Help, peri-menopause and hair loss!

[Chocolateporridge]

Because of a recent 30 day period and my near constant hot sweats my gp says that at 41 I'm peri-menopausal.

I'm considering my options about what to do hormonally but in the meantime my normally thick and very full head of hair has really thinned out so quickly and I'm so self conscious about it. Did this happen to anyone else and if so, please tell me it grew back! Is there anything I can do to prevent more hair loss or to help it regrow?

Yes, my formerly thick hair feels much less full and heavy and I have noticed more coming out when I wash it. I’m hoping that, like other menopausal symptoms I’ve encountered so far, it too shall pass. It might be an idea to get a thyroid function test to rule out other causes, OP, but the hair thing is, unfortunately, a known symptom of meno’.

I’m treating it gently, using a hair tonic and being careful with styling and drying. I use henna rather than chemical colours, and that conditions hair too.

Hi OP, I’m 45 and also think I’m peri-menopausal (erratic periods, mood swings etc). I’ve experienced a noticeable hair loss too along the hairline (forehead). It looks as if I’m receding. I went to the doctors a year ago and had hormone tests but everything came back fine. I did lose hair after having babies (put it down to hormonal changes) and it grew back but unfortunately I don’t think it will this time. The hair follicles have disappeared . I’m afraid I don’t have any answers, sorry, but just wanted to let you know you’re not alone.

I'm a GP. I agree with PPs that the hair changes are probably menopausal, but it's worth checking your TSH (thyroid function) and HbA1C (diabetes - thinking of type 2).

If you do go through the menopause in your early 40s - as seems likely - do talk to your GP about HRT. It's safe for almost all women of your age, and will help protect you from osteoporosis and other effects of an early menopause. HRT won't completely reverse hair loss, but a lot of my patients on it feel it has helped with menopausal changes to skin and hair.

also if you’ve had a 30 day period are you anaemic, that will really effect your hair. Check next time with doc. Also make your diet the beat it can be

Thanks so much to all of you, at least I know it's not just me.

@XXcstatic I've had an underactive thyroid since I was 21, I'm on 175mcg levotheroxine, should I ask GP to recheck?

*should I ask GP to recheck?

Definitely, unless it has been done in the last few months. As you are on thyroxine, you need T4/T3 checked, as well as TSH (your GP will be used to doing this for anyone on thyroxine). As you have just had a 30 day period, it would also be sensible to check your full blood count and ferritin (iron), looking for signs of anaemia as a result of the period blood loss.

Thanks @XXcstatic I've never really understood the T4/T3 and TSH, I've just trusted my GP to check it. It was actually a locum I saw about the period etc but I see my own GP next week and I'll talk it through with her.

For most people, checking thyroid function every 6-12 months is fine once you're on a stable dose of thyroxine. However, it's a good idea to re-check it if patients develop symptoms that could be due to an underactive thyroid (including hair loss), as this might be a sign that their thyroxine dose needs adjusting.

I don't want to get your hopes up too much though, as I'm afraid there is a good chance that the hair loss is down to the sodding menopause - sorry

My hair is thinner too and lost its volume. I am 43 and 2 years on hrt. I try to use gentle shampoos and not to think so much about. Stress also causes changes at hair.