I was prescribed DHEA as my levels were shockingly low and I’ve been taking it for nearly 2 years. However I’m struggling with upset tummy and since stopping it things have settled down. I also suffered with acne on my face the whole time.
What I’m wondering is if anyone else had problems taking this and found a natural way to raise levels?
Thanks for reading and if possible helping. This site is a godsend! 🥰
Yes, I had the same problems. My hormone specialist told me it was because too much of it was being converted to testosterone and it was best to stop it altogether. I stopped it and haven't thought about it since - this was about twenty years ago. I haven't done anything to raise it and haven't really felt the lack of it at all. I still managed to sort out my cortisol. No idea what my DHEA level is now.
Hi there! I’m no HRT expert, but am on the journey. So here’s my experience and some questions.
My dhea has been on the low side, but for myself I worked on thyroid and other HRT first.
So I’m now (nearly or totally) optimizes on ft4/ft3 dosing.
Have recently added progesterone. And am monitoring that to see if I should be adding estrogen to it.
I still test dhea regularly… I’ll go have a look to see if it’s changed.
Can I ask why you chose to tackle dhea and in what order with other things you’re optimizing?
I was feeling really low and decided to test cortisol, the DHEA came as part of the test. Mine was 10 and the range started from 130! My thyroid Dr suggested I start taking DHEA. Lately it’s upset my tummy and more worryingly I started getting migraines.
I’m taking T4/T3 combination and nearly optimised so that’s all good. My vitamins are nearly where they should be so not too worried about those .
My problem is that I felt so much better in lots of ways taking the DHEA but the side effects are just too much
Having stopped the DHEA my tummy has settled and the migraines have stopped but I’m beginning to feel low again, motivation slipping, tired etc. so I thought maybe I could tackle it naturally. Problem is there’s just too much information out there to wade through and some of it conflicting.
I had a hysterectomy 30+ years ago so I don’t think I need progesterone but I may be wrong
So here I am! Thanks for replying much appreciated
Gut issues and headaches are both hypo symptoms
Feeling down and grumpy also hypo symptoms
Previous post 2 months ago
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
On 75mcg Levo and 10mcg T3
Free T4 (fT4) 14.8 pmol/L (12 - 22) 28.0%
Free T3 (fT3) 5 pmol/L (3.1 - 6.8) 51.4%
Have you increased Levo to 100mcg after those results
That Ft4 would be too low for many people
And ferritin at only 33 was extremely low
Aim to maintain Ferritin at least over 70
Suggest you get full iron panel for anaemia
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/anae...
Serum ferritin level is the biochemical test, which most reliably correlates with relative total body iron stores. In all people, a serum ferritin level of less than 30 micrograms/L confirms the diagnosis of iron deficiency
Never supplement iron without doing full iron panel test for anaemia first and retest 3-4 times a year if self supplementing.
It’s possible to have low ferritin but high iron
Test early morning, only water to drink between waking and test. Avoid high iron rich dinner night before test
If taking any iron supplements stop 3-5 days before testing
Medichecks iron panel test
medichecks.com/products/iro...
monitormyhealth.org.uk/anae...
10% off code here
thyroiduk.org/testing/priva...
Look at increasing iron rich foods in diet
Eating iron rich foods like liver or liver pate once a week. Increase the amount of red meat you eat, other foods include pumpkin seeds and dark chocolate, plus daily orange juice or other vitamin C rich drink can help improve iron absorption
List of iron rich foods
Links about iron and ferritin
irondisorders.org/too-littl...
davidg170.sg-host.com/wp-co...
Great in-depth article on low ferritin
oatext.com/iron-deficiency-...
drhedberg.com/ferritin-hypo...
This is interesting because I have noticed that many patients with Hashimoto’s disease and hypothyroidism, start to feel worse when their ferritin drops below 80 and usually there is hair loss when it drops below 50.
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Posts discussing Three Arrows as very effective supplement
Great replies from @FallingInReverse
re ferritin and Three arrows
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Great reply by @fallinginreverse
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Vegetarian option
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
epigenetics-international.c...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
restartmed.com/hypothyroidi...
Post discussing just how long it can take to raise low ferritin
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Iron and thyroid link
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
excellent info from Seasidesusie (much missed) explaining why iron panel is necessary
Good iron but low ferritin
-healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Chicken livers if iron is good, but ferritin low
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Shellfish and Mussels are excellent source of iron
healthline.com/nutrition/he...
