Quiz: Discover the Cause of Your Hair Loss

The Relationship Between Hormones and Hair Health

Hormones are chemical substances produced by different glands in the body that function as messengers, sending instructions to various organs and tissues on how they should function.

These chemical messengers control virtually everything in our bodies, from growth and development to mood, metabolism, and even hair health.

Hair follicles are extremely sensitive to hormonal fluctuations, and therefore changes in hormone levels can have a direct and significant impact on hair growth and loss.

For women, the most important hormones related to hair are estrogen, progesterone, and androgens.

Estrogen is considered the hair-friendly hormone because it prolongs the hair growth phase, keeping more hair on the head for longer.

When estrogen levels are adequate, hair tends to be fuller, shinier, and grow healthier.

Progesterone also plays a protective role, although less pronounced than estrogen.

Androgens, which include hormones like testosterone and DHT, can have a negative effect on hair when they are at high levels or when the follicles are genetically sensitive to them.

The menstrual cycle is a direct window into understanding how your hormones are functioning.

A normal and regular menstrual cycle indicates that hormones are being produced and released in a balanced and coordinated manner.

The typical cycle lasts between 25 and 35 days, with menstruation lasting from 3 to 7 days.

If your cycle consistently follows this pattern month after month, that's a good sign that your reproductive hormones are functioning properly.

However, when the menstrual cycle becomes irregular, this can signal hormonal imbalances that also affect the hair.

Irregular cycles are those that vary greatly from month to month, sometimes arriving very early, sometimes being very late, or even skipping entire months.

Very long intervals between periods, consistently exceeding 35 days, are also considered irregular.

One of the most common causes of irregular cycles is polycystic ovary syndrome, which we mentioned earlier.

In PCOS, the ovaries produce excess androgens, and this interferes with the normal ovulation process.

Without regular ovulation, cycles become irregular, and there may be intervals of two, three, or even more months without menstruation.

These same elevated androgens that cause menstrual irregularities can also cause androgenetic alopecia (HAIR LOSS).

Women with PCOS often notice that the hair on their scalp becomes thinner while unwanted hair grows in other areas of the body.

Other hormonal problems can also cause menstrual irregularities.

Changes in the thyroid gland, whether hyperthyroidism (when the thyroid gland is overactive) or hypothyroidism (when it is underactive), can disrupt the menstrual cycle.

The thyroid produces hormones that regulate the metabolism of the entire body, including the function of the ovaries.

When the thyroid gland doesn't function properly, it creates a domino effect that also affects reproductive hormones.

Both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can cause hair loss because thyroid hormones are essential for the proper functioning of hair follicles.

Very high levels of prolactin, the hormone responsible for breast milk production, can also cause menstrual irregularities, even in women who are not breastfeeding.

This elevation can be caused by certain medications, benign tumors in the pituitary gland, or chronic stress.

Very heavy or prolonged menstrual flow is another important sign that may be related to hair loss.

A menstrual flow is considered heavy when you need to change pads or menstrual cups very frequently, when bleeding lasts more than seven days, or when you pass large clots.

This type of menstruation causes significant blood loss every month, and along with the blood you are losing iron.

Iron, as we have already explained, is essential for the production of hemoglobin and for the transport of oxygen in the body.

When you lose a lot of blood monthly through heavy periods, your body may not be able to replace the lost iron even if your diet is adequate.

Over time, this leads to an iron deficiency that can eventually progress to anemia.

And iron deficiency, even before causing anemia, can result in significant hair loss.

Hair follicles need a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients to produce healthy hair.

When iron is lacking, this supply is compromised and the follicles are unable to function properly.

There are several possible causes for very heavy menstruation.

Uterine fibroids, which are benign tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus, are a common cause.

Endometrial polyps, which are growths in the inner lining of the uterus, can also cause increased bleeding.

Adenomyosis, a condition where endometrial tissue grows within the muscular wall of the uterus, often causes very heavy and painful periods.

Blood clotting disorders, although less common, can also be behind excessive menstrual bleeding.

If you have very heavy periods accompanied by hair loss, it's important to investigate both issues simultaneously.

Treating the cause of excessive bleeding not only improves your monthly quality of life, but can also resolve iron deficiency and consequently help with hair regrowth.

Menopause represents another important phase of hormonal change that profoundly affects the hair.

Menopause is the time when the ovaries stop functioning and producing estrogen and progesterone.

Technically, menopause is diagnosed after a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without menstruating.

The average age for menopause is around 51, but it can occur naturally anytime between 45 and 55 years of age.

When estrogen levels drop drastically during menopause, hair loses the protective effect that estrogen provided.

The hair follicles can more easily enter the resting phase, the growth phase becomes shorter, and the hair grows thinner and weaker.

Furthermore, with less estrogen to counterbalance it, the androgens that continue to be produced by the adrenal glands end up having a proportionally greater influence.

Even if absolute androgen levels do not increase, the ratio between androgens and estrogen changes drastically.

In women genetically predisposed to androgenetic alopecia, this change in hormone levels can reveal or accelerate the problem.

Many women who have never had hair problems before begin to notice thinning hair after menopause.

Hormone replacement therapy, when indicated and prescribed by a doctor, can help alleviate some of these effects on the hair.

However, not all women are candidates for hormone replacement therapy, as there are contraindications and risks that need to be carefully evaluated.

Some women stop menstruating for reasons other than natural menopause.

Early menopause, which occurs before the age of 40, can be caused by genetic factors, autoimmune diseases, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

Surgeries that remove the ovaries also cause immediate surgical menopause.

Certain medical conditions or treatments can temporarily suppress menstruation, such as extreme physical exercise, severe weight loss, eating disorders, or very intense stress.

All of these scenarios involve significant hormonal changes that can affect the hair.

It is also important to mention the use of hormonal contraceptives and their relationship to hair.

Birth control pills contain synthetic versions of estrogen and progesterone that suppress natural ovulation.

Some pill formulations can improve hair, especially those containing progestogens with little or no androgenic activity.

These pills may even be prescribed as part of the treatment for androgenetic alopecia in women.

On the other hand, pills with progestogens that have more androgenic activity may worsen hair loss in predisposed women.

Furthermore, both starting and stopping birth control pills represent a hormonal change that can trigger a temporary hair loss similar to telogen effluvium.

Given all these connections between reproductive hormones and hair health, any menstrual irregularities you are experiencing deserve attention.

Not only for hair health, but because it can signal imbalances that affect your overall health.

If you have irregular cycles, very heavy periods, or any other changes in your menstrual pattern along with hair loss, it's worth investigating with complete hormonal tests.