Hair loss after using Progesterone Cream!

by Kay
(Ontario, Canada)

I have been using progesterone cream since May of 2009. I started to experience lots of hair loss, about 70% of my hair was lost. My last side affect was that I experienced lots of acne building up under my chin and around that area too.

My doctor sugested that he will decrease the amount of progesterone added to the cream. Please can you help me find another affective way of getting rid of my acne and hair loss.

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Hair loss after using Progesterone Cream!

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Jan 04, 2010

Hair loss after using Progesterone Cream!
by: Wray

Hi Kay. The reason for the hair loss was not progesterone itself, but an excess of oestrogen. This can occur during the initial months of using progesterone, please see this web page on oestrogen dominance. The excess oestrogen is converted in androgens, which are actually responsible for the loss. Pity he wants to decrease the amount of progesterone, I would have suggested the opposite, increase the amount used. Generally the amount should be between 100-200mg/day. Please see this web page on acne.

You will find taking zinc very beneficial, 100mg/day. This is a high dose, but it's needed. Once the acne is gone, reduce the dose to 15mg/day. And please consider taking 2000mg/day of the anti-alopecia B vitamin inositol, plus 2000mg of N-acetyl cysteine. The hair, nails and skin comprise about 14% cysteine, supplementing makes them all strong and healthy. Take care, Wray

Jan 29, 2010

Wild Yams - Progesterone
by: Vickie

I had been using Progesterone from Wild Yams for many years and found it to have helped with my PMT and heavy periods. Aprox 1 year ago I started spotting whilst still on the Progesterone and then started getting periods sometimes lasting for a month at a time, so I stopped taking the Yams. Since then I have experienced weight gain and problems with PMT so I went to my general practitioner who has put me onto the contraceptive pill Yasmin. It has helped with my PMT but I have since put on more weight and my breasts have enlarged a few sizes. Am I doing the right thing or should I consider going back to progesterone as I am 44 years old?

Mar 05, 2010

No
by: Anonymous

Wild Yam cream is a natural estrogen cream, not a progesterone cream.

Mar 06, 2010

Wild Yams - Progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Vickie. You are now in peri-menopause, a very difficult time with dropping progesterone levels. Please see this web page. The amount of progesterone you were using was not sufficient to make up the deficit you now have, hence the spotting and long periods. All BCP's stop ovarian function, which would have lowered your oestrogen levels, this would have helped the PMT. But they stop all ovarian production of progesterone too which would account for the weight gain and larger breasts. They also cause insulin resistance which causes weight gain, please see this web page.

BCP's do have adverse side affects, you might like to read about them here. If you do decide to use progesterone again, the amount should be between 100-200mg/day, dependant on symptoms. Take care, Wray

Jul 06, 2010

Acne & Hair Loss
by: Anna

I'm 36 and started using the IUD, Mirena, about 4 months ago. Mirena has PROGESTIN added to it - to help with the heavy periods associated with the copper IUD. That sounded fine to me - had been on many birth control pills in the past with little side effects. However, now I have terrible acne and losing my hair. I'm wondering how the PROGESTIN (if different from progesterone) is contributing to these new side effects and if I should be taking something else to try to balance me out. Thanks so much for your feedback!

Jul 08, 2010

Acne & Hair Loss
by: Wray

Hi Anna I'm not in favour of any progestin, the copper T IUD is far safer as it leaks nothing into the system, bar a small amount of copper. Yes bleeding is a bit heavier, but a small price to pay compared to the dangers of progestins. Please see this web page we have on Contraceptives Research papers. All OC's, whether a combo or progestin only, stop ovarian function, which means you are not making any ovarian progesterone. There are many progestins on the market, all have a similar molecular structure to progesterone, but all have been altered to make them patentable. The only similarity between them is the affect they have on the endometrium. Progesterone has many roles, and it's metabolites many too. The progestins cannot be converted into progesterone metabolites. Please consider the copper T in preference. Incidentally progesterone can stop heavy bleeding if enough is used. I suggest between 100-200mg/day, dependant on your symptoms. There are nutrients you can take to help hair loss and acne, but they won't do much against the Mirena's affects. Take care Wray

Aug 06, 2010

Irregular since stopping BC pills
by: Samantha

I stopped taking Ortho-Cyclen in August of last year. Since then my periods have been really irregular, sometimes lasting 3 weeks, sometimes not coming at all. I have had light spotting for at least 3 weeks out of each month for the past year! I have also lost a ton of hair but it's finally starting to come back (it took a year!). I got some Progesterone cream but now I'm scared to use it, I can't lose anymore hair! I'm only 24, I don't know what to do. Should I use the Progesterone cream or would that make things worse?

Aug 08, 2010

Irregular since stopping BC pills
by: Wray

Hi Samantha All BC's have adverse affects on us, some occur internally and we're not aware of them. Please see this web page we have on Contraceptives. Some affects occur after stopping them, as in your case. Progesterone will help, but the amount should be between 100-200mg/day. For more info please see this web page we have on How to use progesterone cream. Progesterone does not cause hair loss, as witnessed by most pregnant women who have lovely hair. It's the high level of progesterone we make while pregnant that encourages hair growth and beautiful hair. Progesterone will also help the irregular periods and spotting, a lack of it, plus excess oestrogen, causes the irregular periods. Oestrogen is a mitogen, causing cells to divide and multiply, vital once a month to stimulate the endometrium each month to grow and thicken ready for a possible fertilised egg. But too much and the lining builds excessively. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP?s) are enzymes that break down protein. They play a role in the breakdown of endometrial tissues at the end of the menstrual cycle. If they are over active, as would be the case with an excess of oestrogen in the body, (oestrogen stimulates it?s production), the result is a pathological reaction such as inflammation and excessive bleeding. Progesterone suppresses both oestrogen and MMP's. It?s only when progesterone levels drop at the end of the cycle that the MMP?s can get to work and breakdown the lining causing our monthly bleed. But with oestrogen continually stimulating more lining and the MMP's, and low progesterone, bleeding continues. I would advise starting on the 200mg/day initially, gradually reducing the amount until you find the optimum level. Please remember stress drops progesterone levels, so use more over any stressful time. Take care Wray

