DHEA and pregnenolone aren't the hormones you've heard most about — but they're the raw material your body uses to make many of them. As production declines with age, so does the hormonal foundation those downstream systems depend on.
DHEA
DHEA is the precursor to both estrogen and testosterone — the hormones that together maintain lean muscle, libido, and metabolic drive. Targeted replenishment may support the hormonal foundation many women lose as they age.
Pregnenolone
Pregnenolone sits even further upstream — it's the precursor to nearly every major steroid hormone in the body. Emerging research points to its role in cognitive performance and neurological function, with levels declining steadily over time.
Why they're often used alongside estrogen and progesterone
Estrogen and progesterone replace what's been lost directly. DHEA and pregnenolone support the upstream machinery — they help the system as a whole function more like it used to. Whether either is right for you depends on your symptoms, labs, and the clinical picture your provider builds with you.