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[Sammiejane]

good evening ladies

i would to know if any of you have been suffering hair loss on HRT and if so which product u use

i’m on 2.5 pumps gel 100mg progesterone and for the last 6 weeks testosterone tostran one pump every other day

ever since starting hrt i’ve had hair shedding i first started on the gel only as have had a hysterectomy but thought as i was only getting estrogen replaced my hair loss was caused by estrogen dominance and low levels progesterone and testosterone as no ovaries . so as my mood sleep aniexty was bad plus hair shedding we added in progesterone now i don’t know progesterone has made it worse but not helped either i’ve added in testosterone and the shedding now is worse and hair is thinner then 2 yrs ago when i started . but must still be growing as i have roots i need to dye

i don’t know whether to stop this regime altogether or just change the gel to a patch as it’s been thinning before adding in progesterone and testosterone but i also read that high estrogen and high progesterone can also cause hair loss mood swings aniexty etc so now i’m wondering am i getting to much of these hormones as i’ve noticed craving sweet things more armpit sweating irritability

my estrogen level was 1238 pmol and progesterone 11 nmol
testosterone was 1.1 prior to starting testosterone therapy

so would changing to a patch help or make no difference
as progesterone isn’t needed i don’t need to take this but then if i don’t take it will i have symptoms of estrogen dominance ?
do i need to lower testosterone ?
do i stop hrt ?

i have these tiny hairs on my forehead near hairline but not sure if regrowth or if where the hairs lost and receded

i’m not seeing dermatology till november

all other tests been done thyroid b vitamins zinc vitamin d etc all normal

i’m only 41 and can’t handle being bold but i’m scared of how i will feel off hrt huge aniexty about it all

your thoughts are welcome

[Evie606]

Hi Sammiejane,

I understand how upsetting hair loss is, I can’t answer your questions but I can share my experience.
I started hair shedding when I went on the Oestrogel/Utrogestan combo back in January, it didn’t agree with me at all and I estimate I’ve lost around 30-40% of my hair. I stuck it out until August.
I think you should take heart about the small hairs around your hairline as I’ve just noticed those too and I was definitely bald in those areas a few weeks ago so I’m taking that as regrowth.
My hairdresser told me that any drug change will take approx 2 months to reach your hair and given you’ve changed  6 weeks ago, it might be settling and having a positive effect now?
I have only been on Evorel Conti for nearly 5 weeks so can’t comment if hair loss is an issue with this patch but no problems so far.
Hopefully someone will be along to help you with your other questions.
Take care x

[Sammiejane]

hi evie606

thanks for your comments.

i’ve been on the gel hrt for 2 years since sept 2018 i’ve been shedding since then i thought it was an imbalance as only was on estrogen due to hysterectomy and ovary removal so my menopause specialist said i could try utrogestan to see if helped with hair and mood it helped with mood and i guess hair as this point was only on 2 pumps gel however daily utro i felt i was getting to much progesterone so tried alternate nights hair shedding more so i went back up to daily progesterone and two pumps but then watery discharge i’ve been suffering with came back so tried 2.5 pumps gel and daily p but then noticed more bloating in tummy and more sweating armpits so decided to add in tesosterone one pump alternate days but my hair works on 6-8 week cycle i know the difference in this time and adding in tesosterone 6 weeks ago my hair now shedding the most it ever has . i think i’m at the conclusion now it’s hrt or particularly the gel i’m on x i did stop hrt dec 2019 for 9 weeks and after 6 weeks hair stopped shedding but flushes came back sleep worse watery discharge worse so i went back on it feb 2020 adding in progesterone and gel and was great but 7 weeks in hair started shedding again and hasn’t stopped x

[Emm225]

I have had hair loss, am at my wits end.  Spoke to doctor as it think it iculd be oral utrogestan but she won't do anything about it as combined patched unavailable and she says I can't take it vaginally. Reluctantly I am veginning to think I will have to think about biting the bullet, digging into savings and going privately. It would be worth it if I can get proper advice and hrt.

[Sammiejane]

hi emm225

i totally understand and can relate fully .

i watched an interesting video on utube by a guy who seems to know his stuff about how and he said hormone therapy can trigger female pattern hairloss and with this women shed hair full strands which i do and is completely normal as we all shed up to 100 hairs a day however he said if it thinning on the scalp the crown top section which mine is ever since being on hrt . i’ve had bloods today but i’m going to stop hrt and won’t ever touch gel again i don’t think utro has made mine worse but could be wrong and best of it is i still have watery discharge and feel a bit sore down there last couple days so it hasn’t cured that issue and given me a whole host of more . i think my body needs a break , my mum thinks hrt has made my hair dryer to its lost its shine . what estrogen do u take ? x

[Emm225]

I take estrodot patch .. low dose.. and. Utrogesten as a tablet.  Stopped them bit only managed 3 days us off as was a total mess mentally and physically

[Sammiejane]

hi ladies

i’ve had blood results and my estradiol level is now 369 pmol from 1238 pmol so i am definitely getting a lot of fluctuation
tesosterone gone up to 3
progesterone at 5 from 11

my thyroid was tested and TSH 30 and T4 was 14 so this classed normal

i decided to take a break from hrt and see what my hair is doing it’s shedding a lot more but is still growing as have roots but a lot thinner especially forehead and nape of neck so i’m going to take a break see how i go and if needs be start again some days my hair feels thicker but shedding increased and looks thinner , i shall see how i feel maybe a patch will suit me better and was thinking estradot but some of u had hairloss on that to

