I read through the article and looked over the site. Interesting site, mostly run by Nurse Practioners with an MD oversight. As they said, estrogen levels do affect hair loss levels. During perimenopause, the estrogen level fluctuate with highs and lows while during menopause estrogen levels are no longer produced by the ovaries but still some estrogen is produced by the adrenal glands. In PCOS the testosterone produced in the body suppresses the normal estrogen amount. I wrote a few weeks ago an article here on EmpowHer on PCOS and hair.
https://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/06/03/excess-hair-growth-and-loss-due-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos
The decision to take HRT or hormone replacement therapy is one that needs to be discussed with a doctor who knows your total medical history to weigh the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis vs the benefits of taking estrogen. Often estrogen replacement therapy is given to women with the idea they will wean off it in 5-7 years and the lowest possible dose is given. Some people prefer to use more natural forms of replacement. The topic of estrogen replacement is huge to cover.
Many women supplement their diet with higher estrogen foods like soy or flax seed or supplements like Black cohosh to offset other symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes or mood swings. I don't know if that will help with hair loss or not. I don't believe there are specific studies to test hair loss though I know that taking Black Cohosh has been studied some as an alternative to traditional HRT. It also goes without saying that taking anything internally, even herbs, should be discussed with your doctor.
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I read through the article and looked over the site. Interesting site, mostly run by Nurse Practioners with an MD oversight. As they said, estrogen levels do affect hair loss levels. During perimenopause, the estrogen level fluctuate with highs and lows while during menopause estrogen levels are no longer produced by the ovaries but still some estrogen is produced by the adrenal glands. In PCOS the testosterone produced in the body suppresses the normal estrogen amount. I wrote a few weeks ago an article here on EmpowHer on PCOS and hair.
https://www.empowher.com/news/herarticle/2009/06/03/excess-hair-growth-and-loss-due-polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos
The decision to take HRT or hormone replacement therapy is one that needs to be discussed with a doctor who knows your total medical history to weigh the risk of heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis vs the benefits of taking estrogen. Often estrogen replacement therapy is given to women with the idea they will wean off it in 5-7 years and the lowest possible dose is given. Some people prefer to use more natural forms of replacement. The topic of estrogen replacement is huge to cover.
Many women supplement their diet with higher estrogen foods like soy or flax seed or supplements like Black cohosh to offset other symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes or mood swings. I don't know if that will help with hair loss or not. I don't believe there are specific studies to test hair loss though I know that taking Black Cohosh has been studied some as an alternative to traditional HRT. It also goes without saying that taking anything internally, even herbs, should be discussed with your doctor.
June 29, 2009 - 6:51pmThis Comment
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