HRT, Finasteride and hair growth

[Jamie D]

How long have you been using finasteride and minoxidil?  I've been slowly balding for 25 years, and my hairline is back to where it was about 15 years ago.

I'm not sure what my doctor would prescribe, but she had no problem with giving me finasteride.  I'll ask her about Dutasterid.

I recently started on finasteride at the Proscar dosage rather than the Propecia dosage.  The use of dutasteria (Avodart) for hair regrowth is off label.

Both finasteride and dutasteride were developed to treat BPH, and work by blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT.

There are much better pure anti-androgens, but these two meds can serve multiple purposes for the older MAABs like you and me.

[Miranda Catherine]

You can probably tell by my avatar photo that I still have a pretty full head of hair. However, at 59 I'm noticing that I'm losing some hair and some of it is from just plain bad habits, but some is going up my scalp for the first time and it scares the hair out of me. I bought Men's Rogaine last week, I'm on Progynon Depot and Spironolactone. I'm not losing much hair on my brush, on my pillow, and after combing my hair out completely before I shower I have a fine strainer thingie that catches all my hair and virtually nothing is caught. But it's not as thick as it looks, and to me it looks thin. Will the Rogaine help on my recently departed scalp hair? Thanks in advance, Mira





Edited for dosages

[Lara1969]

I recently started on finasteride at the Proscar dosage rather than the Propecia dosage.  The use of dutasteria (Avodart) for hair regrowth is off label.

Indeed it is off label use  like Estrogen, AA, Progesterone :-)
It works for me and I do have to take an AA which can have serious side effects.
And some are taking an AA and have still high amount oft DHT.

Lara

[Allyda]

I think I'll go ahead and get the Dutasteride, but I'll hold off on taking it until I give my current regimine of Spiro, Estradiol, and Finasteride a little time. Alot of my hair loss followed my accident in 1991. Much of it has since subsided back down to a loss of about 100 hairs per day but it has left me with thin patches one large one on top toward the left side of my head. And if the light hits it right (especially sunlight) it is very noticeable even though there is/are long hairs growing there. I'm just hoping for it to thicken back up a little in these areas. I've been thinking of getting a wig or partial for now to wear while I give my regimen time to work.

I started my hrt regimen 3 days ago and even in this short time I've noticed an increase in energy like no other I've felt. It's like my body's been starving for this for years! I'm finally on my way, -yay!!! I haven't felt this good or been this happy in years!





Edited for dosages

[Jamie D]

Hey there ladies.  Please don't post dosages of your HRT.  It is one of Susan's main rules.

Good for you Allyda!  I felt very good when I started too.  It was just a feeling that things were "right."  Hard to explain.

[JordanBlue]

Don't add anything more to regrow hair.  The spiro and E along with Finasteride may fix things in your case.  And since Dutasteride can have some negative effects on the prostate it's not worth adding it when it may not be necessary.

K

I'm starting HRT next Monday.  I have some hair loss (not complete loss) starting from about 3-4 yrs ago.  I'm wondering if I should ask for Finasteride?

[Allyda]

Hey there ladies.  Please don't post dosages of your HRT.  It is one of Susan's main rules.

Good for you Allyda!  I felt very good when I started too.  It was just a feeling that things were "right."  Hard to explain.

I know. It's like a part of me that has been missing is now back in place.

Sorry I'm new and just forgot. It won't happen again. I'm just so happy and full of energy again!

[V M]

Hi friends 

Let's make one thing perfectly clear...

DO NOT POST DOSAGES

Let's review rule 8 of the Site Terms of Service and rules to live by

8. The discussion of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and it's medications are permitted, with the following limitations:
A. You may not advocate for or against a specific medication or combinations of medication for personal gain. This is strictly prohibited.
B. You may not discuss the means to acquire HRT medications without a prescription. The discussion of self medication without a doctors supervision is prohibited.
C. The discussion of recommended or actual dosages is strongly discouraged to prevent information obtained on this site from being used to self medicate.
We can not in good conscience condone the self administering of these medications. Not only may self medication be illegal, but HRT medications can cause serious health problems, and many have the potential for life-threatening side effects that can only be detected and prevented with proper medical supervision.

