Is pregnenolone safe while bfing?

[@llli*kjohanna]

My chiro recommended pregnenolone to me, as I have some symptoms of hormonal imbalance (first ever migraine, mild depression, generally feeling burned out). It's the precursor hormone to everything else, that my body will use it to make whatever hormone is low. She's aware that I'm nursing. Thnking about it further, I'm starting to worry that maybe it could affect milk supply if my body uses it to make estrogen (that's low while nursing, right?). I tried looking around online and am coming up with little to no useful info, aside from the generic CYA statements that get made about lots of meds/ supplements. Anyone know if my fear of this affecting supply is founded?

[@llli*mommal]

I'd never heard of this stuff before, but I looked it up and it seems like your concern is quite logical. Logical isn't the same as likely, so I have no idea how likely it is to affect you. But it does seem like a rather powerful chemical to be taking on the advice of a chiropractor. If you are worried about a hormonal imbalance, I would see an endocrinologist.

[@llli*mumtothomas]

It's been a long time since I took this, but I took it during my treatment for cancer 13 years ago. I agree with mommal; I'd be hesitant to take it on the advice of a chiropractor. I second the endocrinologist suggestion.

[@llli*lllkaren]

You might try calling InfantRisk (806)-352-2519. I checked the Medications and Mothers' Milk database, but there's no info about pregnenolone at all.

What I've been able to glean from a few different websites is basically that nobody knows whether it's safe or effective (whether you're breastfeeding or not) because there hasn't been enough research.

If I understand correctly, the body manufactures pregnenolone from cholesterol, then uses the pregnenolone to make a number of steroid hormones. Pregnenolone supplements are synthetic, made from substances in soy beans. It sounds like it isn't known whether taking the synthetic hormone as a dietary supplement increases any other hormone levels (or whether it would be a good thing if it did).

If you do call InfantRisk, please let me know what they say!

[@llli*phi]

If I understand correctly, the body manufactures pregnenolone from cholesterol, then uses the pregnenolone to make a number of steroid hormones.

Cholesterol is actually the base hormone from which all other hormones are produced. Pregenolone is produced directly from cholesterol and goes on to produce the steroid hormones. Perhaps try upping your intake of healthy fats (fish, nuts, high fiber foods) and make sure to get a reasonable amount of aerobic exercise daily to boost your HDL cholesterol levels (if you are not already doing so). It may not help at all, but it seems a whole lot safer than going straight to a synthetic hormone therapy (which can be pretty risky). Or it could be something to try out just until you are able to get in with an endocrinologist, which I agree is a very good idea if you suspect a hormone imbalance.

[@llli*kjohanna]

Well, first off, my chiro specializes in glandular support through whole foods supplementation, and so the recommendation for a general hormonal support (which the pregnenolone she gave me is derived from wild yam) didn't seem too off base with me. I don't feel that my situation warrants a need to see a specialist, but I trust my Dr. (you know, since she is a Dr....having gone through the same schooling, the only difference being she has additional training in spinal manipulation instead of pharmocology) to know when to refer to a specialist if needed, since she's made it clear that she does that. I get a little tired of people thinking chiropractors are just 'back doctors', so sorry if I seem defensive about that. That said, I will agree with you all that my gut was telling me that this may not be the best approach to take, and I'm deciding against taking it. Phi--I agree with you, I think that my intake of healthy fats, which is usually good, could be revamped. Interestingly enough, when I was trying to find a general consensus online about pregnenolone online to get a good gauge of things, I did come across an article talking about how coconut oil converts cholesterol in your body to pregnenolone...I used to have a lot more coconut oil in my diet than I'm currently consuming...so, yeah that could be something to explore.

[@llli*phi]

I really do think that the safest starting point is trying to boost HDL cholesterol; even if you are comfortable with starting a hormone therapy - you can always graduate to that if you still think it is necessary. I think upping your coconut oil is a really good idea too. If you are not already doing so make sure to squeeze in some aerobic exercise (even if it is just a brisk walk) every day because that will not only help boost your HDL levels over time, but potentially improve the biosynthesis of other hormones from cholesterol.

