Hair Loss and Estrogen

[BreeD]

I have been taking Propecia for around 9-10 months.  My hair loss started to taper off.  Around month 5, my Dr and I added in low-dose estrogen (vivelle-dot) to try and counter my dysphoria.  We have raised the dose twice, but each time it seems (especially at the beginning) my hair loss gets much worse.  Besides the Fin, I am not on another AA.  Has anyone else experienced this?  Is it just my body adjusting to the new hormonal balance?  Needless to say I hate finding a big wad of my wonderful (finally long) hair in the tub after a shower!   

[EmmaMcAllister]

Fin can take up to a year to slow/stop hair loss. If you really want to stop hair loss, you need to get your T levels down.

[BreeD]

My T levels are still pretty "normal" though lower than when we started.  The fin was doing a pretty good job until the introduction of E, then things seemed to go south (hair-wise...otherwise it's been great).  Though the loss always seems worse within a week of starting a higher dose. 

My Dr asked at my last visit if I wanted to start Spiro, but transition isn't my current goal.  I just want to get the dysphoria to a manageable level and continue therapy and see how all this feels.  Sometimes this all feels painfully slow, others its like a whirlwind hit and I have found myself in Oz.  I don't however want to go bald in the process.   

[Rachel]

Finasteride can cause hair shedding. What sheds will come back after the hair resting phase.

I do not think E causes hair shedding.

My T is 3 ng/dl so I stopped finasteride. Fin has some side effects that can be an issue, suicidal ideation. I did not need any help with that.

Dysphoria is from T. You need a sex hormone so E is then given.

[LivingTheDream]

When I started on the patch, my hormone levels changed a lot. I also shed a ton of hair too there for a little bit. Read somewhere, I believe, that drastic changes in hormones can cause temp hair loss; that was one of the first signs for me that hrt was finally starting to work for me.

If it doesn't go away in a bit id be concerned, heck I have a ton of hair, full head, and I was concerned still, but I think some hair loss is OK or normal at least.

[BreeD]

When I started on the patch, my hormone levels changed a lot. I also shed a ton of hair too there for a little bit. Read somewhere, I believe, that drastic changes in hormones can cause temp hair loss; that was one of the first signs for me that hrt was finally starting to work for me.

If it doesn't go away in a bit id be concerned, heck I have a ton of hair, full head, and I was concerned still, but I think some hair loss is OK or normal at least.

This was my guess too, though I can't seem to find any documentation saying this happens specifically.  Initially on the Fin (only) I did shed more, but around month 3, my hair loss practically stopped and I started regrowing hair in my temple area (my loss area).  Every time I up the E dose, around a week afterward I see a sharp rise in hairs coming out in the shower.  I think it slowly tapers off, but still it freaks my out.  I have quite a bit of hair too, but it's the first time in my life I have the long hair I have always wanted.  I REALLY want it to stay around.