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[Noheroicsplease]

I am so sorry to post again. I feel like such a drain. I've posted here before about not absorbing estrogel - oestrogen levels sinking to an all time low recently on 3 pumps a day. I have the mirena coil for progesterone (fitted 18 months ago).

But in the past couple of months, I've had a hair shedding. I've had it before, but typically associated with low ferritin. My ferritin isn't low.

I put it down to drop in estrogen. I'm now on 75mg Estradot patches, change every 3 days, and 2 pumps Tostran a week. The menopause specialist I spoke said that it was a very small amount but my testosterone levels are so low, it would be worth adding in.

I've been on this regime for 2 weeks. I thought the shedding was improving. Today a whole bunch came out when I ran my hands through.

It's SO demoralising. I have thick hair but for how long?

But I have no idea what's causing it! Drop it estrogen, tostran OR low testosterone, or the mirena?!


How the hell do i find out?

I'm so low about it. I really am.

[Noheroicsplease]

I should stress that it's not on the scalp/parting. So, I don't think it's female pattern baldness. It's a diffuse shedding from all over.

[SueLW]

We do all go through periods of shedding hair.  In a similar way to animas moulting, only not as drastic or weather linked.  It might just be that.  When we were younger and not even considering any of this shit, we would not have taken any notice of hair shedding episodes.  Now we are hyper-vigilant about it and notice every hair. 

[Noheroicsplease]

Hi Stella,

Thanks for that. Yes, I have read copiously about the different sorts of progesterone. I know that the progesterone in the mirena isn't great.

BUT I've had the coil in for 18 months. Wouldn't I have seen shedding earlier if that was the culprit?

[Noheroicsplease]

I'm on two pumps of tostran  a week. Only started last week. the shedding preceded this - which is why I think it's a big decline in estrogen. I went down to 54mpl (range 48-854) even on several pumps of Estrogel a day.

My consultant insists it cannot be tostran that is causing the hair loss

[Annie0710]

Ive been on oestrogen only for years and my shedding started suddenly and drastically as soon as I reached meno.  I figured I had nothing to lose (no pun intended) by introducing testosterone and it's helped a little, my hair is definitely easier to manage

Low testosterone can cause hair loss
I think in my case it is probably aslso hereditary x

[Noheroicsplease]

I have really pushed the question with the meno person I saw - will testosterone make it worse, given that my estrogen levels are not good.  She says it won't.

Given that this all started before tostran and when my estrogen levels took a sharp decline to zilch, my feeling is that it's the latter not the former.

The problem is - i have no idea!

[Annie0710]

Unfortunately you have to try it to find out x

[Annika]

I'm not sure about the HRT but I think most of us have been through the thinning hair one way or another. First time I noticed it was my pillow in the morning there were always hairs  and in the shower after I shampooed there was quite a bit in the drain, so depressing if you've had nice thick hair.  I have had some success with taking Biotin supplements after a month I noticed not only did my hair improve but my eyebrows grew back in quite well. Also I stopped using the ammonia type color and switched out to a non permanent rinse and spending a little more on shampoo/conditioner. My sister lost her's quite a bit on her crown but had a great hairdresser that gave her a beautiful short hair do that covered it very well. I guess its hit or miss 

[allie007]

I went to see my GP 2 weeks ago about my hair shedding which has been going on for months and scalp is noticeably patchy in the frontm. Im on 3 pumps of Estrogel and Mirena. Said my scalp looked healthy, to expect to lose hair 'at my age', refused to do any blood tests as she thought they were pointless and gave me a prescription for a psoriasis shampoo 

[Noheroicsplease]

That's such a bad response, Allie. I'm so sorry. How quickly GPS trivialise matters that are important to us.

[Annie0710]

I watch Gps behind closed Doors and 24 hrs in A&E and always notice the gps/nurses on there with hair loss x

[allie007]

There are about 10 GPs in my practise, Ive never seen this one before or heard of her to be honest. I wasnt told it was a locum. Ive had my haircut into a blunt bob now and it does look much better, was looking really straggly before. Im going to make an appointment to go in again soon x