Why DHT Blockers Cause Insomnia & Anxiety: How Progesterone Solves the 5-Alpha Paradox

Infographic showing how 5-alpha reductase converts progesterone into allopregnanolone for sleep and mood, and how DHT blockers disrupt this pathway.

In the pursuit of optimized health, hormonal balance, and aesthetic preservation, the enzyme 5-alpha reductase (5-AR) often plays the role of the villain. It is the biological catalyst responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the potent androgen blamed for male pattern baldness, acne, and prostate enlargement. Consequently, a massive market has emerged for “DHT blockers”—ranging from pharmaceutical heavyweights like finasteride to natural pantry staples like pumpkin seeds, zinc, and saw palmetto.

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The Specter of Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen dominance permeates the discussion of hormone therapy and balance, it is not a medical term. Dr. John Lee first introduced the idea of estrogen dominance. It didn’t matter if estrogen levels were too high or normal or even too low. If progesterone was low relative to the estrogen effect, then one could suffer from … Read more