DHEA-S blood test: what it measures, who gets it and how to prepare
A DHEA-S test measures DHEA sulfate (also written DHEAS) in a sample of your blood. DHEA-S is a hormone made mostly by the adrenal glands, the two small glands above your kidneys. It is a separate test from cortisol.
People reach this page for one of three reasons: a clinician mentioned the test, they saw “DHEA-S” on a lab menu, or they aren’t sure how it differs from a plain DHEA test. This page covers all three.
DHEA sulfate
One blood test for DHEA sulfate, a hormone made mostly by the adrenal glands.
$169
See this test at HealthLabsPrice checked November 2026. Not available in ND, RI, NY, NJ, MD and HI. We earn a commission on sales.
What DHEA-S is
MedlinePlus says DHEAS is mostly made in the adrenal glands, with smaller amounts made in the testicles and ovaries. It is a type of androgen (male sex hormone), but it is found in both men and women. It plays a role in making testosterone and estrogen. MedlinePlus also says DHEAS levels peak around puberty and then get lower as you age. A 2025 paper on Korean adults, citing earlier work, puts the peak at around age 20, falling to 10 to 20 percent of the maximum by age 70.
DHEA vs DHEA-S
DHEA is the hormone. DHEA-S is DHEA with a sulfate group attached. A medical-education review says the majority of DHEA is secreted as the sulfate form, and that DHEA and DHEAS results can be used interchangeably in most clinical situations. It also calls DHEAS a good marker of adrenal androgen production. MedlinePlus lists “DHEA” among the other names for the DHEAS test.
In practice: some sellers list a DHEA test and a DHEA sulfate test as separate orders. This page is about DHEA sulfate. If a clinician asked for a specific one, buy that one, and ask them if you are unsure.
Why a clinician orders it
According to MedlinePlus, a DHEAS test is most often used to:
- find out if your adrenal glands are working well,
- diagnose tumors of the adrenal glands,
- diagnose disorders of the testicles or ovaries,
- find the cause of early or late puberty in boys, or
- look for the cause of masculine features in women and girls, such as excess body and facial hair or a deepening voice.
It is often done along with other sex hormone tests, such as testosterone for men and estrogen for women. MedlinePlus lists PCOS among the conditions linked to high DHEAS, so the test comes up in PCOS work-ups. See PCOS and hormone testing.
MedlinePlus says men may not have any symptoms of high DHEAS. In women and girls, symptoms of high levels can include excess body and facial hair, a deepening voice, menstrual irregularities, acne and hair loss at the top of the head. Each of those has other common causes, so having one doesn’t mean your DHEA-S is off.
How to prepare
MedlinePlus says you don’t need any special preparation. The seller’s page says fasting is not required and that you can eat and drink normally unless your doctor has given you other instructions. It doesn’t state a time of day for the draw, so follow the instructions on your lab order. Tell your clinician what medicines and supplements you take. Don’t stop any medicine for the test unless your prescriber tells you to.
A health care professional takes a blood sample from a vein in your arm. It usually takes less than five minutes.
What the seller’s order includes
The seller’s page describes a DHEA sulfate test only. It says the test focuses specifically on DHEA sulfate and does not include cortisol or other adrenal hormones. The sample is a simple blood draw, and the seller says results are available in your account within one to three business days.
If your question is about cortisol, this is the wrong test on its own. See the cortisol test guide. Prices for the same type of test vary widely between sellers, and it is worth comparing. See cost and where to buy.
What a DHEA-S result can and can’t show
Ranges vary. The medical-education review says DHEAS reference values vary with age. Sex also matters: in the Korean adult study, average DHEA-S was higher in men than in women. Labs print their own ranges for age and sex groups, so use the one on your report, not a table from a web page.
A result is read in context. MedlinePlus says abnormal DHEAS may mean a problem with the adrenal glands or with sex hormones (estrogen or testosterone). It says your provider will consider your symptoms, age, sex, medical history and the results of other blood tests. A single value can’t tell you which, and this page can’t either.
It isn’t a test of how stressed you are or whether you have “adrenal fatigue”. That is not a recognized diagnosis. See adrenal tests.
Supplements. MedlinePlus says over-the-counter DHEA supplements are sometimes promoted as anti-aging therapy but that there is no reliable evidence for the claims, and that the supplements may cause serious side effects. If you take one, or are thinking of it, talk to your provider.
When to see a clinician
Book a visit if you have symptoms such as new facial or body hair growth, a deepening voice, changes in periods, or early or late puberty in a child. A DHEA-S result is information to take to a clinician, not a reason to change anything by yourself.
If you have repeated vomiting, severe weakness or fainting, don’t wait for a test. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. See adrenal crisis.
Questions people ask
Does the DHEA-S test check cortisol?
No. The seller’s page says the DHEA sulfate test does not include cortisol or other adrenal hormones. Cortisol is a separate test.
Is DHEA-S the same as testosterone?
No. DHEA-S is a precursor that the body can use to make testosterone and estrogen, according to MedlinePlus. Testosterone is measured with its own test.
Do I need to fast for a DHEA-S test?
MedlinePlus says no special preparation is needed, and the seller’s page says fasting isn’t required. Follow any other instructions on your order.
Keep reading
- Adrenal tests
Every adrenal blood test and what it answers.
- PCOS and hormone testing
Where DHEA-S fits in a PCOS work-up.
- ACTH blood test
The pituitary signal to the adrenal glands.
- Cortisol test guide
Which cortisol test fits which question.
DHEA sulfate
$169
See this test at HealthLabsPrice checked November 2026. Not available in ND, RI, NY, NJ, MD and HI. We earn a commission on sales.
Keep reading
- Adrenal tests: which blood tests exist and what each one shows
There is no single adrenal test. See what cortisol, ACTH, DHEA-S and aldosterone blood tests show, and why no test can confirm adrenal fatigue.
- Cortisol and PCOS: what the research shows and which tests matter
Is cortisol linked to PCOS? What a small study found, why no test diagnoses PCOS, how Cushing's syndrome can look like it, and where DHEA-S and cortisol tests fit.
- ACTH blood test: what it measures, why it is ordered and how to prepare
What an ACTH blood test measures, why clinicians order it with cortisol, how the plasma sample is handled, how to prepare and what one result can't show.
- Cortisol test: which test answers which question
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- 17-OHP test: what 17-hydroxyprogesterone shows and who needs it
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