Can I Retain My Hair By Taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

I am going through memopause. Can I reverse my thinning hair by taking HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy).

This is not a black and white answer that I am about to give you. We do know that Menopause does induce hair loss in up to 50% of women, but the use of HRT does not always address the hair loss, although it may bring some benefit. As the estrogen level drops with menopause, the androgen (like testosterone) levels rise and that induces androgenetic alopecia just like it does in men but mostly without a patterned balding look. The androgen sensitivity in women who carry the genes for balding is sometimes treated with finasteride (Propecia) and sometimes this treatment works. The success of finasteride is not a certainty as many women do not respond to it at all. With HRT, the treatment tries to replace the low estrogen that is associated with menopause and we know that estrogen supports good hair growth, so many doctor prescribe HRT when women show thinning or some balding. There is a great deal of controversy in treating menopause with HRT. There is an association between breast and ovarian cancer risks that may rise with HRT as well as other risks which include heart disease and stroke. Not every woman started on HRT for thinning hair will reverse the thinning hair. One has to weigh in on the risks associated with the treatment concerning cancer, heart risks and stroke against the benefit for possibly reversing the thinning hair. This is best worked out with your family doctor, rather than a hair transplant surgeon.