Thank you

V M

[Allyda]

AgainI apologize. It won't happen again I promise. I'm new and just forgot during my excitement. I understand and have reviewed rule #8 and won't let it happen again.

[Jamie D]

I'm starting HRT next Monday.  I have some hair loss (not complete loss) starting from about 3-4 yrs ago.  I'm wondering if I should ask for Finasteride?

I think about 80% of people on finasteride experience some regrowth.  I have only been on it for a few weeks.

[Miranda Catherine]

I asked earlier for help about hair loss and wasn't sure what to do, thinking I've really been losing quite a bit, but now I think it's about normal for a woman. I got it into my head for several weeks that I'm really losing my hair and I kind of started freaking out about it and when I looked at my hairline I wasn't looking at it rationally. Although it's not quite female it's better than I imagined it to be. I've done stupid things like put it into a tight ponytail sometimes, several times in the past for a week straight and I've read that that can be very hard on the scalp and the roots. I've been wearing a ponytail to bed nearly every night too, although somewhat loosely, and I think I'm going to at least leave my hair free four nights a week. I'm sorry if I was whining, but I still have a lot to learn about haircare and hairstyles. (and lots of other things). The more I learn about what it takes for me to be the woman I want to be, the more positive I am that I did the right thing transitioning, even if I did it much later than I wanted to.

I apologize for printing my HRT doses too. It won't happen again. Hugs to the staff and have a great 2014! Mira

[Allyda]

I'm sorry if I was whining, but I still have a lot to learn about haircare and hairstyles. (and lots of other things). The more I learn about what it takes for me to be the woman I want to be, the more positive I am that I did the right thing transitioning, even if I did it much later than I wanted to.

I apologize for printing my HRT doses too. It won't happen again. Hugs to the staff and have a great 2014! Mira

I too am starting out much later in life than I wanted to so I know a little bit of how you feel. You have lovely hair. I whish mine was that thick.

[Miranda Catherine]

Hi Allyda,
  Thank you for your very sweet compliment! I get mad at myself sometimes over how ignorant I can still be about feminine things, but like you, I didn't start till later in life. After I sat down on New Year's Eve afternoon, I really pulled my hair all the way back and looked objectively at my hair and scalp and realized how far I've blown my hair loss out of proportion. On being ignorant of lots of girl things, I've been finding that some of the tutorials on youtube are indispensable, not only for women like us, but for all sorts of girls and women, because there are some tutorials with 8,000,000 views and more. They're just about braiding, or how to use a curling iron or curlers properly, etc. I watched a few yesterday, and one, called "Sock Curls"/Easy No Heat Curls- by Cute Girl's Hairstyles has had 3,000,000 views and talk about an easy way to get really wonderful curls! There are hundreds or thousands of makeup tutorials, hair coloring tutorials, many of them by the companies who make and market these products, all professionally done videos. And there are really cute, funny videos by 13-17 year old girls who know sooo much about makeup and hair it just blows me away. Allyda, I think I just read that you're just beginning your HRT, and I'm really happy for you. I've been on HRT now for 29 months, the quickest 29 months of my life by far, probably because I've been happier than I ever thought possible. Also, for the first time since I was a child I've been alive and happy about it and I look forward to the next day too. I'm sure it took you a great deal of suffering and heartache to get to the point of HRT, but rarely have I heard or read where a TS woman felt she made the wrong decision in moving forward. Congratulations and God bless you! Once again, thank you for your compliment. Hugs, Mira

[Allyda]

Thank you for your wonderful reply Mira. My reason for waiting had to do with family issues more than anything. If anything though these last few years (5 to be exact) have taught me is that I should have went ahead with my transition alot sooner. Because waiting didn't gain me anything or get me anywhere with them. And had I started sooner I wouldn't have these gray facial hairs to deal with -aaaarrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhh!!! I'm getting them but they are a pain. I'm just thankful for my small features and most of all, that women's clothes actually fit my body much better than mens ever did, lol!!

Another thing I'm suprised at is the extra energy I seem to have even though it's only been a few days since starting my hrt. It's like my body's been fighting a hormone war all these years and now the feminine side is gaining ground as I feel much happier and have plenty of energy. Whereas just last week I had to push myself to wake up in the morning.