Cortisol, Progesterone, Stress, and Fertility

We've heard it all before, stress can affect fertility. As a matter of fact, we've heard it so much that I think it's dismissed as one of those things that we tend to say "tell me something I don't already know", but in fact, our stress levels are still high. It's kind of like when people say "diet and exercise" to lose weight, people want something more exciting to deal with their weight problems.

Anyway, getting back to the whole stress and fertility issue. I found an excellent article on the subject of stress and cortisol from "Health Tips from Dr. Len" which goes into detail on how stress increases cortisol, but for the body to produce cortisol, it robs progesterone. All of this affects fertility. Read more:

Stress, Cortisol and it's far reaching Impact
Posted by Dr Len Lopez (www.healthtipswithdrlen.com)

Reproductive Function

Many women face decreased levels of progesterone, which is associated with hot flashes, bone loss, PMS, fertility, fatigue, weight gain, insomnia, decreased libido, etc. The problem is pregnenolone and progesterone are being ‘stolen’, to make cortisol. Click to see hormone pathway for male and female This is very important because in order to make cortisol….the adrenal glands need progesterone. It is one of the raw materials needed to make cortisol. So, if your adrenals are always stealing pregnenolone and progesterone to make cortisol – you may not have enough of those hormones which are needed to make DHEA, estrogen and testosterone.

DHEA is called the anti-aging hormone because it is known to increase lean muscle tissue, burn stored body fat, balance blood sugar, improve memory and support immune function.

Ladies, keep in mind that as you approach menopause your ovaries stop functioning. Now, it is up to your adrenals to produce all your estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA. However, if your adrenals are exhausted, how are they supposed to pick up the slack and keep up the same pace as the ovaries? It doesn’t happen… which is why so many people struggle with menopausal difficulties.

Yes, men and women both make estrogen and testosterone, the only difference is that men make more testosterone and women more estrogen. Don’t forget our libido is determined by our testosterone levels! If you’re always making cortisol, you may not be making enough testosterone, which could also explain your drop in libido…it could be stress related.

FYI…infertility and miscarriages are closely associated with low progesterone. Progesterone is needed for gestation, growth of the embryo, but how can the body support an embryo if all the progesterone is being used to make cortisol?