Definitive Answer About Which Side of the Family the Balding Gene Comes From?

Hi Doctor. I have read several of your blogs about MPB, and I think that it is safe to say that you do not give any definitive answers about which side of the family one inherits the balding gene from. One question that I do not think was addressed is whether or not certain family members impact whether or not one goes bald or not more than others. For example, in my case, my father had a full head of hair at age 53 when he died and my grandfather on my mother’s side had a full head of hair when he died at age 75. My question is whether or not these people will affect whether or not I go bald more than someone like my great uncle on my mom’s side who went bald at around age 65 or my grandfather on my dad’s side who was semi-bald at age 74 when he died.

The underlying tone of your question seem to focus on your concerns on your (possible) hair loss and you are looking for some reassurance.

As I’ve written many, many times on this site, no one really knows which side of the family the gene comes from! I can try to be intellectual and give you an elaborate answer about how the hair loss trait is passed on from family members, but if you are going to go bald, it doesn’t really matter who you got it from… unless you’re looking to blame someone.

Instead of focusing on genetics, get a miniaturization study and establish a diagnosis and a pattern to your current state of hair health (if you are concerned about hair loss).