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[Jennie]

Hi
Getting very worried about sudden hair loss. Nearly two years since last period. Had three months hrt nor year post menopause but noticed I was losing hair .Gp said no connection and that women find hair improves with HR t Anyway due to other effects i stopped taking it.
Due to continuing hot flushes and low libido asked GP for Tibolone.Suddenly three weeks after commencing this I noticed front hairline very thin and volume in my fringe reduced by 50 per cent I have stopped it two weeks ago . Has anyone else experience of this.

[tiger74]

Hi Jennie,

I started a thread about thinning/dull hair a while ago, I wondered if some of the responses might be of interest to you.

http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,23889.0/topicseen.html

All the best.

[Hurdity]

Hi Jennie

 

As Stellajane says your hair loss could be due to the hormone in Tibolone.

Some of the progestogens in HRT are androgenic ie stimulates male characteristics ( such as baldness etc). Here is the information on this site about the different progestogens:
http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/perimeno.php

Progestogens which can be used cyclically are of 3 main types:

    Testosterone derived - Norgestrel, Norethisterone acetate and Levonorgestrel.
    Less testosterone related - Medroxyprogesterone acetate(MPA).
    Least testosterone related - Dydrogesterone and Micronised progesterone (Utrogestan).

Tibolone is mildly androgenic so this could definitely be having an effect.

You haven't said how old you are but it sounds like you are a candidate for a different type of HRT (oestrogen patch or gel maybe - or at least a tablet like Femoston) and supplementing with very low dose of testosterone (for libido) - under medical supervision. Some women find libido improves with HRT, but less so with oral HRT I understand, and the synthetic progestogens can also interfere with libido too.

Also have you had your thyroid levels tested? Hair loss can be a sign of something wrong here? I would expect though that you would have other symptoms as well as hair loss if this were the case.

As the doc says HRT can also improve it but not an androgenic one!

Are you able to get a consultation at a menopause clinic in your area? it sounds like you need specialist advice for menopausal symptoms as well as hair loss.

Hurdity x

[Jennie]

Thank you ladies for the advice and links , much appreciated x

[Kelly]

I found viviscal tablets very good for thin hair Jennie. I know it's expensive but when you weigh up all the shampoos and thickening stuff you buy and I feel it really works. Also pureology shampoo is great it doesn't have sulphates in. My hairdresser has even started using it too and recommending it. You can get it fom suppliers on ebay .
Xxxxx

[Meeka]

I was shedding hair before I started HRT.....I did find I was deficient in Vitamin D and thought that was the answer.

After 2 years on HRT I have just seen some holiday photos and noticed how my hair has receded at the front.  I think I will check my vitamin D levels again and get my thyroxine levels checked.  I do take Thyroxine but this has been stable for years.  The odd thing is I am not shedding much hair, my hair just seems to have receded at the front.  I have bought some  Regaine spray to try.  I'm a bit depressed about it...my hair is thin anyway and the calibre seems to be reducing, that is each strand is becoming thinner, think its called miniaturisation .   I use Oestrogel and Utrogestan.

[Taz2]

There is a certain type of alopecia in post menopausal women Meeka - I read about it in the press last year http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1196371/Receding-hair-new-epidemic-older-women.html and have also found this link. http://www.belgraviacentre.com/blog/frontal-fibrosing-alopecia-womens-receding-hairline/

Taz x