Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Hormone replacement therapy => Topic started by: amydane on December 29, 2018, 04:59:50 AM

Title: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: amydane on December 29, 2018, 04:59:50 AM
I have been on these injections for 7 months now, and my hair is still shedding. Has anyone else experienced this? My T-levels are low as I have had an orchiectomy. Maybe it's just my body not liking the injectable source of estrogen? At the first of the year I am thinking of switching back to pills, or going to the patch.

Has the patch worked for any post op GCS, or orchiectomy, given less estrogen is needed since your not fighting the Testosterone anymore?

Of course I will ask my doctor next time I see her, but was interested to see if any of you have had experience with any of my questions.

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Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: jill610 on December 29, 2018, 05:39:07 AM
Hi there,

I am on Estradiol Valerate injections and self inject weekly. I certainly have hairs shedding and was alarmed at one point but my hair is not thinning. My dr says it's normal and seems to follow my cycle when E is low and I am on P (I cycle progesterone 2 on / 2 off). I did not notice a change in shedding based on the way I take estrogen (inject vs pills? And understand from my cis female friends that this is normal for them too.

Good luck and let us know what your dr has to say!
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: luckygirl on December 29, 2018, 12:08:58 PM
Have you thought about a vitamin D3 deficiency? If your nails are going to crap as well, this could be a possible culprit. D3 deficiency is common in winter and contributes to nail and hair health.
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: Devlyn on December 29, 2018, 12:14:25 PM
I always ask if you're sure you're losing more hairs, or just more volume of hair in the brush/shower drain as your hair gets longer and fuller?
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: Megan. on December 29, 2018, 12:32:42 PM
Quote from: Devlyn on December 29, 2018, 12:14:25 PM
I always ask if you're sure you're losing more hairs, or just more volume of hair in the brush/shower drain as your hair gets longer and fuller?
This.

On average we loose about 80 hairs/day just through normal shedding. As our hair grows longer, this becomes more obvious.

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Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: Linde on December 29, 2018, 12:48:03 PM
Quote from: Megan. on December 29, 2018, 12:32:42 PM
This.

On average we loose about 80 hairs/day just through normal shedding. As our hair grows longer, this becomes more obvious.

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That is what I believe she has.  I never had any hair loss, but did shed and still do shed a certain amount of hair every day.  Many older cis women also loose a certain amount of hair, which shows that their hair is thinning with age.
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: Colleen_definitely on December 29, 2018, 12:53:09 PM
I've yet to meet a shower drain I couldn't clog and I haven't gone bald yet.  I seem to shed a bit more in the winter though, perhaps you're seeing something similar?
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: amydane on December 29, 2018, 07:55:57 PM
Thank you all for your response!  I only notice the really bad shed when I wash my hair. My estrogen level was really high at my last appointment, 1009 on the 4th day after injection, so the Dr. reduced my prescription. Maybe that will help reduce the shed, as my estrogen level reduces to a more normal level.

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Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: JLT1 on December 29, 2018, 11:04:42 PM
Hi,

What are your estrogen blood levels?  Have you had an orchi or GCS? Are you active enough to work up a swet?Lastly, what type of shampoo do you use? Vitamins?

We can answer this.

Hugs,

Jen





Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: Megan. on December 30, 2018, 06:56:03 AM
One thing I've noticed, is that if I've not washed my hair for a day or two,  I always see far more in the drain, than if it's only been a day since the last wash.

I assume this is just that the washing loosens the hairs that are ready to shed naturally, so no problem :-) X

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Title: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: chinee on January 01, 2019, 11:23:36 AM
happened to me too and i tried to figure out what was happening to my body for years. Hair keeps breaking / hairfall and nails are weak and tears like paper. I checked my hormones and thyroid and seems all ok. Then I asked someone from old yahoo groups forum who happens to be the guru in HRT. She advised me to stop taking progesterone

And guess what happened after I stopped taking it for more than  6months now, my hair and nails become much healthier again! Progesterone has pros and cons. I did like the pros which is making your breasts fuller and softer but I cant take the cons which is hair loss. So girls you choose
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: JLT1 on January 01, 2019, 12:00:49 PM
Hi,

Two possibilities: hormone imbalance (something too high or too low) or your body lacks/needs something.  I try not to get into the hormone thing on-line. I will say watch the levels. I had the same problem....

