dehydroepiandrosterone + conjugated estrogens + ethinyl estradiol + levonorgestrel

This combination hormone replacement therapy regimen was developed by Boston Children's Hospital to treat bone loss and improve bone mineral density in adolescents and young women with anorexia nervosa. The treatment addresses the dual hormonal deficiencies—adrenal and gonadal—characteristic of the disease. The regimen consists of 50 mg daily oral micronized dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) combined with a sequential estrogen/progestin therapy. The estrogenic component initially utilizes conjugated equine estrogens (Premarin) for three months, followed by a combined oral contraceptive containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel (Alesse). Mechanistically, DHEA acts as a precursor for androgens that stimulate bone formation, while the estrogen/progestin component inhibits bone resorption, collectively aiming to restore skeletal strength and prevent osteoporosis.

Other names

DHEA + HRTcombined DHEA and hormone replacement therapyDHEA + estrogen/progestin therapy