Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

i have pcos, i have hair loss in the front of my skull, there are still some left but only a pathetic few. what should i do , i used to have this long black great hair. can i get it back.. thank you for your time.

Dr. Robert Bernstein (Hair Restoration Surgeon in New York) was kind enough to supply a thorough answer to this question for you…

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), originally called Stein-Leventhal disease, represents a number of conditions where ovulation is inhibited and, as a result, the ovaries become cystic and secrete more androgens than normal. The most significant of these androgens is testosterone, but other related androgens such as dihydroepiandosterone (DHEA) may be produced as well. Testosterone is converted to a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). If women have a genetic predisposition to balding, this hormone will cause the follicles on the scalp to shrink (miniaturize) and eventually disappear.

There are a number of treatments for hair loss related to PCOS. The first is the drug finasteride. Although not FDA approved for women, finasteride blocks the production of DHT (this is the same medication that has been approved for treating hair loss in men under the name Propecia) and thus will decrease or reverse the process of miniaturization. Weight loss (if this is appropriate) may also be helpful as this will decrease the body’s production of testosterone. Spironolactone, a diuretic, blocks testosterone and can also be useful. Finally, birth control pills, because they contain estrogen, will lower testosterone in the blood stream and thus decrease the amount of DHT produced. Please remember that these treatments should only be used under a doctor’s supervision.