Comparison
Clomiphene vs DHEA
Side-by-side of Clomiphene and DHEA. Every row below is pulled from the compound schema and will update as our data grows. For deeper reads, follow through to each compound page.
Clomiphene
Clomiphene citrate raises LH/FSH and endogenous testosterone in men. SERM TRT alternative, 25 to 50 mg, fertility preserved, visual side effects flagged.
DHEA
DHEA supplement profile: adrenal androgen precursor, typical 25-50 mg dose, DHEA-S targets, evidence for adrenal insufficiency and vaginal atrophy, side effec.
Effects at a glance
Clomiphene
- •SERM that blocks estrogen-receptor negative feedback at the hypothalamus, raising LH and FSH
- •FDA approved 1967 for ovulation induction in anovulatory women at 50 to 100 mg cycle days 5 to 9
- •Off-label in men at 12.5 to 25 mg daily raises endogenous testosterone while preserving fertility
- •Enclomiphene (trans-isomer) is preferred for male use; cleaner PK and less estrogenic side effect burden
- •Visual disturbances occur in ~1 to 2% of users; persistent symptoms warrant immediate cessation
- •Letrozole has displaced clomiphene as first-line ovulation induction in PCOS (Legro 2014)
DHEA
- •Adrenal androgen precursor; serum DHEA-S declines progressively after the third decade of life
- •OTC dietary supplement in US under DSHEA 1994; prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia
- •FDA approved as Intrarosa (6.5 mg vaginal insert) for postmenopausal dyspareunia in 2016
- •Acts as tissue-specific prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens
- •Best evidence: adrenal insufficiency replacement and vaginal atrophy; weaker on cognition and longevity
- •WADA banned in competitive sport; banned in NCAA, MLB, NFL, IOC settings
Side-by-side
| Attribute | Clomiphene | DHEA |
|---|---|---|
| Category | pharmaceutical | hormone |
| Also known as | Clomid, clomiphene citrate, Serophene, enclomiphene | dehydroepiandrosterone, prasterone, Intrarosa |
| Half-life (hr) ↗ | 168 | 12 |
| Typical dose (mg) ↗ | 25 | 25 |
| Dosing frequency | 5-day pulse cycle days 5 to 9 (women); daily or every other day (men, off-label) | daily, typically morning |
| Routes | oral | oral, vaginal, topical |
| Onset (hr) | 6 | 1 |
| Peak (hr) | 7 | 1 |
| Molecular weight | 405.96 | 288.42 |
| Molecular formula | C26H28ClNO | C19H28O2 |
| Mechanism | Selective estrogen receptor modulator that antagonizes estrogen at the hypothalamus and pituitary, increasing GnRH and gonadotropin output, which drives gonadal steroidogenesis. | Steroid prohormone converted intracrinologically to testosterone and estrogens in target tissues; also exerts direct effects via sigma-1 receptor, GABA-A modulation, and glucocorticoid receptor interaction. |
| Legal status | Prescription only (FDA approved for ovulation induction; off-label in men) | OTC supplement in US (DSHEA 1994); prescription in EU, UK, Canada, Australia |
| WADA status | banned | banned |
| DEA / Rx | Rx only (not a controlled substance) | OTC supplement in US (not scheduled); Rx in EU, UK, Canada, Australia |
| Pregnancy | Category X; contraindicated in pregnancy | Contraindicated in pregnancy |
| CAS | 911-45-5 | 53-43-0 |
| PubChem CID | 1548953 | 5881 |
| Wikidata | Q416785 | Q411733 |
Safety profile
Clomiphene
Common side effects
- hot flushes
- mood changes
- abdominal discomfort
- breast tenderness
- visual disturbances (rare)
- headache
Contraindications
- pregnancy
- active liver disease
- ovarian cysts (not PCOS-related)
- uncontrolled thyroid or adrenal disorder
- abnormal uterine bleeding of undetermined origin
- hormone-sensitive cancer
Interactions
- tamoxifen: competing SERM activity; not used together(moderate)
- ospemifene: competing SERM activity(moderate)
- anastrozole: additive estrogen reduction; sometimes combined in male protocols(minor)
- TRT (exogenous testosterone): TRT suppresses HPT axis that clomiphene targets; do not combine(moderate)
DHEA
Common side effects
- acne
- oily skin
- hirsutism (women)
- gynecomastia (men, higher doses)
- irritability
- insomnia
Contraindications
- hormone-sensitive cancer (breast, ovarian, prostate)
- active liver disease
- uncontrolled lipid disorder
- pregnancy and lactation
Interactions
- warfarin: case reports of altered INR; monitor(moderate)
- estrogens (HRT): additive estrogenic effect via conversion; monitor(moderate)
- insulin: may improve insulin sensitivity slightly; monitor glucose(minor)
- anastrozole: may reduce DHEA-derived estrogen; clinical relevance unclear(minor)
Which Should You Take?
DHEA comes out ahead for most readers on the criteria we weight: 2 catalogued goals, OTC dietary supplement, oral dosing, with a Tier-A outcome catalogued. Clomiphene is the right call when one of the conditionals below applies.
- → If your priority is fertility, pick Clomiphene.
- → If your priority is healthspan extension, pick DHEA.
- → If your priority is hormonal optimization, pick DHEA.
Edge case: If you want to avoid prescription-only, DHEA is the more accessible choice.
Default choice: DHEA. Lower friction to source, a Tier-A evidence outcome catalogued, and broader goal coverage. Reach for Clomiphene only if your priority sits squarely in the goals it owns above.
This verdict is generated from each compound's schema (goals, legal status, evidence outcomes, dosing route). It updates automatically as our compound data evolves; the deeper read sits on each individual compound page.
Common questions
What is the difference between Clomiphene and DHEA?
Clomiphene and DHEA differ in category (pharmaceutical vs hormone), mechanism, and typical dosing. See the side-by-side table for full details.
Which has a longer half-life, Clomiphene or DHEA?
Clomiphene half-life is 168 hours; DHEA half-life is 12 hours.
Can you stack Clomiphene with DHEA?
Stack compatibility depends on mechanism overlap, legal status, and individual response. Check each compound page for specific interactions and contraindications before combining.
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