According to Pregnenolone reviews, this supplement may have benefits for energy, sexual health, weight loss and cognition. However, some user reviews posted online say they do not feel anything while taking this supplement.
Research on this natural steroid hormone and hormone precursor has been very limited in the past. But there has been growing interest in the use of pregnenolone for memory, mental performance and to fight signs of aging.
Preliminary research in humans suggests that pregnenolone may be useful for supporting cognitive function, increasing libido, boosting alertness, combating depression and reducing anxiety.
Pregnenolone is called the mother of all hormones as it is the source of others including DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, aldosterone and the estrogens. Pregnenolone is the precursor of all steroids with 18, 19 or 21 carbon atoms.



- Helps maintain healthy hormone balance
- Supports memory & brain function
- Boosts energy, metabolism & focus
Pregnenolone Reviews for Menopause and PMS
Related Topics
Some pregnenolone users report significant improvements in managing symptoms of menopause and PMS.
Pregnenolone supplements may help to elevate the low levels of female hormones that women experience as they age and go through menopause. Some doctors have said they think pregnenolone is one of the fastest remedies for menopause symptoms.
Pregnenolone supplementation is associated with helping to decrease instances of hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. Other users report appreciable increases in sexual desire, as well as upregulated energy during sexual situations.
According to some user reviews of Pregnenolone on Amazon, this supplement can help users feel more balanced and improve adrenal function.
However, some research suggests that higher levels of pregnenolone in the blood can cause more severe PMS symptoms for women.
Further, there has been very little research on the effects of exogenously supplemented pregnenolone. Its use for menopause and PMS has not been validated by clinical trials as of yet.
Pregnenolone Reviews for Weight Loss
User reviews suggest that many people taking pregnenolone are using it to support weight loss. As we age, levels of key weight regulating hormones begin to change, which can make it harder to lose weight.
Pregenolone may help by increasing the metabolic rate and may have a positive effect on blood glucose regulation as well.
Pregnenolone is a neurosteroid and a natural hormone modulator. Most pregnenolone is produced in the adrenal glands. Smaller amounts are produced in the sex organs, retinas, spinal cord and brain.
Pregnenolone produced in the ovaries of women has a high probability of conversion into one of the primary estrogens.
Pregnenolone seems to balance out levels of other hormones as needed for maintaining homeostasis. Improving hormonal balance and availability helps to boost metabolism, burn more fat, balance the appetite and encourage long-term weight loss and healthy weight management.
Further, pregnenolone supplementation may help to accommodate more restful sleep, improved energy for workouts and enhanced recovery from physical exertion.
By modulating estrogen levels, pregnenolone may also help to avoid increased water and fat storage in the body. It may also help to regulate glucose utilization and alleviate depressive feelings commonly associated with being overweight and/or obese.
Pregnenolone Reviews for Brain Function & Autism
Pregnenolone is also being used for its effects on cognitive function. According to some users, it has a nootropic effect and can significantly enhance mental performance.
On Amazon, one user wrote in his review that, “The first time I took it, WOW. I felt like I was in the movie Limitless. My cognitive brain function and task management went through the roof.”
Pregnenolone has also been researched for its effects on Autism. One open-label 12-week pilot trial involved twelve subjects between ages 16 and 28 with ASD (autism spectrum disorder).
Irritability commonly associated with ASD was significantly improved. Pregnenolone was well tolerated in subjects, causing only single cases of diarrhea, depressive feelings and tiredness.
No severe side effects or changes in vital signs were noted. The researchers concluded that there was a moderate benefit and high tolerability in those with ASD.
Additional Pregnenolone Uses
Pregenolone has a number of other uses, in addition to its use for hormone balancing, weight management, strengthening libido, improving memory and increasing energy.
According to the Natural Medicines Database, pregnenolone is also used orally for arthritis, endometriosis, strengthening immunity, inflammation, allergies, heart weakness, detoxification, and stress relief.
It may also be used medicinally for systemic lupus, psoriasis, prostate disorders, stress relief, seizures, multiple sclerosis, trauma, injuries and Alzheimer’s disease.
Due to the limited availability of clinical research on pregnenolone, its effectiveness for treating these conditions has not been rated.
Pregnenolone Safety Reviews
According to user reviews, Pregnenolone is generally well tolerated, but can cause unwanted side effects if used at high doses. Some report feeling over-stimulated and one user called this supplement, “Insomnia in a bottle.”
To prevent side effects, it is important to follow dosage guidelines closely and to not overuse this supplement.
No serious adverse effects are currently associated with proper oral pregnenolone supplementation. However, there are interactions possible with certain drugs and medical conditions.
In the US, the state of California issued a warning label for all products containing pregnenolone and/or DHEA.
It asserts that pregnenolone may cause steroid-related side effects including heart palpitations, dizziness, blurred vision, increased estrogen levels, imbalanced lipid levels and increased risks for both cardiovascular disease and cancer.
