Dhea what does it stand for

If you have a normal level, it means your adrenal glands are working the way they should. This excess may be related to adrenal cancer, tumors, or excess growth of adrenal hormone-producing tissue hyperplasia. If your DHEA level is low, it may mean that your adrenal glands are not making enough hormones. This can be because of damage to the adrenal gland or a diseased pituitary gland.

The pituitary gland makes a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands to do their job. If the pituitary gland doesn't make enough of its hormone, then the adrenal glands won't make enough of their hormone. Your adrenal glands may stop working for a short time if you start or stop taking certain medicines, like prednisone.

The test is done with a blood sample. A needle is used to draw blood from a vein in your arm or hand. Having a blood test with a needle has some risks. These include bleeding, infection, bruising, and feeling lightheaded. When the needle pricks your arm or hand, you may feel a slight sting or pain.

Afterward, the site may be sore. Menstruation can affect your results. Sign up for free, and stay up-to-date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID, plus expert advice on managing your health. Error Email field is required. Error Include a valid email address. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information and to understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your e-mail and website usage information with other information we have about you.

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Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. In adolescent girls, doctors may request that the test be performed either before or after a menstrual period, as menstruation may affect hormone levels. On the day of the test, having your child wear a T-shirt or short-sleeved shirt can make things easier for your child and the technician who will be drawing the blood.

A health professional will draw the blood from a vein after cleaning the skin surface with antiseptic and placing an elastic band tourniquet around the upper arm to apply pressure and cause the veins to swell with blood. A needle is inserted into a vein usually in the arm inside of the elbow or on the back of the hand and blood is withdrawn and collected in a vial or syringe.

After the procedure, the elastic band is removed. Once the blood has been collected, the needle is removed and the area is covered with cotton or a bandage to stop the bleeding. Collecting the blood for the test will only take a few minutes. Collecting a blood sample is only temporarily uncomfortable and can feel like a quick pinprick. Afterward, there may be some mild bruising, which should go away in a day or so. The blood sample will be processed by a machine.

The results are commonly available within a few days.