Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a hormone that is turned into male and female sex hormones in the body. Prescription DHEA is used to treat thin vaginal tissue.

DHEA is made by the adrenal glands and by the liver. DHEA levels seem to go down as people get older. DHEA levels seem to be lower in people with depression and after menopause.

People commonly use prescription DHEA for vaginal tissue thinning. DHEA supplements are used for aging skin, depression, infertility, muscle strength, heart disease, erectile dysfunction (ED), and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these other uses.
 
Possibly Effective for
Aging skin. Taking DHEA by mouth or applying it to the skin might improve skin appearance after menopause and in people over the age of 60 years.
Depression. Taking 30-500 mg of DHEA by mouth daily seems to improve symptoms of depression. Lower doses don't seem to help.
Inability to become pregnant within a year of trying to conceive (infertility). Taking DHEA by mouth before in-vitro fertilization (IVF) might improve the chances of pregnancy and having a baby. But it's not clear if taking DHEA helps prevent miscarriage after IVF.