Hormones and my insane body

[MarinaM]

Since I have started HRT (six weeks spiro, 2 weeks estradiol) I have noticed quite a few more hairs than before coming off in the shower as I wash my hair, it's scary. My family has a history of male pattern baldness and both of my brothers, younger and older, have already started thinning considerably. I have not, as of yet, had the thinning problem, but I do have minor temple recession.

The only other physical things I've noticed so far have been my skin not being as easily disposed to becoming oily, my body hairs growing back a little bit slower, I'm a bit more calm, and certain virility related shifts. I have had no breast tissue response at all, but I expected that to be the case. My dosages will increase again in a couple of months, but I think I may have to request something more than estradiol and spiro pills...

Back to hair! I know that simple hair loss / replacement can be attributed to stress, and typical healthy people can lose upwards of 140 hairs a day as they are replaced. I tried to count the hairs, and it did not add up to 140, but I can't help thinking about the hairs that fell off while I was not in the shower. I know, it's a bit OC, but I love my hair.

How do spiro and estradiol slow or stop MPB? What are the effects of HRT on DHT? Could it be possible that my body is ramping up T to try to compensate in response to the hormonal shift? Is the loss related to the thinning and softening effect I expected HRT to have on my hair in general?


Questions, questions... 

[wannalivethetruth]

This bothers me also.  I know my dad and grandpa and uncle..they all have bald heads, or just typically, male pattern baldness. Im on illegal to drop out of school in the us, and i already started..it seems. My temples are way up there and is uneven with my hairline. ((((( i wanna die. I know..i know, that was bad to say, but i feel so- manly. i start hrt this week  and hope that it reverse i prayyyy.

[Becka]

My family genetics (I only know the matralineal side, no info on the patralineal) say that I'd have a 50/50 shot of either being mostly bald by 25 or I'd keep it forever but go silver gray by 20.  I got the gray gene and started turning gray at 16.  By the amount of hair that comes loose each shower though you'd think I'd be a billiard ball by now, but I think I have more now  in my 40's than when I was 20.   So, look at all your family and see if maybe there's a chance you drew the "I get to keep my hair" gene card. 

Now, I've always had wickedly naturally curly hair and I'm hoping that the shift in hormones will straighten it out some.  The grass is always greener. 

[MarinaM]

My family genetics (I only know the matralineal side, no info on the patralineal) say that I'd have a 50/50 shot of either being mostly bald by 25 or I'd keep it forever but go silver gray by 20.  I got the gray gene and started turning gray at 16.  By the amount of hair that comes loose each shower though you'd think I'd be a billiard ball by now, but I think I have more now  in my 40's than when I was 20.   So, look at all your family and see if maybe there's a chance you drew the "I get to keep my hair" gene card. 

Now, I've always had wickedly naturally curly hair and I'm hoping that the shift in hormones will straighten it out some.  The grass is always greener. 

There is; on my mother's side (which seems to be the genetics I inherited otherwise) my grandparents had all of their hair into their fifties.

I freak out though. I just do, it's part of how I operate. I just consulted with my S.O. and she mentioned the full grown german shepherd she pulls off of her head in the shower, and she has a thick head of hair. I should have thought about that, since I pull the thing out of the drain all the time... gross 

I hope my hair stays super curly, I kind of love it!

[Amy1177]

I don't know anything about how hormones works on your hair growth but I do remember there was something about hair regrowth on that website I sent you before Emma about getting your hair to grow faster.  www.nisim.com.  Had something to grow hair back, grow it faster, and something to inhibit growth.

Becka my hair was insanely curly but as it is getting longer it has straightened out considerably.  Till it was about 6 inches long I looked like Bozo the clown.  Now my hair is about a 12 inches.  (I started from a completely shaved head.)  My favorite styling products are the schwarzkopf smooth operator line and the heat protectants for the flat iron.  They hold the style really well yet feels very soft and natural looking.  Not like a plaster mold that you get from a lot of gels and hair sprays.

[Joelene9]

Emma,
  That could be seasonal as well. Mine usually does that around the spring months.  The hair will regrow.  I also have some fuzz in certain areas in my scalp that is regrowing the hair lost the past two years.  A hair follicle lasts two years on average, they fall and a new one replaces it.  I have 2 months prior hair growth plus the 5 months on HRT.  Wide curls on the ends and a smooth platinum grey inside with some of my original color returning in the back.  Nice effect.
  Joelene

[JennX]

How do spiro and estradiol slow or stop MPB? What are the effects of HRT on DHT? Could it be possible that my body is ramping up T to try to compensate in response to the hormonal shift? Is the loss related to the thinning and softening effect I expected HRT to have on my hair in general?

Questions, questions... 

Well Spiro inhibits T production, which is a precursor of DHT... so less T, less DHT. Although some will still be produced. In order to stop DHT production as much as possible, Avodart (Dutasteride generic) is your best bet. Some docs prescribe finasteride (Propecia or Proscar), but dutasteride is more effective at inhibiting DHT production.

After 8 months of HRT, I've got more hair than ever before. But.... everyone is different. The biggest change for me was my hair turning a lighter shade of blond. Like I had been at the beach in the summer, and a bit more curly. Weird.

