Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Sammiejane]

Hi ladies

Have any of you chose to go on the contraceptive pill after ovaries removed and full hysterectomy, the combined pill .

I had my operation at 35 and have been out on estrogen hrt but can't get s balance and had no issues when I was on the pill in my 20s so wondering whether to go on this but they had said there not keen as my age and I smoke but it has same risks as HRT in my eyes with dvt and blood clots .

Please advise

[Hurdity]

Hi Sammiejane

Why would you want to go on the contraceptive pill if you have no ovaries or womb amd therefore no cycle? You would be taking strong synthetic progestogens that you do not need and could make you feel worse due to side effects.

If you are on oestrogen only - what type/dose do you take and how old are you now? From what I've read it can be more difficult getting the right hormonal balance after surgical menopause. Maybe testosterone would help but would have to be prescribed off-licence. Do you have any issues with libido if you don't mind my asking?!

Hurdity x

[Sammiejane]

Hi hurdity

Yes have zero energy no libido at all

My estrogen level was at 104 and testosterone 0.6

All other bloods fine

But I feel rubbish !

[Hurdity]

What oestrogen are you taking though and what dose? Have you considered taking T or asking doc?

Hurdity x

[Sammiejane]

Hi hurdity

I'm taking the estrogel 2 pumps but my main issue my hair has thinned so much it's upsetting me I'm only now 40

[dahliagirl]

Have your tests included thyroid, ferratin, B12 and Vit D?  These can all contribute to hair loss.

There are a few threads around about hair loss, worth a search and sift through.  Massage with oil before shampooing is supposed to help - improves blood flow - you can keep the oil on overnight with a shower cap if you are brave!

[Tc]

Sammie.

From what you've said you read that high eastrogen and low progesterone can lead to hair shedding and that's why you want to take progesterone.

This might be true in someone who has an imbalance who.isnt post meno. But your level is not that high. In fact it's quite low. And one of the main culprits post meno is low eastrogen.

A high testosterone to eastrogen ratio post meno can cause female pattern hairloss in some women. But your testosterone is not high either.

I have had my ovaries removed. The ovaries continue to make androgens after menopause but we have lost that. So are lower in testosterone than our "intact"  counterparts.
Testosterone declines with age. And as you are only 40 the  drop is greater so you would be a candidate for testosterone. Replacement.

Have you never been referred to a .meno clinic?  I think with having had surgical meno at 35 you have every right to specialised advice and support   your GP can refer you.

One thing I would say is. I personally wouldnt take progesterone if I didnt have to.(I still have uterus). I find it causes me more problems than anything.

I can tell how much the hairloss is upsetting you.  I'm sorry and  hope you get sorted soon.

Xxx

[Sammiejane]

Hi TC

Yes I am under a menopause specialist and they started me on Estrogel 2 pumps 9 months ago and I've had thinning hair since starting hrt

Low estrogen I believe hasn't caused me hair loss as my hair after my ovaries were removed was mega thick and grew dead fast and I had no hormones now I've incorporated Estrogen I have now imbalance in the ratio to progesterone and testosterone or am I wrong ?

All bloods fine my hair loss is hormonal !

I take Ovestin for VA

I wondered if the gel was causing my hair loss so thought about a patch instead it's mainly thinning on the scalp ?
 Or add in progesterone

I can't have testosterone as my estrogen to low according to Meno even though my gynecologist thinks I should have it now as surgical menopause is totally different and he also said women do take progesterone and some women u don't tolerate estrogen take progesterone only !

[Alicess]

Sammiejane, I can not give you the confirmation you seek regarding progesterone as a solution for your hairloss. Exogenous estrogen like Estrogel doesn't act the same way as our own estrogen or our hormones.  It doesn't mean Estrogel is causing your hairloss, it could be you need more or a different kind of delivery like patches. The fact that you didn't experience hairloss after your hysterectomy could be because your estrogen levels didn't drop instantly but gradually decreased. Your blood test shows your estrogen is low so that's given you some indication. Low estrogen can cause thinning hair.  I think your specialist is right when he wants your estrogen levels to be higher before adding testosterone.

Again,  I understand you are frightened but the only way you'll find the answer is by making a choice either way as no one can say for 100 % sure what's causing your hairloss. It remains trail and error. If you feel so strongly you need progesterone or a BCP, as I feel you do, you should give it a try.

[Sammiejane]

Hi Alicess

You mention that maybe after my hysterectomy my estrogen may well of declined slowly rather then instant I agree that maybe this was the case however even up to weeks before starting hrt I never lost hair it went dryer but thicker maybe the ration of testosterone to estrogen was higher as estrogen dropped so low and maybe over the years following hysterectomy this is what happened my estrogen went lower then testosterone ? Cause now testosterone is low but could be because I added estrogen in and that's why now I'm getting hair loss on hrt so maybe I need testosterone to balance things. ?
I have swapped to a patch 75 estradot to see if helps although VA symptoms are worse even in last 3 days.

Do you know if testosterone can help with excessive sweating cause I've noticed the more estrogen I have the more sweating I get ?