Hair Loss :(

[saraht123]

I would like to keep my own hair if I can. I'm 37 and I used to have really thick hair, though I have been shedding quite a bit for the last couple of years; mainly my hairline and crown. My dad went bald at the crown when he was about 40ish. My younger brother has had major hair loss since his late 20s. I think I still have quite a bit, but I would like to stop losing any more. I wish I had transitioned sooner and maybe not have to worry about this too.

I am starting hrt in a few weeks. Will spiro and E stop hair loss in it's tracks, maybe even reverse it? I am thinking about getting finasteride too, but I don't know if I have enough hair loss to consider it. Someone told me it will cause more body hair and facial hair too, and I really don't want that. I also heard  it will make a lot of my hair fall out before it starts to regrow and I will have to take it forever.

What are my future prospects on hrt? Are my folicles so damaged by 20+ years of testosterone/DHT that I will eventually end up being a bald woman, even on spiro and E?

Please find attached photos of the top of my head from various angles. I think I must be going crazy doing this! The last one is the worst. There is just more scalp visible than I think there used to be a year ago. Or maybe I'm just totally paranoid. I think it is more obvious in real life and under fluoresdent lights.

Sorry for being such a paranoid idiot. So I guess,  really,  I'm just asking should I take finasteride, even as a precaution?






PS do I pass?

[Greeneyes]

I'm in the same boat. Honestly though, I'm 9 years younger and you look like you have way more hair than I have. Mine is very sparse so it looks terrible from any angle. I really don't think you will have anything to worry about. After starting HRT my hair slowed down on falling out but I don't think I've gained any.


~Kristen

[Ms Grace]

Generally a Spiro and estrogen combo should see you keep your hair and thicken it a bit. Keep in mind that you may have some loss as your body adapts to the new hormone regime. Also keep in mind that everyone's milage varies on HRT, what has specific effects for one person is not seen in others. Given your starting crop though I think it's likely you'll be fine.

[StartingOver]

Yes to finasteride, ASAP.  Don't risk any further hair loss, although HRT should put a stop to the loss.

Belt and braces.

[KristinaM]

Definitely talk to your doctor about Finasteride (Propecia).  It's basically an anti-androgen that targets hair loss.  So you kinda get a double whammy from using it.

And you have very pretty hair that doesn't look TOO too thin from the pictures, but in person it may appear differently.

[saraht123]

Thank you everyone. I am basically going DIY because it will take months/years to get to see a professional in this country (I'm in the UK so everything is free, but very, very, slow). So I have chosen to self med because this is a trans-emergency to me, though I'm probably too vain for my own good.

I think finasteride is a good idea, but will I have to take it forever, even if I have SRS or an orchie? I just figure with E and spiro I will have a lot of drugs in my system already. Are their any negatives to finasteride? I don't mind if it makes me impotent or something. Actually, that would be a bonus.

[Dena]

Once the male hormones are out of your system, hair loss from them should stop and some regrowth might occur. This is kind of a loaded response because CIS women also have problems with hair loss but I don't know what the common causes are on women. It might be genetic or it might be male hormones. You should talk to the doctor who will provide you with the finasteride about it.
My personal results is I have had a bit of regrowth of male pattern baldness but I transitions by 30 and at 64 I still have a really thick full head of hair. Neither side of the family had full baldness but pattern baldness was on my fathers side of the family.

[saraht123]

My great grandma ended up a bit thin on top. She was 90 though.  Everyone says my maternal grandfather never went bald (but, sadly he died when he was 46).

I think I will get some finasteride, just to err on the side of caution.

Thanks again. I don't know what I would do without this website and the people here. I would be in a psychiatric unit or something. You are all amazing.

[Ms Grace]

I would advise strongly against self medication. I can appreciate the frustrations of dealing with a torpid free medical system and the need to stop the testosterone poisoning but you are dealing with some very dangerous medication with HRT. There is a good chance you will cause yourself some significant health problems and there is no safe dose if that medication and/or a combination with others is not suitable for you.

[islandgirl]

I have to agree with Grace on this one. It is very important to consult with your doctor on your med combination. I know that mine wanted to see the blood work after being on dutaseride for 3 months so that he could check to see if my organs were processing things well and were healthy. Dutaseride is similar to finasteride. According to my doctor, dutaseride works more efficiently with the other HRT meds. That may be just his opinion, but it is working for me. I am much older than you (61) and had significant hair loss. Mine is growing back slowly! Probably 10x as thick on top as it was in April!

[AshleyT]

Hi

I'd kill to have the head of hair you're starting with!

I started with finasteride (Propecia) a few months back and it has certainly stopped everything in its tracks, and I've been using minoxidil which is just starting to help fill in some of the more recent gaps. Just started HRT (with E only, plus continuing with fin) so it will be interesting to see how things develop.

BTW, you can get Propecia (finasteride) through the Boots 'online hair loss clinic' in the UK. It's an easy process.

PS Not ignoring your PM - just haven't hit the post count to reply yet!

[saraht123]

I'll be getting appropriate blood work done one way or another, so hopefully minimise the risks, but thanks for the concern.

Boots online do it?  That's very useful to know.

[Lizandri Roth]

I started becoming bald when I turned 23.  It was terrible for me.  No other male in my family has the problem but I blame it on the stress and anxiety caused by my Gender Identity Dysphoria.  I'm became the only bald guy in the family.  BUT hrt has had a profound effect on my hair regrowth.  Hope more will come out soon since I've only been on HRT for 5 months now!
Before:

After:

Hehe, sorry for the disturbing red forehead!

[LizMarie]

I wish I had what hair you do now! Chemotherapy zapped most of my scalp 19 years ago so I don't get a choice. Be glad you do!

As others have noted, HRT may cause regrowth of some or even a lot of hair. May. But it should stop further loss of hair in most cases and once you have SRS (if you are going that route) hair loss should stop altogether.

[Ange]

I'm 27 and I had a few hair loss on the side, but HRT is actually bringing me back at least half of it.

The stress, on the contrary, and a difficult mourning when I was 23, got me a few white hairs... Like maybe a few dozen : not much, but enough so that it was noticeable by anyone close.But funnily, HRT is also reverting these. I don't understand how it works but well, I don't have any white hair anymore... Yay ?

HRT can actually do pretty strange things...

Anyway, dear OP, I see no problems with your hair personnally. I don't get it. ^_^

[brenda w]

spiro affects both blood pressure and potassium level, monitoring these are extremly important. blood pressuure drop not good patassium increases to high u risk heart attack. doctor surpvised is essential.