DHEA Ups Sexual Function Post Menopause

PISA, ItalyDaily supplementation with 10 mg of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) worked as well as hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) and the prescription drug tibolone at improving  sexual function and frequency of sexual intercourse in early postmenopausal women in a recent study (Climacteric. 2011 Dec;14(6):661-8. Epub 2011 Sep 26).

DHEA is a hormone that is naturally made by the human body. While legal in the United States, DHEA is considered a steroidal doping substance by some athletic authorities, even though industry members argue it is not an anabolic steroid and does not cause excess testosterone in the body. Use by athletes is banned by international sports authorities and, in the United States, by the National College Athletic Association.

Older individuals and those with low levels of hormones may benefit from supplemental DHEA, which can help restore testosterone and/or estrogen to normal levels. In these populations, DHEA may be able to support healthy immune function, cognitive function and mood, sleep patterns, strong bones and glucose metabolism.

The study authors, from the University of Pisa, noted sexual desire is affected by endocrine and psychosocial factors, and menopausal hormonal changes can cause sexual dysfunction during reproductive aging.

In this study, 48 healthy postmenopausal women aged 50 to 60 years (mean age 54.5±3.3 years) with climacteric symptoms were randomized into three groups receiving either 10 mg/d of DHEA,  HRT (daily oral estradiol [1 mg] plus dihydrogesterone [5 mg]) or daily oral tibolone (2.5 mg) for 12 months. Women who refused hormonal therapy were treated with oral vitamin D (400 IU).

The researchers reported the groups receiving DHEA or HRT reported a significant improvement in sexual function compared to baseline (P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively) using the McCoy Female Sexuality Questionnaire total score. The quality of relationship was similar at baseline and after three, six and 12 months of treatment. Sexual intercourse also significantly increased in the previous four weeks in women treated with DHEA, HRT and tibolone in comparison with the baseline value (P<0.01, P<0.05, P<0.01, respectively). No changes in the McCoy score occurred in women receiving vitamin D.