Blood-tests Explained


Disclaimer:

This website is intended to assist with patient education and should not be used as a diagnostic, treatment or prescription service, forum or platform. Always consult your own healthcare practitioner for a more personalised and detailed opinion

DHEAS


At a Glance

Why Get Tested?

To help evaluate adrenal gland function; to detect adrenal tumors or cancers; to help determine the cause of masculine physical characteristics (virilization) in girls and women or early puberty in boys

When to Get Tested?

When a girl or woman has excess facial and body hair (hirsutism), acne, absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea), or a woman has infertility; when a boy shows signs of very early (precocious) puberty such as deeper voice, pubic hair, or muscle development

Sample Required?

A blood sample drawn from a vein in your arm

Test Preparation Needed?

None, although women should talk to their health practitioner about the timing of the test; your healthcare provider may want to have the sample collected a week before or after your menstrual period.

The Test Sample

What is being tested?

Thumbnail diagram of the adrenal gland

Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) is a male sex hormone (androgen) that is present in both men and women. This test measures the level of DHEAS in the blood.

DHEAS:

  • Plays a role in developing male secondary sexual characteristics at puberty
  • Can be converted by the body into more potent androgens, such as testosterone and androstenedione
  • Can be converted into the female hormone estrogen

DHEAS is produced almost exclusively by the adrenal glands, with smaller amounts being produced by a woman's ovaries and a man's testicles.

It is useful as a marker for adrenal gland function.Adrenal tumors (cancerous and non-cancerous) and adrenal hyperplasia can lead to the overproduction of DHEAS. Rarely, an ovarian tumor may produce DHEAS.

Excess DHEAS:

  • May not be noticed in adult men
  • Can cause early (precocious) puberty in young boys
  • Can lead to absence of menstrual periods (amenorrhea) and the development of masculine physical characteristics (virilization) in girls and women, such as excess body and facial hair (hirsutism)
  • Can cause a female baby to be born with genitals that are not distinctly male or female in appearance (ambiguous external genitalia)

How is the sample collected for testing?

A blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm.

Is any test preparation needed to ensure the quality of the sample?

No test preparation is needed.Women should talk to their health practitioner about the timing of the test.The healthcare provider may want to have the sample collected a week before or after a woman's menstrual period.

The Test