A plain-language, continually updated guide from Dr. Matt Chalmers’ clinical reference on hormones and peptides.
DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is a hormone produced mainly by your adrenal glands that serves as a precursor your body converts into testosterone and estrogen downstream. It’s especially important in women, where it’s one of three sources of testosterone (alongside the ovaries and peripheral tissue conversion) — after menopause, as ovarian testosterone production falls, the adrenal contribution and DHEA-based conversion become the primary remaining sources. DHEA declines dramatically with age (a process called adrenopause), which is one reason postmenopausal testosterone levels can drop 50–70% from their reproductive-age peak.
Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) is worth knowing about specifically here: it’s required to make coenzyme A, which fuels the high-energy adrenal steroid production process, and adrenal DHEA output is particularly sensitive to B5 status — a deficiency has been associated with adrenal fatigue patterns and reduced DHEA production. Magnesium supports the enzymes involved in adrenal steroid synthesis and also helps calm cortisol output, which matters because elevated cortisol directly competes with DHEA and testosterone for the same steroid-building raw material (a phenomenon sometimes called “pregnenolone steal”).
DHEA is available as an over-the-counter dietary supplement in the U.S. at lower doses; higher, prescription-strength formulations may be compounded. Appropriateness is determined through lab testing and consultation with our providers.
DHEA is available over-the-counter at lower doses and declines naturally with age. As a precursor hormone, it’s documented to convert into testosterone and estrogen through downstream pathways — this conversion is especially significant in women, where DHEA becomes a primary testosterone source after menopause. Appropriateness of higher-dose, prescription-strength use is determined through lab testing with our providers.
This natural decline (called adrenopause) is one of the more predictable hormonal changes with age, and it’s a major reason postmenopausal testosterone and estrogen levels can fall so significantly — since DHEA is a shared upstream precursor for both.
This page draws on The Pillars Path: A Root-Cause Guide to Hormones, Peptides, and Metabolic Health by Dr. Matt Chalmers — Pillars of Wellness’ clinical reference on hormone and peptide therapy.
