Why I’ve Taken 75mg of This Hormone Every Day for the Last 7 Years
Back in 2018, I hired a doctor who specialized in helping men optimize for anti-aging.
(Yep, pretty serious about this stuff.)
He recommended a hormone I'd never heard of.
“Preg-nee-no-lone,” he said, slowly, like I was five years old and holding a sippy cup.
I said, “Is that a medication or the name of Elon Musk’s next child?”
He smiled politely and handed me a prescription anyway.
I didn’t know it then, but this weird-sounding hormone would quietly become the single most underrated productivity upgrade of my adult life.
Not a biohacker gimmick.
Not powdered elk brain mixed with Himalayan bat droppings.
Just one little supplement that helped me get more done, with less stress—and zero crash.
So… What Is Pregnenolone?
Let’s get this out of the way:
Yes, it sounds like a Marvel villain.
And no, it’s not the same thing as progesterone (though it does turn into that… and 6 other things).
Pregnenolone is a naturally occurring hormone made from cholesterol.
It’s the raw material your body uses to produce testosterone, cortisol, estrogen, and a few other heavy hitters.
They call it the “mother hormone” because it gives birth to everything else.
(So… yes, it's the hormone that can sympathize with pastors: does all the work and gets none of the credit.)
And to boot, your body produces less of it as you age.
Pregnenolone production in the body typically starts to decline around age 30.
The drop becomes more noticeable with each passing decade.
By the time you're in your 50s, levels can be significantly lower than they were in your twenties.
(Some studies suggest as much as a 60% or greater decline by midlife.)
Impact on Focus and Productivity
Back in the 1940s, smart people studied it in factory workers.
The results?
More productivity.
Less fatigue.
Sharper minds.
Then Big Pharma realized it couldn’t slap a $900 price tag on it...
So the research got buried faster than the 2015 denominational meeting program that's still on your desk.
Married?
For women, it can even help with anything perimenopause or menopause related (forgetfulness, hot flashes, sleep issues and other symptoms.)
You just might wanna know that. (cough, cough)
My wife takes it daily.
(Excuse me while I pause for a moment of gratitude.)
What It Does (For Me)
I’ve been on 75mg slow-release pregnenolone for 7 years now, and here’s the real-world difference:
- No more 2pm mental crash that turns me into a YouTube-scrolling zombie.
- Smoother windows of focus—like my brain finally got the memo it’s supposed to work.
- Emotional steadiness—even when my inbox looks like a digital dumpster fire.
- Memory recall that actually works when someone says, “What was that passage again?”
It’s not a buzz.
It’s not a high.
It’s like someone took Windex to your prefrontal cortex and now my thoughts don’t smudge.
I do NOT list it on the supplement regimen I make publicly available (yet) because it isn't for everyone.
And... it needs fuller explanation and context.
Thus, this here little essay you're reading.
“Wait… Can I Actually Buy This?”
Yes… sort of.
You can get pregnenolone over the counter at your local vitamin shop, Amazon, or from a guy on the internet who also sells powdered deer antler.
But listen...
There’s a difference between grabbing a random 10mg tablet off a dusty GNC shelf and working with a legit doc who prescribes compounded, slow-release pregnenolone that actually absorbs and doesn’t jack your system.
There are some good brands...
But, trust me.
If you take too much, you don’t become Superman.
You become that angry church member who writes anonymous complaint notes on dirty paper.
Hormones are a symphony.
And pregnenolone is more like the quiet bass player in the back... not flashy, but if he stops playing, everything sounds off.
So Should You Try It?
Here’s the thing:
If you’re crashing in the afternoons…
Feeling foggy during sermon prep…
Yelling at your laptop because it loaded 0.3 seconds too slowly…
It might not be the coffee...
It might be your hormones.
Start with bloodwork.
Don’t guess.
Don’t “Amazon Prime” your way to hormone health.
My Personal Approach
My doctor doesn’t worry about what’s "normal" on a bloodtest for a 54-year-old.
He aims to optimize my levels based on what’s typical for someone in their twenties or thirties.
That’s my approach, and it’s not for everyone.
This isn't medical advice (and add all the disclaimers, and especially... don't even listen to a word I say.)
If I were starting right now?
I’d personally begin with something small, maybe 10mg, and titrate up slowly to see how it feels.
Ideally, I’d do that with some labs and a doc who knows what they’re doing.
Wanna make sure I’m not accidentally turning into a test subject in my own kitchen.
And please, for the love of all things decent...
Don’t become one of those guys who reads two Reddit threads and suddenly thinks he’s a functional medicine expert.
Final Word
I’ve taken pregnenolone daily for seven years.
Not because I’m trying to live forever…
But because I’d like to live well today—with energy, focus, and a sense of calm even when life gets loud.
This isn’t a magic pill.
It’s a missing piece.
And sometimes, that’s all you need to get your edge back.
More Resources To Help You Optimize
🥤Momentum Shake: The Complete Longevity Shake for Optimal Health
🎥 Sermon Shots: Repurpose Sermons Into Clips & Other Engaging Content in Minutes
💊 My (Scott's) full supplement regimen