[Becka]

Becka my hair was insanely curly but as it is getting longer it has straightened out considerably.  Till it was about 6 inches long I looked like Bozo the clown.  Now my hair is about a 12 inches.  (I started from a completely shaved head.)  My favorite styling products are the schwarzkopf smooth operator line and the heat protectants for the flat iron.  They hold the style really well yet feels very soft and natural looking.  Not like a plaster mold that you get from a lot of gels and hair sprays.

Thanks Amy, I will look into that product.

The stylist I have been going to has turned me on to Kuene product for defrizzing and gel styling blends and it's very much the same.  My hair currently falls to the upper mid back up from lower back and always held its curl.  I've been learning how to use a flat iron.  My stylist will use that when when I go in for a time and style and I love the look it gives me.

[Nero]

I lost a lot of hair in the shower on estrogen. Never made a difference on my head though. I wouldn't worry so much. You may seem to be leaving more hair behind as it grows longer.

[kyril]

^ What they said. Your hair's getting longer, right? Shedding short hair isn't noticeable...shedding long hair is.

[JungianZoe]

^ What they said. Your hair's getting longer, right? Shedding short hair isn't noticeable...shedding long hair is.

This is soooo very true.  I once grew my hair long in 2004 (was my first time) and noticed then what I notice about my long hair now: there seems to be infinitely more falling out!  But I have a feeling it's just physics and perception.  Short hair sheds, falls off your head, and is gone.  Long hair sheds, gets tangled up in the rest of the hair, and comes out only when you wash it or brush it out.  What I noticed years ago was that my shedding "problem" magically disappeared when I cut my hair short again.

I was told by an electrologyst that we lose about 100 hairs off our head each day just through normal shedding.  If most of that gets taken off your head at once (which happens with longer hair) then it may appear more worrisome than it is.

[MarinaM]

Yeah, my hair is currently right around four inches. It only comes out in the shower, a rare few appear to have fleshy material on the ends. I think worrying abou it will make it worse, so I'll just trust the HRT to do what it does. I have to stop freaking out about things.

[MarinaM]

Haha, I'm starting to look like a very sick boy in "guy mode." Every time I left the house I had to re-doll up! I can't do it in the presence of my in law and her homophobic family nearby (I've said that before).

And nipple sensitivity started about 2 weeks ago... Yes!! 

[Adabelle]

I wish I could find it now, but I've read that when you initially start Spiro you can experience some hair loss, but this is not permanent supposedly. Some hairs I think end their cycle sooner than they normally would for some reason, but will grow back stronger in the next cycle. Something like this. Sorry I can't find it.

BTW I too am on Avodart.

[Mindy]

It took me about 2 months to really start the Breast Growth and Nipple Pain, as far as hair growth it is really starting to regrow and I am so happy with that.
Keep up the very interesting posts Emma.

[Samantha_Marie]

Look into propecia

[MarinaM]

Look into propecia

I will ask, but it seems that in the last 3 weeks my hair loss has slowed considerably. I don't know who to trust or what to do with my hair!

It seems to be, umm, a softening mechanism? The sick boy comment was made about my weight and face, my fault - they're just starting to change

[kate durcal]

I had tried the nice approach in this forum before, and it does not work. Here is the deal with hair  and spiro and estro. Please do not listen to other people, including the doctors, most of them do not know what they are talking about. I do.

Ok, are you listening? You probably got to the xxx mg of spiro a day, which means your total and free testosterone were cut to at least 1/3. Now there is less dihydroxy testoterone (DHT). DHT causes hair loss in males. With less T you have seen an increase in hair density and rate of growth, Great! Now, they start giving you estro, and suddenly major hair loss, cry baby! Well, not so fast, this happens to the cis-girls too, after pregnancy. The bottom line is this, first hair loss is due to increased amounts of estro, yes! A sudden rise in estro can send the hair  follicles into a resting phase. then a few months or weeks later, estro induce new hair grown and everything balance out.

Do not sweat it out, stay the course, Girl!

[MarinaM]

I had tried the nice approach in this forum before, and it does not work. Here is the deal with hair  and spiro and estro. Please do not listen to other people, including the doctors, most of them do not know what they are talking about. I do.

Ok, are you listening? You probably got to the xxx mg of spiro a day, which means your total and free testosterone were cut to at least 1/3. Now there is less dihydroxy testoterone (DHT). DHT causes hair loss in males. With less T you have seen an increase in hair density and rate of growth, Great! Now, they start giving you estro, and suddenly major hair loss, cry baby! Well, not so fast, this happens to the cis-girls too, after pregnancy. The bottom line is this, first hair loss is due to increased amounts of estro, yes! A sudden rise in estro can send the hair  follicles into a resting phase. then a few months or weeks later, estro induce new hair grown and everything balance out.

Do not sweat it out, stay the course, Girl!

Thanks, Haha! Come on! I can handle almost anything as long as I get to throw a fit about it, don't worry!

I just bought some star shaped shell / silver stud earrings as part of my crazy retail therapy program

[kate durcal]

In addition to proscar (finateride), rogaine, and a dash of progesterone, in the horizon we have bimatoprost (lattise).   Bimatoprost is currently being investigated to treat baldness, with some very encouraging results emerging from initial trials.

Kate D