• Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
• Don’t use screens and drink caffeine before sleep.
• Establish a calming nightly routine that could involve reading or having a warm bath.

2. DHEA Supplement

If lifestyle changes don’t seem to work, DHEA supplements can be considered. You can buy these supplements in stores, but it is always recommended to speak to a doctor first. 

Supplements that restore DHEA levels are helpful for women suffering from extreme fatigue, mood shifts, and reduced sexual energy. Unfortunately, taking DHEA unscrupulously without ample testing and direction could disrupt other hormones, which is why one must be monitored by professionals.

3. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

For some women, especially those undergoing menopause or managing adrenal insufficiency, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the best approach. Women receiving HRT subsequently experience a lessening of the symptoms of these hormones being deficient. As with any therapy, it must always be discussed with the healthcare provider to assist with the objectives, advantages, and disadvantages of an individual’s health case.

Responsible DHEA management allows one to feel healthier and increases vitality and balance. If it’s expected that levels are lower than optimal, seeking a specialist’s opinion is the way to go.

Wrapping It Up

Always feeling tired, battling mood changes, or dealing with sudden weight gain? It would be wise to evaluate your DHEA levels! In today’s world, stress and ageing are impossible to avoid. However, simple lifestyle adjustments can profoundly benefit your body. Quality sleep, nutritious diets, exercising, and managing stress levels can naturally boost your DHEA levels. Professional help, supplements, and guidance can also be relied upon if necessary.

Make sure you listen to what your body is trying to tell you! If you believe that your well-being is suffering due to low DHEA levels, make sure to consult a healthcare practitioner today so you can reclaim your energy, mood, and vitality. Remember, a vibrant and healthier you is fully possible!