HRT causing hair loss - will patches be better?? Any form that DOESN'T cause hair loss?

[PunishmentRoundupWithJoon]

Tried HRT a couple of years ago and unfortunately, it caused hair loss. A gynacologist has suggested trying patches but I'm thinking that if the hormones affect my hair like that, it doesn't really matter how the hormones get into my body. Due to all the symptoms I'm experiencing at the moment, I'd love to try HRT but know that I'll be so upset if my hair starts to fall out again. Was hoping HRT would improve my hair, not make it drop out!

Has anyone found a difference between pill and patch form HRT, specifically in relation to hair?

I'm not finding anything anywhere about HRT causing hair loss, just about how it can help thinning hair, so I'm feeling a bit like an oddity!

I guess you will never know if it was a coincidence that the HRT caused hair loss because hair loss is also a sign of perimenopause!

There's no difference between pills and patches- it's the progestin in them that can cause side effects. The 'worst' one is Norethisterone, so your only other option is the pill Femoston, or estrogen gel/ patch + Utrogestan. (or a Mirena coil.)

Thanks, @JinglingHellsBells - so it's not the oestrogen that causes hair loss? That kind of makes sense as many years ago I was on (very, very briefly) the progesterone only pill and hair loss happened with that too.

@PunishmentRoundupWithJoon Oestrogen promotes hair quality & growth, not hair loss. Synthetic progestins such as in the pills, conti patch etc can have androgenic effects & for some women hair loss is a side effect. Progesterone on the other hand is not the same as progestin & has no such androgenic effects. Utrogestan is the micronised progesterone that women usually take with their transdermal oestrogen in gels, patches or spray. It could have very well been the progestins in your pill that caused the hair loss.x

oh sorry, I just saw what @JinglingHellsBells wrote... should have just said, I agree ;)

@suesoso - thanks, that's useful to know.

I think it was Femoston I had a couple of years ago, when I tried HRT. Would that have had synthetic progestins in? Sorry if my questions sound daft, I'm just trying to work out what to try next!