Working with my endo, I did adjust hormones.  That helped my mood and sleep quite a bit, fingernails and hair, not so much.  I did find that exercise to a hard sweat coupled with a minoxidil shampoo/application slowed the loss and grew hair back I hadn't seen in years.  Not all the hair came back but enough..   Regular vitamins seemed to help the nails the most although they are still weaker than the were before. 

Jen
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: GingerVicki on January 03, 2019, 12:34:05 PM
IDK. Once my T dropped my hair fell out in mass. So much that I had to cut my hair short. :( I felt like I had mange, but still enough to donate to locks of love.

Could it be the drop in DHT in your scalp? If so it will come back better.

I'm 3 months in and it is still coming back. On a good note, I have hair on my front line where I did not before. It is thin and looks bad, but hey, more is coming right.
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: Linde on January 03, 2019, 01:55:59 PM
Quote from: GingerVicki on January 03, 2019, 12:34:05 PM
. On a good note, I have hair on my front line where I did not before. It is thin and looks bad, but hey, more is coming right.
Just out of curiosity, how deep into your forehead is your hair growing.  I never had receding hair, and mine is so deep into my forehead, that it is bothersome with makeup.  It starts about 2" higher than the eyebrows.
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: PurplePelican on January 03, 2019, 04:01:18 PM
I find diet plays a bigger part in my hair and nail health than hormones.
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: luckygirl on January 03, 2019, 04:10:03 PM
I've kind of found that nothing seems to help with hair and nails. You got em' or don't :(
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: GingerVicki on January 03, 2019, 09:36:28 PM
Quote from: Dietlind on January 03, 2019, 01:55:59 PM
Just out of curiosity, how deep into your forehead is your hair growing.  I never had receding hair, and mine is so deep into my forehead, that it is bothersome with makeup.  It starts about 2" higher than the eyebrows.

My middle is 2 inches, but the 'M' portion continues back about an inch. The very front in widening and the back 'M' section is getting shorter.
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: Linde on January 03, 2019, 10:21:18 PM
Quote from: GingerVicki on January 03, 2019, 09:36:28 PM
My middle is 2 inches, but the 'M' portion continues back about an inch. The very front in widening and the back 'M' section is getting shorter.
So, my 2" are about normal, only that I do not sport an "M" portion, the hair is almost even all around.

Is Estrogen is doing the hair thing for you?  I wonder what it will do for me, hopefully nothing, because I do not want to look like a cave person!
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: Linde on January 03, 2019, 10:22:06 PM
Quote from: PurplePelican on January 03, 2019, 04:01:18 PM
I find diet plays a bigger part in my hair and nail health than hormones.
What kind of diet makes hair and nails grow?
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: GingerVicki on January 03, 2019, 11:32:13 PM
Quote from: Dietlind on January 03, 2019, 10:21:18 PM
So, my 2" are about normal, only that I do not sport an "M" portion, the hair is almost even all around.

Is Estrogen is doing the hair thing for you?  I wonder what it will do for me, hopefully nothing, because I do not want to look like a cave person!

If my trend continues I will still have a bit of an 'm' but not the big 'M' if you know what I mean. :)
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: Linde on January 03, 2019, 11:47:01 PM
Quote from: GingerVicki on January 03, 2019, 11:32:13 PM
If my trend continues I will still have a bit of an 'm' but not the big 'M' if you know what I mean. :)
Yes, those telltale corners.  If I look closer, one could consider my hairline to have a tiny bit of an M, but that was there as long as I can remember, and seems to be my natural hairline.  The difference is about 1/8 to 1/4 of an inch.
Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: PurplePelican on January 04, 2019, 03:05:30 AM
Quote from: Dietlind on January 03, 2019, 10:22:06 PM
What kind of diet makes hair and nails grow?
Good essential mineral levels seem to be the trick for me. Fatty acids too.

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Title: Re: Hair Shed on Estradiol Valerate Injections
Post by: Linde on January 04, 2019, 09:49:53 AM
Quote from: PurplePelican on January 04, 2019, 03:05:30 AM
Good essential mineral levels seem to be the trick for me. Fatty acids too.

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I decide about what I eat on a semi scientific base, and I sure get all the stuff you mention in larger amounts, but my hair and my nails could care less about his.  The hair grows with the average human hair growth rate of about 1/2 inch per month.
I have not measured the growth of my fingernail , because I hope they would not grow at all, and the color that was put on during my last manicure session would not grow away from the base of the nail (cuticle)!