Acute and chronic stress-like levels of cortisol inhibit the oestradiol stimulus to induce sexual receptivity but have no effect on sexual attractivity or proceptivity in female sheep

► Cortisol treatment inhibits LH secretion and sexual receptivity in female sheep. ► Cortisol effect on sexual receptivity due to cortisol interfering with oestradiol. ► Doubling dose of oestradiol cannot overcome inhibitory effect of cortisol. ► Inhibiting sexual receptivity significantly reduces chances of reproductive success.