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Cortisol

by Letitia
(Overland Park Kansas)

Dear Wray:

I have just found out that my cortisol is out of control which is contributing to my estrogen dominance symtoms as well as contribution to the problem of my body not being able to pick up and absorb into the tissues the progesterone. They have advised now that I not increase the progesterone at this this until the coritsol issue is under control as more progesterone will only shut down what little progesterone my body is absorbing. They say they call cortisol the progesterone stealer as it takes up those sites.
Please help with any advise and knowledge you have to help with this situation,. I am 57 post menopausal and us bi-est as well as progesterone

Letitia

Comments for Cortisol

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Mar 09, 2013
 Cortisol
by: Wray

Hi Letitia As I said to you before, I don't believe any woman needs more oestrogen, and to look at our HRT page. It will only be a uphill battle for the progesterone. Why they have given it to you when you have oestrogen dominance makes no sense whatsoever! It's only contributing to the problem, if not the actual cause of it. Cortisol isn't the progesterone stealer, the adrenals are. If they are stressed they will rob other sources to enable them to make the cortisol. All the more reason to use supplemental progesterone! In fact stress can stop the reproductive cycle completely so ovulation doesn't take place, and therefore no progesterone is made by the ovaries. If enough progesterone is used it suppresses cortisol, whether a woman is still ovulating or not. You could try taking zinc too, as this inhibits the production of cortisol, see here and here. Progesterone also increases the levels of zinc, but you have excess oestrogen which suppresses progesterone and zinc and increases copper. Copper opposes zinc so depressing it further. One other point, progesterone reduces the stress response, so helping the adrenals. It does this by activating GABA, our most calming neurotransmitter, see here, here, here, here and here. We do hav ea page on Anxiety you could look through. it gives a list of nutrients which all help. Please have a vitamin D test done, a lack of this reduces the benefits of progesterone, plus helping anxiety. Take care Wray
Jun 23, 2014
 Same symptoms but LOW cortisol
by: Karli

Sometimes this is a bit confusing- I have PMDD, anxiety & PCOS symptoms. But my saliva test showed LOW cortisol. You suggest high amounts of zinc for PCOS, yet after reading your comments above saying zinc will lower cortisol, I'm worried it is lowering my already low cortisol levels. My cortisol barely peaks in the morning but is almost non existent the rest of the day. It says I'm in phase I adrenal dysfunction. I am currently following all your nutritional recommendations for PCOS & am getting ready to start the progesterone cream as well. Can you tell me if I should continue the high dose of zinc? Also, I walk 3 miles a day in the sun & wondered if I should continue taking my 5000iu vit d? I actually stopped taking it last month & my PMDD came back. I read in one of your other posts about us using up gobs of vitamin d if we have inflammation or something like that. Would love clarification. Thanks.
Jul 18, 2017
 Cortisol
by: Anonymous

Hello I also have low cortisol and am wondering did you find the answer to this yet??

Has progesterone helped your low cortiosl increase??

Please if you could let me know thanks in advance!!! Xo

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