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Horrible hair loss

by Shannon
(Florida)

I am 34 and was on the pill previously for 11 years up until 5 years ago or so. I am aware of all the negative side effects of the pill and started taking NATPRO natural progesterone about a year ago. My migraines have gone away, my depression and anxiety have gone, back ache and other symptoms have gone but I am having horrible hair loss- handfulls every time I shower for the last YEAR since starting the progesterone (texture has changed drastically too) so I stopped taking progesterone a few months ago and my hair loss subsided but I was getting horrible migraines again so decided to get back on progesterone and started the hair loss again.

Why? My doctor did say I had an estrogen problem that I wasn't metabolizing it properly- does this have something to do with the hair loss? When I take progesterone it gets worse is that because my estrogen receptors are more sensitized like in estrogen dominance? Why does hair loss subside when I stop progesterone? Should I take more progesterone and will the hair loss eventually stop? I also notice my eyelashes are falling out too- worse when I take progesterone- other than the hair loss I feel great though! Please help me I have no more hair to spare- Thank you.

Comments for Horrible hair loss

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Dec 31, 2010
 Hair Loss
by: Wray

Hi Shannon I'm pleased the progesterone has helped you with those symptoms. And relieved you've stopped the pill. There's info on these on our Contraceptives page, please pass on the link to friends who might still be using it. Unfortunately the hair loss indicates your testosterone is too high. This causes hair loss, resulting in male pattern baldness or androgenic alopecia. Progesterone suppresses both oestrogen and testosterone, but it appears you need more than you are using. This sounds paradoxical, as the loss slows when you stop the progesterone. It's evident that your other symptoms are helped by the amount you are currently using, but not the hair loss. I'm not sure how much you are using, but please try increasing it. I recommend 100-200mg/day, you might need the higher end initially. Please also consider taking 2000mg/day inositol, 2000mg/day N-acetyl cysteine, 2-3mg/day biotin and 100mg/day thiamine. Hair loss is often a blood glucose problem, as excess insulin causes the androgens to increase, leading to the alopecia. The above nutrients will help this. Please also read our page on Insulin Resistance for more info on the nutrients. There is another possibility. Each month the theca cells which surround the maturing egg/s make testosterone. This is converted by the enzyme aromatase to oestrogen. It could be this conversion is not taking place as fast as it should and testosterone is building up excessively. It could be you're not metabolising oestrogen properly, but I can't see how this would influence the hair loss. The pill does damage the ovaries causing oxidative stress. Although you stopped it 5 years ago, there could be residual affects. A good antioxidant complex should help. Please consider having a vitamin D test done, this is one of the most important antioxidants. Vital for the ovaries, for hair loss and controlling blood glucose. Plus a lack of vitamin D reduces the benefits of progesterone. For more info please see the Vitamin D council website. Take care Wray
Apr 04, 2011
 Trying more progesterone
by: Shannon

Hi wray! Thanks for the advice above. I have been using about 2 tsp. a day of progesterone since my posting without a break and am still having symptoms like the hair loss and some headaches and mood swings also bloating and spotting. Should I try even more progesterone? It seems like alot already. Could my problem be something different or does it sound hormonal? Let me know if I should keep increasing my dosage until no symptoms or is this just my body and how I am? I appreciate any advice you may have. Thank you
Shannon
Apr 20, 2011
 Trying more progesterone
by: Wray

Hi Shannon Have you tried the supplements I suggested? They are so helpful in getting hair to grow again. You mentioned earlier that your doctor thought you had a problem metabolising oestrogen, if this is the case I suggest you try taking calcium D-glucarate. Oestrogen is metabolised in the liver by glucuronic acid, the process is known as glucuronidation. The process also removes other substances, including toxins, drugs, bilirubin, androgens, mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids. It's then excreted in the bile, but an enzyme in the intestine called beta-glucuronidase breaks the oestrogen/glucuronide bond, which allows oestrogen to be reabsorbed. Calcium D-glucarate inhibits beta-glucuronidase. Incidentally this enzyme is produced by undesirable gut bacteria, supplementing with probiotics suppresses the bacteria, and subsequently the beta-glucuronidase. Hair loss is usually caused by excess testosterone, it appears yours is still too high. You can increase the amount of progesterone to see if it helps, but I feel the supplements would probably be a better idea. The spotting is evidence the progesterone is dropping too low before your period, please increase the amount the few days beforehand to see if that helps, it should. If you get a headache, please rub the cream all over your neck, under your ears in particular and over your face too if makeup will allow. As you appreciate, it can take time to counter the excess oestrogen, specially if you have excess or are not metabolising it. Please have that vitamin D test done, it's vital for the anagen phase of hair growth, and it could be yours is too low. It is in most of us, see here, here and here. Plus these papers here, here, here and here. Take care Wray
Jul 20, 2011
 Still confused
by: Anonymous

