Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is one way menopausal women can deal with their symptoms, including hair loss. Although woven in controversy, this therapy promises to mitigate the typical menopausal symptoms and help to curb hair loss.
HRT uses estrogen and progesterone hormones in the forms of pills, creams, or patches.
Generally, women who experience severe symptoms like extreme hot flashes are recommended to undergo HRT. It is also found that such women find an improvement in their hair loss condition.
According to doctors, this is because hair growth has a direct relation with the hormone estrogen. During menopause, estrogen level dips, as ovaries have not many eggs to mature. This affects follicle function.
Estrogen therapy or Hormone Replacement Therapy for hair loss helps to normalize estrogen levels in the body, thereby, normalizing hair growth cycle.
About HRT
HRT involves taking estrogen and progesterone (female hormones) orally or topically.
Doctors recommend HRT only as a last resort. Doctors will evaluate your health condition first. Only those who are not at risk of dangerous effects of this therapy and are in the menopausal or post-menopausal stages are chosen for this therapy.
Usually, this therapy works best for women experiencing androgenetic alopecia, which is also known as female pattern baldness.
This type of hair loss is the one influenced by hormonal imbalances. When estrogen levels decline, androgens (male hormones) rise in the body. They give women the typical coarse hair on the chin or upper lip. Androgens are also accountable for shrinking follicles, reducing hair growth and quality.
Doctors recommend HRT to women who experience severe menopausal symptoms like:
- Night sweats
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Loss of libido
- Extreme mood swings
- Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones thin out. It is common after menopause, as estrogen levels decrease.
Risks of HRT
Risks of HRT are both mild and severe. You must discuss with your doctor about pros and cons of this therapy before going for it.
Women who are at a higher risk of heart disease, blood clots, and cancer are not the candidates for HRT.
When on HRT, doctors prescribe the lowest effective dose. The therapy is prescribed only for a short time, just to manage the symptoms.
Serious risks are:
- Slight increase in the risk of getting breast cancer. This holds true when HRT is continued for a long time.
- Increase in the risk of uterine cancer. This happens when estrogen therapy is not combined with progesterone therapy. Women who have had their uterus removed do not need progesterone therapy and there is no risk of uterine cancer.
- Increase in the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart disease.
Mild side effects are:
- Irritability
- Sore breasts
- Frequent headaches
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Bloating
- Nausea
In case of vaginal bleeding, the doctor must evaluate the side effect to check whether it’s a sign of uterine cancer.
While you are on HRT, you can use hair regrowth shampoos and conditioners to encourage hair growth. KeraViatin Hair & Scalp Health Supplements are also popular due to their promising effect on enhancing hair health.
Robert Getz
The recommendations of Robert, a reputed writer specializing in hair care solutions, has helped many women, and men, manage their hair loss and thinning problems better. He is an avid reader too and keeps track of all the developments happening in the hair care industry.
