Explore Goddess Protocol RxRx care

Pregnenolone

Ingredient · In our DHEA + Pregnenolone Capsule

Pregnenolone

Pregnenolone is the first hormone your body makes from cholesterol, and it's the starting point for progesterone, DHEA, cortisol, testosterone and estrogen. It's included in some midlife formulas for that reason, but research in women in midlife is very limited.1

Abstract apricot light fan, illustrative ingredient artwork
Pregnenolone

Photo is an illustration, not the medicine. The pregnenolone in this medicine is made in a lab.1

Very limited evidence

Pregnenolone is not FDA-approved for any condition. There are a few small trials in people, but none that tested it for menopause symptoms.2,3 Our capsule is compounded by a licensed pharmacy.4

FDA-approved for this useWell studied, used off-labelEarly evidenceLittle or no human data

The studies below used FDA-approved products or other forms. Our compounded version hasn't been studied in trials, and results may differ.

What it is

Think of pregnenolone as the top of the family tree for steroid hormones. Your body turns cholesterol into pregnenolone, then turns pregnenolone into the hormones further down, including DHEA and progesterone.1

Why it's in this product

It's paired with DHEA on the idea of supporting the body's hormone-making pathway from the top. That idea makes biological sense, but it hasn't been tested in trials of women in midlife.

DHEA + Pregnenolone Capsule

What the studies in people show

  • Randomized trialChronic low back pain in veteransIn a randomized trial of 94 U.S. military veterans (89% men), those given pregnenolone reported less chronic low back pain than those given placebo.2
  • Randomized trialBipolar depressionIn a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in adults with bipolar depression, adding pregnenolone improved depressive symptoms on one of two rating scales, and remission rates were higher (61% vs 37%) on one scale. It was well tolerated.3

What we don't know yet

Nearly everything that matters for midlife women: whether it helps any menopause symptom, the right dose, and long-term safety. None of the trials above were in women going through menopause, so their results can't simply be applied here.

Safety, in plain English

Because your body can turn pregnenolone into other hormones, including estrogen and testosterone, your clinician will consider your history of any hormone-sensitive conditions. A licensed clinician decides whether it's appropriate for you, and exploring it here never means you'll get a prescription.

Curious about DHEA + Pregnenolone?

Start with a free assessment. A licensed clinician reviews your health history and decides whether treatment is appropriate. No pressure, and no prescription unless it makes sense for you.

See DHEA + Pregnenolone CapsuleHow care works

Sources

  1. PubChem, National Center for Biotechnology Information. Pregnenolone (CID 8955). PubChem
  2. Naylor JC, Kilts JD, Shampine LJ, et al. Effect of pregnenolone vs placebo on self-reported chronic low back pain among US military veterans: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(3):e200287. PubMed 32119096
  3. Brown ES, Park J, Marx CE, et al. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of pregnenolone for bipolar depression. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2014;39(12):2867-2873. PubMed 24917198
  4. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Compounding and the FDA: Questions and Answers. FDA

Sources checked November 8, 2026. This page is general education, not medical advice, and it doesn't mean any treatment is right for you. Photos: Unsplash (zhang kaiyv).