Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) is an androgen hormone made almost entirely by your adrenal glands. It serves as a building block your body can convert into other sex hormones such as testosterone and estrogen.
Declines ~2% per year after age 30. Minimal diurnal variation. Adrenal origin only; no gonadal contribution.
Because DHEA-S comes largely from the adrenal glands and is fairly stable through the day, it is a useful marker of adrenal androgen production. Levels naturally peak in early adulthood and decline with age, and shifts can offer clues about adrenal function.
Higher DHEA-S can reflect increased adrenal androgen production, sometimes seen with PCOS, certain adrenal conditions, or, rarely, adrenal tumors. It may also fall within normal variation, so an elevated value warrants clinical interpretation rather than alarm.
Low DHEA-S can accompany normal aging or reduced adrenal output, and its significance depends on your age, sex, and clinical picture.
DHEA-S ranges are strongly age- and sex-specific, declining steadily across adulthood, so your value is best judged against peers of your age and sex. A clinician can tell you what your result means in context.
Sources
Educational context only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Reference ranges vary by lab, age and sex; always discuss your results with a clinician.