Iron deficiency without anaemia
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Ferritin over 100 to alleviate symptoms
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
healthunlocked.com/thyroidu...
Great research article discussing similar…..ferritin over 100 often necessary
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Low Iron implicated in hypothyroidism
I increased thyroxine to 100 , kept T3 at 10mcg and I raised levels. Although these levels were a bit too high for me and I felt dreadful, I hung on for at least 6 weeks but I was feeling so bad. I reduced T4 to 75 and felt much better. I’ll test again in a few weeks to see where I am.
The issue for me is that whilst taking DHEA I feel so much better and once off them I slip back into just getting through the day with little emotion etc and my poor husband gets snapped at regularly.
I wondered if anyone had a similar experience and found something to help.
I do have more blood results I’ll post in case it helps.
Thanks for replying
So see where Ft4 has dropped back to at next test
You likely need to fine tune dose - eg next trial 87.5mcg daily
When on combo treatment it’s often necessary to fine tune your dose
Personally I find 100mcg too low (Ft4 around 13) and 125mcg too high (around 21)
112.5mcg about right at 16-18
About 20 years ago I had low DHEA - I took DHEA supplement for about 18 months. It didn’t improve symptoms so I stopped
A year ago my saliva dhea was 2.2 - range at 2-23.
In Feb2025 blood dhea was 88 (26-460) and April2025 last week it’s 102 (range 26-460). Hm!
I have had it on my loooong list and haven’t even looked at the improvement until now.
I have to agree with SD on your free Ts… I didn’t start to feel well until my levels went above where you are. I muddled about at ~40% through ft4 range for a while, while my ft3 also steadily rose, and for me hitting around 75% through on both has me with zero brain fog anymore.
I think I remember your posts as we are kind of on similar thyroid hormone replacement… I am currently on112 Levo and after I think a year and a half on 10 t3 - recently reduced to 7.5. The only thing I’m missing health wise is the ability to do more rigorous physical activity. And although it’s a delicate balance, sleep hygiene is make-or-break, but it’s pretty good.
When I was in your shoes I tweaked t4/t3.
ALSO - don’t underestimate the impact of low ferritin. Do you have an iron panel to share? Are you supplementing?
I think thyroid, iron, and sleep hygiene are a good place to focus for a few months.
Re dhea, I just went back and googled it and was reminded at how unpredictable they say direct dhea supplements can be. That being said, although I don’t think it makes a huge difference tbh, my recently added Thorne b complex does have b5, which is a dhea support.
I’m taking Vit D with Vit K, B12, folate and vitamin C with the Hiprex.
I think I suffered Sheehans syndrome when I gave birth to my first, classic pituitary shock which has possibly caused hormonal problems and a hysterectomy at 36 due to a falling out womb (3big babies) didn’t help. The joys of being a woman!
My thyroid levels are good and my vitamins are rising nicely. My iron is an ongoing problem as every time I raise levels I get a very painful UTI which takes a long time to clear. Everytime!! I’m back on Hiprex now so I’m trying again.
When iron levels are better you can utilise thyroid hormones better
So it’s important to be o high enough dose thyroid hormones
UTI suggests low Ft4
That’s interesting about T4 and UTIs.
Also are you on strictly gluten free diet and have you tried dairy free as well
I’m dairy free but tried gluten free but made no difference.
I do think the gut issue has a lot to do with many many many antibiotics over the years and I’ve just sent for a test to check my gut health. I haven’t been able to do it as you have to be antibiotic free for a month and this has proved a problem (UTIs). Now on Hiprex again so hoping this helps, so far so good.
Pregnenolone is called the mother hormone and can help to regulate other hormone levels including dhea and cortisol and sex hormones but please research and look into it yourself as I am just starting after research online and will use a topical cream non prescription. I have had full hysterectomy and am in my 70's so am running on empty as far as hormones go.
thank you for replying. I’m 69 in a few days and also had a hysterectomy and are alike in that I am also running on empty. I will definitely look in to this and being quite cautious will take my time.
I’d be interested to hear how you get on so please if possible keep us updated.
Good luck with everything. X
Test results - low cortisol and DHEA. 
Help with latest results 
Should I take DHEA supplement to raise my DHEA?
Help with blood test results 
Help with symptoms and T3
