DHEA is a hormone precursor that occurs naturally in the body and is responsible for breaking down into estrogen and testosterone. DHEA production declines with age, sometimes by as much as 80%.

Adding DHEA to an HRT treatment plan is beneficial for women as it serves as a gentle way of increasing testosterone levels, which is just as important as estrogen and progesterone. DHEA has been shown to increase libido, reduce belly fat, lower BMI, and improve lean muscle mass.

Because DHEA can increase estrogen levels too, your Winona physician takes the DHEA estrogen contribution into consideration when choosing the correct estrogen dose. This allows DHEA and estrogen replacement to be used together safely.

Winona does not prescribe testosterone because it is a controlled substance with numerous restrictions surrounding its use. It can also cause severe side effects if taken in uncontrolled quantities.

Adding DHEA to an HRT treatment plan allows women to experience the benefits of increased testosterone while avoiding the severe side effects of pure testosterone.