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Cortisol-Progesterone Balance

Meaning

Cortisol-Progesterone Balance describes the crucial and often interdependent relationship between the primary stress hormone cortisol and the key reproductive/neurosteroid progesterone within the endocrine system. These two steroid hormones, both derived from cholesterol, share metabolic precursors. Their relative concentrations can be significantly affected by chronic stress and the demands placed on the adrenal glands. Maintaining this balance is essential for reproductive health, mood stability, and overall HPA axis function, particularly in women where progesterone plays a dominant role in the luteal phase.