There is no evidence that DHEA  improves quality of life but there is some evidence that it is associated with and rogenic side effects .
There is uncertainty whether DHEA decreases menopausal symptoms , but DHEA may slightly improve sexual function compared with placebo
BACKGROUND During menopause a decreasing ovarian follicular response generally causes a fluctuation and eventual decrease in estrogen levels .
This can lead to the development of various perimenopausal and postmenopausal symptoms ( for example hot flushes , night sweats , vaginal dryness ) .
Dehydroepi and rosterone ( DHEA ) is one of the main precursors of and rogens , which in turn are converted to testosterone and estrogens .
It is possible that the administration of DHEA may increase estrogen and testosterone levels in peri- and postmenopausal women to alleviate their symptoms and improve general wellbeing and sexual function ( for example libido , dyspareunia , satisfaction ) .
Treatment with DHEA is controversial as there is uncertainty about its effectiveness and safety .
This review should clearly outline the evidence for DHEA in the treatment of menopausal symptoms and evaluate its effectiveness and safety by combining the results of r and omised controlled trials .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness and safety of administering DHEA to women with menopausal symptoms in the peri- or postmenopausal phase .
Lack of influence of dyspareunia on the beneficial effect of intravaginal prasterone (dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA) on sexual dysfunction in postmenopausal women.
INTRODUCTION We have previously observed that intravaginal prasterone ( dehydroepi and rosterone , DHEA ) improved all domains of female sexual dysfunction ( FSD ) . AIM Investigate the influence of moderate/severe pain at sexual activity ( dyspareunia ) ( MSD ) at baseline on FSD following prasterone administration . METHODS The effect of daily administration of prasterone ( 0 , 3.25 mg , 6.5 mg or 13 mg ) for 12 weeks on FSD in 215 postmenopausal women with or without MSD at baseline was evaluated in a prospect i ve , r and omized , double-blind , and placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Differences were examined on desire , arousal and orgasm . RESULTS Comparable benefits were observed in women not having MSD ( n = 56 ) vs. those having MSD ( n = 159 ) . The benefits over placebo in prasterone-treated women for desire , avoiding intimacy and vaginal dryness as well as for the total sexual domain of the MENQOL ( Menopause Specific Quality of Life ) question naire , ranged between 18.0 % and 38.2 % with P values of < 0.05 or < 0.01 except in one out of 12 subgroups . For the arousal/sensation , arousal/lubrication and summary score of the ASF ( Abbreviated Sexual Function ) question naire , in the MSD+ group , improvements of 64.2 % ( P = 0.01 ) , 118 % ( P = 0.001 ) and 31.1 % ( P = 0.03 ) were observed over placebo , respectively , while similar differences ( 58.0 % , 67.6 % and 32.1 % ) did not reach statistical significance in the MSD- group having up to only 44 prasterone-treated women compared with 119 in the MSD+ group . CONCLUSIONS No MSD at baseline does not apparently affect the effects of intravaginal prasterone on sexual dysfunction . Knowing the absence of significant effects of estrogens on FSD , the present data suggest that vulvovaginal atrophy ( VVA ) and vulvovaginal sexual dysfunction ( VVSD ) are two different consequences of sex steroid deficiency at menopause which can respond independently . In addition , the present data seriously question the justification of pain being part of FSD as well as the separation of FSD into separate domains
There is no evidence that DHEA  improves quality of life but there is some evidence that it is associated with and rogenic side effects .
There is uncertainty whether DHEA decreases menopausal symptoms , but DHEA may slightly improve sexual function compared with placebo
BACKGROUND During menopause a decreasing ovarian follicular response generally causes a fluctuation and eventual decrease in estrogen levels .
This can lead to the development of various perimenopausal and postmenopausal symptoms ( for example hot flushes , night sweats , vaginal dryness ) .
Dehydroepi and rosterone ( DHEA ) is one of the main precursors of and rogens , which in turn are converted to testosterone and estrogens .
It is possible that the administration of DHEA may increase estrogen and testosterone levels in peri- and postmenopausal women to alleviate their symptoms and improve general wellbeing and sexual function ( for example libido , dyspareunia , satisfaction ) .
Treatment with DHEA is controversial as there is uncertainty about its effectiveness and safety .
This review should clearly outline the evidence for DHEA in the treatment of menopausal symptoms and evaluate its effectiveness and safety by combining the results of r and omised controlled trials .
OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness and safety of administering DHEA to women with menopausal symptoms in the peri- or postmenopausal phase .