Hi wray, its me again replying about the above. I started taking the supplements you recommended above for the hair loss but it hasn't stopped it. I apply about 2 tsp a day sometimes more of progesterone (natpro)every day of the month now. I am not having a regular period, I sometimes have spotting but no period for months and its just difficult then to determine my cycle. How can I regulate my periods with progesterone if I'm not sure when to use it? I also find I still have symptoms of either estrogen dominance or could I possibly be in perimenopause? I possess most of the symptoms you listed on the perimenopause page of your site. I sometimes feel the amount of progesterone cream I'm using might still not be enough. Do you think then my period would normalize and my symptoms go away if I was using enough or am I in perimenopause and nothing will help. Please help me. At wits end. Also taking 5000 iu vit. D.
Jul 29, 2011
 Still trying
by: Shannon

Hi wray, I forgot to leave my name above after my last comment. I've decided to try even more progesterone than I have been using. This might regulate my period. I do wonder if I am ovulating. Are there tests to check? I am taking all the supplements you suggested except calcium d glucarate. Also taking vit.d 5000 iu/day. I will try 3 tsp of cream daily to see if I feel great. I just really need to figure out how to follow or regulate my cycle if I still have one as I do want kids in the near future. If I use natpro everyday it stops ovulation I read so is that possible to regain or have I permanently disputed my cycle since I've been using cream everyday for a while now... Any thoughts on this? Thank you for responding and for all your wonderful insight! I have hope!
Sep 22, 2011
 Waiting for your advice
by: Shannon

Hi wray! Its shannon again. I have been taking all the hair supplements you mentioned plus vit.d also calcium d glucarate the last month and I have upped my dose of progesterone to about 500mg. /day. I am waiting for my period so I can try to regulate or follow some cycle if I have one anymore. How do I know if I am still ovulating or not as this could get costly using this much cream everyday. Any advice? I would appreciate anything. I am feeling good at this dose but should I just stop and see if its keeping me from having a period?/?. Will bleeding start when I stop? And then follow the 28 day cycle for cream? Thank you for any info you may have! Shannon
Feb 12, 2013
 Progesterone and hair loss
by: JoAnn

I take bioidentical hormone replacement. I too have significantly more hair loss when I take the progesterone for the first 11 days of my created cycle. (I am in menopause) I sleep better and am in better moods, but it is ruined by the hair loss. One of my doctors told me that it was not necessarily that I had too much testosterone, but that I was some how allergic to it and that is why it affects my hair loss. It seem by sometimes taking more estradiol, it is suppose to help, which is contradictory to what has been said on this site. I tried saw palmetto and it worked on stopping the hair loss, however, my hair looked horrible. It was flat and ugly. It seems there is no solution to this menopause thing!
Feb 13, 2013
 Progesterone and hair loss
by: Wray

Hi JoAnn When you say you're taking bio-identical hormone replacement, does that mean you're 'taking' it, i.e. is it oral? And does it contain all three hormones, i.e. testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone? Oral is fine for oestrogen as it's not destroyed by the gut and liver, but testosterone is and so is progesterone......"The liver and gut region removed a mean of 96 per cent of the progesterone entering these tissues" see here. We have more info on our Delivery systems page. I don't think you're allergic to testosterone, it's known to cause male pattern baldness in both sexes. We do have a page on Hair Loss you could look through. And there's no need to use progesterone mimicking a cycle once in Menopause. I suggest you consider using only this and not the other hormones every day. And in suppository or cream form, as the absorption is far better. There is a solution to both Peri-menopause and menopause, and that's progesterone. It saved me from all my adverse symptoms, and it's helped a great many other women too. Take care Wray

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