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Stress & Adrenal Function

DHEA-S

DHEA-S is an adrenal hormone — made by small glands above your kidneys — that acts as a reservoir the body draws on to make other sex hormones. Both men and women have it. Doctors use it mainly as a window on how those glands are working. It fades naturally as you age, so it is compared to an age-matched range rather than one fixed number.

Targeted Testing
CategoryStress & Adrenal Function
Reference rangeSee your report
Evidence○Targeted Testing
Last updated3 July 2026
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What is dhea-s?

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) is an androgen — a group of hormones sometimes called male sex hormones — that is present in the blood of both men and women. The adrenal glands make it; specifically, it is produced in the inner layer of the adrenal cortex (the outer part of the adrenal gland), a region called the zona reticularis. The adrenal glands also make small amounts of testosterone. DHEA-S is a building block that the body can convert into stronger androgens such as testosterone and androstenedione, or into oestrogen. Because it is made almost entirely by the adrenal glands (unlike testosterone, which also comes from the testes or ovaries), a DHEA-S measurement is useful as a marker of adrenal function specifically. DHEA-S levels peak in young adulthood and then decline steadily with age — which is why your result is compared to an age-matched reference interval rather than a single number.

Why is it tested?

DHEA-S testing is ordered alongside other tests to evaluate adrenal function and to help investigate conditions where the adrenal glands may be producing too many or too few hormones. It may be requested when someone has symptoms of androgen excess — such as unwanted hair growth (hirsutism), acne, or irregular periods in women — to help work out whether the excess androgens are coming from the adrenal glands specifically. DHEA-S is also sometimes checked when assessing adrenal tumours, or as part of a broader hormone investigation prompted by symptoms such as unexplained fatigue. Because the analyte is naturally stable through the day (unlike cortisol, which peaks in the morning), the timing of collection matters less for this test.

Reference range (Australia)

Use the reference interval printed on your report — DHEA-S falls steadily with age, so it is read against an age-matched interval µmol/L

DHEA-S is highest in young adulthood and declines with age, so it is compared to an age-matched reference interval rather than a single number.

Reference intervals vary between laboratories. Always use the range printed on your own report.

What your result means

If your level is low

A below-range DHEA-S is most often simply a reflection of age-related decline — DHEA-S falls steadily throughout adult life, so lower levels in middle age and beyond are expected. Other factors such as illness or significant stress can also lower it. A low result in the context of your age and the age-matched interval may not require any action; your GP will weigh it against your symptoms and the rest of your results.

If your level is in range

A DHEA-S within the age-matched reference interval on your report suggests the adrenal glands are producing this hormone at a level consistent with your age. No specific follow-up is usually needed for the DHEA-S result alone; your GP will consider it alongside the full picture.

If your level is high

A high DHEA-S points toward the adrenal glands as a source of elevated androgens. This can help your GP understand whether excess androgen symptoms — such as hirsutism (excess body hair), acne, or irregular cycles — are coming from the adrenal glands rather than the ovaries or another source. It can also be a signal for your GP to consider whether the adrenal glands need further investigation. A single result is interpreted in the context of your symptoms and other hormone levels.

What can affect your result

Age is the most significant influence on DHEA-S: levels peak in the mid-twenties and decline from there, which is a normal feature of ageing rather than a disease. Physical or emotional stress can affect adrenal hormone output and may influence DHEA-S levels. Significant illness and disrupted sleep can lower production. Because DHEA-S does not follow a pronounced daily rhythm (unlike cortisol), collection timing matters less, but your GP will still interpret the result in the context of your overall health picture. Because DHEA-S can be converted into stronger androgens such as testosterone and androstenedione, it sits within the wider androgen story; your GP usually reads it alongside other androgen markers and cortisol rather than in isolation.

When to act

If your DHEA-S is outside the age-matched interval, it is worth raising with your GP at your next visit rather than treating as urgent. They will consider it alongside your age, symptoms, and other results — and may check whether the adrenal glands need a closer look. Because this marker is linked to adrenal function, your GP may look at it in relation to your cortisol result (see the Cortisol (Morning) page for more on adrenal function). A single out-of-range result rarely settles a diagnosis on its own. This page is general information and is not a substitute for advice from your GP.

Frequently asked questions

DHEA-S — dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate — is an androgen, a type of hormone sometimes called a male sex hormone, but it is present in the blood of both men and women. Almost all of it is made in the adrenal glands, in a layer called the zona reticularis. Because the adrenal glands are its main source, measuring DHEA-S gives a useful picture of how those glands are functioning.

DHEA-S testing, along with other tests, is used to evaluate adrenal function and to help investigate tumours or other conditions involving the adrenal cortex — the outer part of the adrenal gland that makes hormones including androgens and cortisol. If you have symptoms of androgen excess (such as unwanted hair growth or acne), the DHEA-S level can help point to the adrenal glands as the source rather than the ovaries or another organ.

DHEA-S is one of the hormones that follows a well-established pattern of age-related decline, rising to a peak in young adulthood and then gradually falling across the decades. This is expected and normal rather than a sign of illness. Because of this, your result is compared to a reference interval matched to your age, not to a single number that applies across all age groups.

DHEA-S is one piece of an androgen work-up. Because it comes almost entirely from the adrenal glands, a high DHEA-S can help tell your GP whether excess androgens are coming from the adrenal glands specifically. The zona reticularis of the adrenal gland produces both dehydroepiandrosterone and androstenedione, so elevated levels of either can point in that direction. Your GP will look at DHEA-S alongside testosterone, SHBG, and androstenedione to build a complete picture.

Both are made by the adrenal glands, but they play different roles. Cortisol is your body's main stress hormone, following a sharp daily rhythm (highest in the morning). DHEA-S is an androgen — a building block for sex hormones — and does not follow the same pronounced daily rise and fall, so the timing of its measurement matters less. Your GP may order both together when assessing overall adrenal function.

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