Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Hopeful2 on August 28, 2025, 05:41:44 PM
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Hi ladies.
I'm looking for some advice please.
Ive upped my HRT to 200mg utrogestan continuously & 2mg Sandrena. Been getting on great with the 1.5mg, but as soon as I upped to 2mg, 17 days ago, my scalp has been burning really bad and my hair has got really wirey, when I washed it it was all matted and I'm having some hairloss, though not loads, my scalp is so sore & itchy. I've been trying to stick it out as I do sometimes get itching and sore burning in my head when I up my HRT, but it doesn't usually last this long.
Im getting afraid to continue on this dose, but I am loathed to go back down as I've seen great benefit from upping it otherwise.
Do you think it's worth trying an antihistamine or should I cut back down to the 1.5mg again & leave it a few days and go back for something else. So disappointed as I've tried other types and have had these side effects with others too, so maybe it's my body just adjusting and it will eventually settle. Can't stop crying over it, sorry for long message. Thanks for your help.
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It's too much hormone all at once perhaps? Why not continue with your original regime and add a little extra occasionally, until U find an amount that helps?
Why have U upped the dose ?
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Thank you for your reply CLKD.
I was having spotting so GP suggested upping. I've tried upping slowly in the past and bought a tiny scales, but couldn't seem to measure it correctly & gave up and thought might as well weather the side effects in one go, but these side effects have taken be aback to when I started HRT in the 1st place :( but your probably right its too much altogether. Thanks for your message.
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I am on an upward titration on oestrogen and on some days only, my scalp would itch like mad.
It is common in menopause.
I find that even though I am increasing and feel much better overall, some new symptoms come, old ones come back, and stubborn ones won't go away, yet.
I know not enough oestrogen causes itches anywhere on the body and head.
I never heard of any problems with too much oestrogen as I thought it got excreted out but stand corrected if it stays in circulation in the body.
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Could it be still not enough oestrogen if your hair has gone like that as I tend to notice hair fall, wirey and grey roots and really dry/frizzy hair when my oestrogen is low and as soon as I increase my hair gets in better condition as a bit of time passes
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Hi ladies.
Thank you for all of your replies. I've been trying not to message and stay calm, but the burning in my scalp has really got me down. I've been taking an antihistamine & lowered my dose a bit by cutting one of the Sandrena 0.5mg sachets in half at night so taking 1mg in the morning and 0.75mg ish at night, but looks like I'm going to have to go back to my 1.5mg. I don't think it's the utrogestan causing it as I had upped to the 200mg utrogestan continuously one week before upping the Sandrena and I was ok, hope this is the case.
I guess its ok to continue taking the 200mg utrogestan whilst reducing back down to the 1.5mg for a bit and hopefully I can try and up it again when it settles down. Feel completely worn down and disappointed to have all my symptoms back since dropping the dose 😓 and really struggling to go to work.
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Or maybe I should reduce the utrogestan too just in case it might be that, feeling desperate 😓
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Could it be still not enough oestrogen if your hair has gone like that as I tend to notice hair fall, wirey and grey roots and really dry/frizzy hair when my oestrogen is low and as soon as I increase my hair gets in better condition as a bit of time passes
My normally shiny sleek thick hair has frizzed.
I have these frizzy wisps coming out the sides when I put it up. :-\
I am currently building my oestrogen though and look forward to my shiny sleek thick hair, no matter the colour. I know some greys are different but I don't remember my mum's hair going like this and my hair is like hers.
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Thank you for your reply Dandelion.
I've temporarily reduced my HRT and I think my scalp is settling slightly.
I'm now thinking my burning scalp is fungal as I think I have oral thrush too. I think when I up my HRT it sets off my Candida so I've now bought some 10 billion probiotics. Does anyone else have this issue. I really feel a mess 😓
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Hopeful, if you think these symptoms are caused by histamine you might want to look up the work of Dr Tina Peers on YouTube (many presentations and seminars) on histamine intolerance and estrogen. Essentially if you are already disposed to histamine intolerance, higher estrogen levels can make this worse. But there are ways to deal with it...
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Thank you very much for your reply Joziel.
I didn't know histamine and Candida were linked. What would be the best way forward then do you think?
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Hi ladies
My head is still burning, hair frizzy with hair loss. Has anyone experienced this on HRT. I feel I'm the only one. So upset. I think I'll have to hand my notice in at work as I can't handle the stress of this anymore.
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I would make an appointment with a specialist menopause clinic (like Newson Health) so you can talk it over. I'd especially look for a doctor who is interested in histamine issues.
With hair loss, you also need to make sure your ferritin is optimal (over 100) as iron deficiency is a major cause of hair loss - and also get a full thyroid panel run.
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I had hair loss with low oestrogen but if your hair is your biggest concern a dermatologist might be a good option.