The pregnenolone dangers listed above are not agreed on fully across the medical community. Many health professionals assert that pregnenolone supplements are quite safe when used properly.
They note the fact that pregnenolone has seen worldwide usage for decades without causing any major side effects. This assertion is based on research literature from various countries, as well as the US FDA databanks on adverse reactions to medicines.
The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database states that there is insufficient evidence currently to make formal determinations about the dangers of pregnenolone supplementation. It states only that “steroid-related” side effects are possible.
Secondary sources state that the most commonly experienced pregnenolone side effects are headaches, insomnia, paranoia, nervousness, restlessness, fatigue and/or depression.
In the majority of cases when these effects are reported in user reviews, usage is considered to have been either excessive or prolonged.
Some reviews on pregnenolone suggest that it should not be used in those who have seizure disorders. Pregnenolone may decrease GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) activities which can subsequently stimulate the CNS and lead to seizure episodes in those with epilepsy.
Pregnenolone Dosing Recommendations
Pregnenolone should not be used in high doses or for long time periods. According to some medical experts, you should begin supplementation by taking a 5 mg dose once every 2 or 3 days.
After monitoring for the development of adverse effects for a few weeks, step up the dosage level slowly and incrementally. Some doctors recommend a maximum dose of 10 mg daily.
Pregnenolone reviews online suggest that this supplement should be cycled off periodically. When cycling off, dosage should be stepped down gradually over a few weeks.
It is best to talk with a doctor who knows your health history before beginning to use pregnenolone supplements. Discuss all prescription drugs, illicit drugs and herbal supplements you may use to help ensure interaction safety.
Pregnenolone should not be used in conjunction with steroid hormone drugs including testosterone, progestin and estrogen. Do not use pregnenolone without medical guidance if you have hormone-sensitive cancer, or other hormone-sensitive health conditions.
If you have used this supplement, share your pregnenolone review below and let us know about any positive as well as negative effects experienced.
- Fung LK1, Libove RA, Phillips J, Haddad F, Hardan AY. Fung LK1, Libove RA, Phillips J, Haddad F, Hardan AY. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014 Nov;44(11):2971-7. doi: 10.1007/s10803-014-2144-4.
- Reddy DS1. Neurosteroids: endogenous role in the human brain and therapeutic potentials. Prog Brain Res. 2010;186:113-37. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-444-53630-3.00008-7.
- Darnaudéry M1, Pallarès M, Piazza PV, Le Moal M, Mayo W. The neurosteroid pregnenolone sulfate infused into the medial septum nucleus increases hippocampal acetylcholine and spatial memory in rats. Brain Res. 2002 Oct 4;951(2):237-42.
- Murphy BE1, Abbott FV, Allison CM, Watts C, Ghadirian AM. Elevated levels of some neuroactive progesterone metabolites, particularly isopregnanolone, in women with chronic fatigue syndrome. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2004 Feb;29(2):245-68.
- Brown ES1, Park J1, Marx CE2, Hynan LS3, Gardner C1, Davila D1, Nakamura A1, Sunderajan P1, Lo A1, Holmes T1. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pregnenolone for bipolar depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014 Nov;39(12):2867-73. doi: 10.1038/npp.2014.138. Epub 2014 Jun 11.
- Vallée M1. Neurosteroids and potential therapeutics: Focus on pregnenolone. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2015 Oct 1. pii: S0960-0760(15)30089-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2015.09.030. [Epub ahead of print]
- Melcangi RC1, Giatti S2, Garcia-Segura LM3. Levels and actions of neuroactive steroids in the nervous system under physiological and pathological conditions: Sex-specific features. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2015 Dec 2. pii: S0149-7634(15)30099-3. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.09.023. [Epub ahead of print]
- JH1, Chung BC2. Nongenomic actions of neurosteroid pregnenolone and its metabolites. Steroids. 2016 Feb 1. pii:S0039-128X(16)00018-0. doi: 10.1016/j.steroids.2016.01.017. [Epub ahead of print]
Article last updated on: March 12th, 2018 by Nootriment
1 Comment
The pure pregnenolone powder seemed to work better for me than the tablets or capsules. It was quite helpful for getting rid of hot flashes. I was told by a retired doctor that they used to use pregnenolone for menopause symptoms before the patented estrogens of the 1940s were invented. Therefore, this use for pregnenolone has been known for a very long time.
I was using natural progesterone to control hot flashes. Once in a while, this wasn’t enough. Adding pregnenolone got rid of any breakthrough hot flashes. This worked fine for a few years. Then my doctor gave me some natural thyroid. After getting thyroid, I no longer needed the natural progesterone and pregnenolone. I suspect this is because thyroid helps your body make progesterone and pregnenolone. Or perhaps the thyroid helped stabilize the hypothalamus? For whatever reason, it worked.