[Sammiejane]

hi evie606

so the little hairs u see as regrowth is that since being on everol or when u were on gel and utro

see i think it’s regrowth but then hairline receding and i think it where i’ve lost hair as the hairline much thinner x

[Wrensong]

Hi Sammiejane - a TSH of 30 is above top of ref range so shouldn't have been classed as normal - is it actually 3.0?  That would make sense if the T4 is 14.  Just wondering in relation to your hair loss.  Don't worry if it is 30 btw, but do query it with your GP.
Wx

[Evie606]

Hi Sammiejane,

Only since I’ve been on Evorel Conti have I seen regrowth. I paid particular attention to the hairline as it was the first to go and it was bald until very recently and I’ve now been on EC for 6 weeks.
Funnily enough my thyroid was fine at the time but had a test this week and my T4 has halved since starting EC. Now wondering if patches can soak up thyroid hormones?
I think fluctuations are a culprit for our hair too.
It’s all so complicated isn’t it? X

[Sammiejane]

hi birdy wrensong

yes sorry my thyroid tsh level is 3.0 and T4 is 14.9 8 weeks ago tsh was 5.2

GP said this is normal and thyroid level will fluctuate due to time of day foods eaten fluid intake medications etc

if it drop below 3.0 and T4 level goes out of normal range then i believe this would be Hyperthyroidism overactive thyroid

B12 level normal
zinc normal
ferritin normal

no vitamin defiencies

as i have lichen planus autoimmune in my mouth only i’ve been tested for other autoimmune included lupus all negative

my hair shedding bad thinning only ever started when i started hrt so i know it’s hormonal and when i stopped the gel before hair shedding stop after 6 weeks i thought it may of been imbalance as my mood was very effected by taking estrogen gel only with low depression suicidal thoughts to high aniexty panic couldn’t leave the house added in progesterone which helped stabilize mood but no improvement to hair it helped for the first 8 weeks but started shedding more again increased dose of estrogen as felt getting to much progesterone but hair again not improved 8 weeks ago added tesosterone and shedding worse now then ever and has thinned so much no bold patches but it’s so thin on scalp crown frontal area sides down the ear and nape of the neck lost loads and hairline receding all round so i think for me it’s defo hrt and may be a estradiol in my case or could just be the gel format which i’m hoping it’s the latter so i can try a patch , my hair cycle works on a 8 week cycle so will continue for another couple weeks just to see if it suddenly stops and then as i have menopause 5th october will decide to stop if that’s what they advise i really wish i hadn’t started hrt as it’s caused my relationship of 9 yrs to end due to emotional state i was in i’m in a better place now but hair shedding won’t quit

[Wrensong]

Hi Sammiejane & thanks for the clarification on the TSH  .  Good that it's not 30!  But, if it was 5.2 eight weeks ago that looks to be above top of range, suggesting you just might be becoming hypothyroid.  Have they tested your thyroid antibodies do you know - I assume so as you say they did some autoimmune tests?  As you have another autoimmune condition, that does increase your susceptibility to develop others, so it would make sense if they did a full autoimmune profile.

It's correct TSH does fluctuate according to time of day etc, but should really still stay within range, I think, unless there is other non-thyroidal illness ongoing (which can cause iffy thyroid levels temporarily) or the gland is under autoimmune attack as in Hashimoto's or Graves. 

It's standard practice not to treat with thyroid medication if the TSH is not far above top of range & the GP should then adopt a watch & wait policy to make sure you are monitored frequently & he/she can then intervene with treatment to make sure you don't have abnormal levels for any significant length of time.  As your TSH is now back within range let's hope whatever made it a little high in the earlier test has now passed.

Both hypo & hyperthyroidism can cause hair loss, but I hear what you say about HRT & I think your insight over time is important.  I also have thinning hair (worse post-BSO) & it is a worry, though as I had a lot to start with luckily mine still looks OK.  I'm also older than you so I do understand how distressing this must be for you. 

So sorry to know your relationship ended too.  You have not had good luck by the sound of it.   

All I can suggest is to get your GP or whoever tests your thyroid to repeat the bloods 3-6 months after last test & make sure the Menopause Clinic knows you have had a raised TSH in the recent past.  I hope they can give you some good advice about your HRT.

Please try to get as much rest as you can, exercise within moderation & eat regular healthy meals so that you are giving your body the best conditions to recover from all you've been through.  Sorry Sammiejane, that all sounds pretty lame.  Wish I knew what else to suggest.
Wx

[Sammiejane]

hi wrensong

according to gp my level of 5.2 is normal and t4 normal its always been normal they don’t consider medication till above 10 for hypothyroidism

but if there is an issue again it’s caused by hrt as never had hairloss prior to hrt and i had my hysterectomy 6 yrs ago 4 yrs of that hrt free no issues just watery discharge possible slight va

i did mention it to the doctor but she said it’s fine

[Wrensong]

OK Sammiejane, ref ranges do vary depending on the lab doing the testing, for example 4.2 is top of ref range where mine are processed & I had the impression most don't go above 5 these days.  If you have a look at this link from the British Thyroid Foundation giving 4 as typical for top of range, you'll see what I mean. 

https://www.btf-thyroid.org/thyroid-function-tests

And yes it is often the case that Thyroid meds are not prescribed while TSH remains under 10.

As I said earlier, I understand your reasoning about the hair loss being related to sex hormones & feel your own insight is important, but as your TSH looked a little high to me it would have been remiss of me not to stress the link with thyroid disease, as other members have done, all of us simply wanting to help you with this very distressing problem.

I do hope you manage to make progress with the HRT.
Wx