I had no intention of disrespecting your chiropractor, and I'm super sorry if it came off that way. It's just that an endocrinologist has a much more extensive education in inter- and intracellular signaling mechanisms and their impact on physiology than does any other doctor, regardless of their background - you know? An endocrinologist would also most likely do a full blood panel to potentially pinpoint specific issues more accurately. Hormones (both natural and synthetic) can have all kinds of unexpected, and often latent, impacts on your overall health, and I would personally want to consult a specialist before trying any hormone therapy - but that's just me - I'm certainly not saying that's necessarily what everyone else needs to do, it's just what I would do. If you trust your chiropractor on this, that's totally your call. I would at least call infantrisk before starting pregnenolone, though, if you decide to go that route.

[@llli*kjohanna]

I really do think that the safest starting point is trying to boost HDL cholesterol; even if you are comfortable with starting a hormone therapy - you can always graduate to that if you still think it is necessary. I think upping your coconut oil is a really good idea too. If you are not already doing so make sure to squeeze in some aerobic exercise (even if it is just a brisk walk) every day because that will not only help boost your HDL levels over time, but potentially improve the biosynthesis of other hormones from cholesterol.

I had no intention of disrespecting your chiropractor, and I'm super sorry if it came off that way. It's just that an endocrinologist has a much more extensive education in inter- and intracellular signaling mechanisms and their impact on physiology than does any other doctor, regardless of their background - you know? An endocrinologist would also most likely do a full blood panel to potentially pinpoint specific issues more accurately. Hormones (both natural and synthetic) can have all kinds of unexpected, and often latent, impacts on your overall health, and I would personally want to consult a specialist before trying any hormone therapy - but that's just me - I'm certainly not saying that's necessarily what everyone else needs to do, it's just what I would do. If you trust your chiropractor on this, that's totally your call. I would at least call infantrisk before starting pregnenolone, though, if you decide to go that route.

I was responding more just to the overall response. In my mind, I heard 'never mind your real question...why are you seeing a chiro for that??' I realize that the offense lies just as much in the way I read into the responses. At any rate, your suggestions seem like a much more reasonable, better first step. And, to be honest, while I do trust my chiro's judgement overall, I kind of feel like she was responding more to the fact that my cycles are still really irregular--based on charting just my CM, I haven't found enough of a pattern of fertile type CM to really feel like I'm ovulating at all, let alone with any sort of regularity. She spoke to this being something that could help regulate my cycles, which could help me feel more even-keeled, emotionally. I can see where she was going with it, I don't necessarily see my irregular cycles as necessarily in and of itself being an abnormal thing--it seems actually rather normal, given how frequently my DD still nurses. If she were to suggest something more specific, then, yeah, I would definitely want to defer to an endocrinologist. You did bring up some pretty valid points, re: hormone therapy in general. My mom did end up suggesting giving her pharmacist a call who is well trained in bio-identical hormones, and he advised against taking pregnenolone while nursing. Whether it was because it was because it is for sure harmful, or more erring on the side of caution, I don't know, I didn't press for more information--he confirmed how I felt already. I'll be giving my chiro a call on Monday to share this info with her. I do kind of wonder why she suggested this, in light of me nursing--I thought she was aware I was still nursing, but maybe I didn't mention it this visit...

[@llli*mommal]

I had no intention of disrespecting your chiropractor, and I'm super sorry if it came off that way. It's just that an endocrinologist has a much more extensive education in inter- and intracellular signaling mechanisms and their impact on physiology than does any other doctor, regardless of their background - you know?

This. It's not that we think your chiro is a quack- it's that before you start a supplement you want to know exactly what you're treating. I was also feeling kind of erratic the last few months- CM had a weird pattern, my cycles lost their regularity, I was having some other symptoms that suggested some sort of hormonal imbalance. It turned out to be my thyroid- and what I really needed was replacement for one specific hormone.