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 .
Differential effects of oral estrogen versus oral estrogen-androgen replacement therapy on body composition in postmenopausal women.
Menopause is associated with decreased lean body mass and increased fat due to aging and declining hormone secretion . Estrogens or estrogen-progestins have been used to alleviate vasomotor symptoms . However , estrogen- and rogen ( E/A ) therapy is also used for vasomotor symptom relief and has been shown to increase lean body mass while decreasing fat mass . The objective of this 16-wk , double-blind , r and omized , parallel group clinical trial was to compare esterified estrogen plus methyltestosterone ( 1.25 mg estrogen + 2.5 mg methyltestosterone/d ; E/A group ) vs. esterified estrogen alone ( 1.25 mg/d ; E group ) on body composition . Forty postmenopausal women ( mean age , 57 yr ) participated . Compared with estrogen treatment alone , women in the E/A group increased their total lean body mass and reduced their percentage fat for all body parts ( P < 0.05 ) . After E/A treatment , there were statistically significant increases in lean body mass by 1.232 kg [ 0.181 + /- 0.004 , 0.81 + /- 0.057 , and 0.24 + /- 0.009 kg in the upper body ( P = 0.021 ) , trunk ( P = 0.001 ) , and lower body ( P = 0.047 ) , respectively ] . In the E group , the increase was 0.31 + /- 0.004 , 0.021 + /- 0.03 , and 0.056 + /- 0.05 kg in the upper body , trunk , and lower body , respectively . In the E/A group , body fat was reduced by 0.90 kg ( P = 0.18 for the trunk only ) , and percentage body fat declined by 7.4 % ( P < or = 0.05 for all body parts ) . Lower body strength increased by 23.1 kg ( 51 lb ) in the E/A group vs. only 11 kg ( 24.25 lb ) in the E group ( P = 0.002 between groups ) . A statistically significant increase in weight ( 2.7 + /- 5.1 vs. 0.1 + /- 4.6 lb ; P < 0.05 ) was observed in the E/A group compared with the E group . When subjects were given self-reporting question naires , more improvement was noted in sexual functioning and quality of life in the  E/A  group when compared with patients receiving E alone . There were no noteworthy side effects . In conclusion , E/A replacement therapy can improve body composition , lower-body muscle strength , quality of life , and sexual functioning in postmenopausal women
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 .