DHEA hormone. Molecular model of the structure of the human hormone DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone). The atoms are shown as colour-coded spheres: carbon (gold), hydrogen (blue), and oxygen (red). DHEA is produced in the adrenal glands of both sexes and leads to the production of all the sex hormones. It is an androgen hormone, the class of hormones associated with secondary sexual characteristics in males. In addition, DHEA is thought to play a role in counteracting the ageing process in humans.