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Aug 08, 2010
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Submitted by: Wray

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Hi Samantha All BC's have adverse affects on us, some occur internally and we're not aware of them. Please see this web page we have on <a href=" http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/contraceptives-research.html" target="_blank">Contraceptives.</a> Some affects occur after stopping them, as in your case. Progesterone will help, but the amount should be between 100-200mg/day. For more info please see this web page we have on <a href=" http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/how-to-use-progesterone-cream.html" target="_blank">How to use progesterone cream.</a> Progesterone does not cause hair loss, as witnessed by most pregnant women who have lovely hair. It's the high level of progesterone we make while pregnant that encourages hair growth and beautiful hair. Progesterone will also help the irregular periods and spotting, a lack of it, plus excess oestrogen, causes the irregular periods. Oestrogen is a mitogen, causing cells to divide and multiply, vital once a month to stimulate the endometrium each month to grow and thicken ready for a possible fertilised egg. But too much and the lining builds excessively. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP?s) are enzymes that break down protein. They play a role in the breakdown of endometrial tissues at the end of the menstrual cycle. If they are over active, as would be the case with an excess of oestrogen in the body, (oestrogen stimulates it?s production), the result is a pathological reaction such as inflammation and excessive bleeding. Progesterone suppresses both oestrogen and MMP's. It?s only when progesterone levels drop at the end of the cycle that the MMP?s can get to work and breakdown the lining causing our monthly bleed. But with oestrogen continually stimulating more lining and the MMP's, and low progesterone, bleeding continues. I would advise starting on the 200mg/day initially, gradually reducing the amount until you find the optimum level. Please remember stress drops progesterone levels, so use more over any stressful time. Take care Wray

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Aug 18, 2010

ocp and hair loss
by: Anonymous

i used to have a full head of hair while I was using the mirena contraceptive. it was the only contraceptive that was able to make me have regular periods. I had it removed after the 5 years and since then my hair has been falling out at a great rate! I was put on baby yaz and then dianette, and my hair is still falling out. I take all the regular supplements and wonder if I should the wild yam cream in conjunction with the oral contraceptives and also use an adrenal support supplement with actual dessicated adrenal glands? I am also hypo thyroid but it is the normal range with low dose levothyroxine. What should I do?

Aug 20, 2010

ocp and hair loss
by: Wray

Hi there The Mirena leaks a progestin into the body, this stops all ovarian function. Which means you were not making any ovarian oestrogen, testosterone, but more importantly progesterone. Now that it's out the ovaries are able to work again and to begin with they make oestrogen and testosterone only. It can be weeks, in some cases months, for ovulation to occur and progesterone to be made. Which means you have excess oestrogen and testosterone circulating now, as there is little to no progesterone to suppress them. These are causing the hair loss. All contraceptives cause adverse symptoms, please see our page on Contraceptives. The only safe one is the copper T IUD, as it leaks no synthetic hormone into the body. Progesterone does suppress oestrogen and testosterone, the amount to use is between 100-200mg/day. But before you consider it please see this web page on Oestrogen Dominance. A yam cream won't give you progesterone. I would also suggest you have a vitamin D test done, as hypothyroidism is in part caused by a lack of vitamin D, please see the Vitamin D council website for more info. I would also suggest you take 2000mg/day N-acetyl cysteine, 2000mg/day inositol and 2-3mg/day biotin, all three are essential for hair growth. Take care Wray

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Aug 20, 2010
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Submitted by: Wray

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Hi there The Mirena leaks a progestin into the body, this stops all ovarian function. Which means you were not making any ovarian oestrogen, testosterone, but more importantly progesterone. Now that it's out the ovaries are able to work again and to begin with they make oestrogen and testosterone only. It can be weeks, in some cases months, for ovulation to occur and progesterone to be made. Which means you have excess oestrogen and testosterone circulating now, as there is little to no progesterone to suppress them. These are causing the hair loss. All contraceptives cause adverse symptoms, please see our page on <a href=" http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/contraceptives-research.html" target="_blank">Contraceptives.</a> The only safe one is the copper T IUD, as it leaks no synthetic hormone into the body. Progesterone does suppress oestrogen and testosterone, the amount to use is between 100-200mg/day. But before you consider it please see this web page on <a href=" http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/estrogen-dominance.html" target="_blank">Oestrogen Dominance.</a> A yam cream won't give you progesterone. I would also suggest you have a vitamin D test done, as hypothyroidism is in part caused by a lack of vitamin D, please see the <a href=" http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/health/deficiency/am-i-vitamin-d-deficient.shtml" target="_blank">Vitamin D council</a> website for more info. I would also suggest you take 2000mg/day N-acetyl cysteine, 2000mg/day inositol and 2-3mg/day biotin, all three are essential for hair growth. Take care Wray

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