Hair Loss and Progesterone

I have been having hair loss and hair thining for about 15 years now. I had my thyroid removed in 2004 and I am taking thyroid medication to replace the TSH. I read that TSH, DHT and Progesterone have an impact on hair loss/thining in women.

No dermatologist or general practicioner was able to help my hair loss/thining. After I read about the high impact of hair loss (75% of hair loss is due to low progesterone according to that articel) I went to the doctor and asked for a blood test on my progesterone since no doctor had ever checked it before. My progesterone level came back at 0.8! which, according to what the doctor told me, is way too low and he gave me a progesterone medication.

The progesterone level is supposed to be between 3.3 and 26. So my progesterone was almost non-existant. I am hoping that the hair loss and thining of the hair will improve in time. However, I realize that 15 years of hair loss and thining are not going to be fixed in one month, according to the article, it takes a long time. But I am not giving up hope.

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Hair Loss and Progesterone

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Jun 18, 2009
 Hair Loss and Progesterone
by: Wray

A lack of progesterone can lead to hair loss, due principally to a relatively high oestrogen level. Excess oestrogen is converted into androgens, it's these which cause the hair to fall out. Supplementing with progesterone suppresses both the oestrogen and the androgens allowing the hair to grow back.

Your level is very low, due undoubtedly to the stress you've been going through with your thyroid. Stress drops progesterone levels sharply. You say you've been given progesterone medication, I do hope it's not a progestin and is progesterone. Please bear in mind if it's oral progesterone most of it is destroyed as it passes through the gut and liver, so very little reaches the cells where it's needed. The best routes are injections, suppositories or creams. Please consider taking 2000mg/day N-acetyl cysteine and 2000mg/day inositol (a B vitamin), often called the anti-alopecia vitamin. Both these do help to restore hair growth. Take care, Wray
Jun 07, 2010
 help please 62 hair loss now on hrt
by: kathy

Sheding hair for 3 years now. My estrogen started at about 18. 2 years ago, and dropped to 5.0 this year. My progesterone past 2 years always around 1.1 -1.0 Started hrt Feb 1. Prometrium 100 mg once a day, Eveamist once a day 1.53 once a day. Recent labs, 3 times since end of April, in order= progesterone 8.0 Estrogen {estroidal?} 47. Took hormones 1 hour prior to labs. Next labs=end of May --Progesterone 2.8 estrogen= 22.8 did not take hormones before am labs. Next lab=June 4. Took hormones 4 hours prior to labs. Progesterone 12.37 Estro.= 34.3 Is this normal? My thyroid is also a bit off= TSH anywhere from 2.6 to 5.0. usually around 3.1. T3= usually around 2.5 to 2.6 T4 1.12 Doctor gave me 60 mg Armour. I am afraid to try it as I am having a big shedding now as it usually rages starting in May to August. Any help is so much appreciated. Are my prog/estr levels good?
Jun 09, 2010
 help please 62 hair loss now on hrt
by: Wray

Hi Kathy I don't believe any woman needs extra oestrogen, we make more than enough in our fat cells. It will also suppress any progesterone you have. For more info please see here.

I assume you are taking oral progesterone, which is not the best delivery system, as most gets destroyed in the gut and liver. I think this is the reason your progesterone level is low, it would be higher if you were supplementing with suppositories or a cream. It's also best to divide the amount into a minimum of twice a day, levels drop too low before the next dose. Oestrogen also suppresses thyroid function, whereas progesterone suppresses oestrogen and has a slight stimulatory affect on the thyroid. Please consider taking 2000mg/day N-acetyl cysteine and 2000mg/day inositol (a B vitamin), often called the anti-alopecia vitamin. Both these help restore hair growth. I also suggest you have a vitamin D test done, a low level reduces the benefits of progesterone and slows the thyroid down. For more info please see here.
I've given links to Medline below so you can check your levels.
Please see here for progesterone.
Here for oestrogen.
Here for TSH.
Here for T3.
Here for T4
Take care, Wray
Oct 11, 2010
 hairloss
by: Anonymous

What brand is the best for actyl cysteine. Thanks, Erica
Oct 15, 2010
 hairloss
by: Wray

Hi Erica There are several good brands on the market. Online are LEF. They have excellent articles too. Also DCN, which again has excellent articles. Another is Jarrow. And Solgar which is normally stocked by health shops, see here. Take care Wray
Mar 30, 2011
 Hair loss with progesterone alone.
by: Anonymous

I am in chemo induced menopause. I've been on 100mg of natural progesterone cream daily with no estrogen. Recently my hair has been falling out in my temple area -- male pattern baldness. I've read that this can be from low estrogen. I know my estrogen level is almost non existent. Do I need to add estrodiol into my regimen? Progesterone alone is not helping. I don't think increasing progesterone alone will help since I don't have any measurable estrogen in my body (blood tests have showed this).

How much estrodiol should I take. Thanks!
May 26, 2011
 no estrogen
by: Michelle

Hi, I posted above (chemo induced) and did not yet get a response. I've been on 150 of progesterone for 6 months. I do show a low level of prog in my bloodwork, but no estrogen. Do you ever recommend taking estrodiol, even when a person has none measurable? I'm having hair loss and I wonder if it could be from no estrogen. Does too much progesterone cause hair loss? I'm considering adding estrodiol to my daily regimen. I'd love your thoughts on this. Thanks!
Jun 09, 2011
 Hair loss with progesterone alone.
by: Wray

Hi Michelle I'm sorry I can't get to answer the questions as quickly as I'd like to, there are so many now. I would never recommend oestradiol to anyone, as it's implicated in Cancer. Also see our page on HRT. The oestrogen which is tested for is always oestradiol, very rarely oestrone or oestriol. So I'm delighted your level is low, specially as you've had cancer. If progesterone caused hair loss, every pregnant woman would suffer form it, as we make over 400ng/ml each day in the third trimester. The reverse occurs in fact, as hair growth during pregnancy is usually wonderful. The enzyme 5 alpha-reductase converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is implicated in alopecia. Progesterone inhibits 5 alpha-reductase activity by 97 +/- 5.3%, see here. You might like to read these comments for encouragement, see here and here. Please have a vitamin D test done, this nutrient is always low in cancer. In fact it's been found that over 20 different cancers are in part caused by a lack of vitamin D. For more info see the Vitamin D council and GrassrootsHealth websites. Plus these excellent video's here, here and here. Vitamin D is essential for the anagen growth phase of hair. Plus a lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone. Take care Wray
Sep 01, 2011
 help with hair loss
by: Susan

Hello Wray,

I have been taking bioidentical progesterone cream for a couple months now in hopes that it will help my hair loss. I am wondering about the dosage and days to take it. Everything I have read says that you should take a break for a few days each month depending on whether you are still menstruating. Is this true? I am reading conflicting information.
Sep 21, 2011
 natural progesterone?
by: Anonymous

Has anyone used a natural/OTC product or cream or vitamin that has helped with hair loss due to low progesterone? I'm 40 and the initial battery of tests found no reason for the hair loss outside of low vitamin D and stress. But I do know I have a luteal phase defect through a biopsy. I used progesterone and it helped sustain my subsequent pregnancies, but I'd like to find a natural way to treat it. I just started taking black cohosh.

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