Are Menopause and Hair Loss Two Sides of The Same Coin?

Hair thinning and even the emergence of some bald patches are a common experience for many women as they age. Menopause and hair loss coincide for an estimated 1/3 of women. The main cause is the decline in production of estrogen, and the increased ratio of testosterone that is present as a result.

In many cases, hair loss is a temporary condition – even when it comes to menopause and hair loss. Other conditions can cause more severe, less transient hair loss for women. Sudden, dramatic hair loss is cause for concern and medical help should be sought immediately.

There are several types of hair loss women may experience, and each may have a variety of causes. The following describe the three types of female hair loss most commonly encountered:

• Androgenetic alopecia: This is a condition both men and women are genetically predisposed to. It is the cause of the commonly seen male baldness pattern, although women generally do not experience the receding hair line and loss of crown hair typical of men. Women tend to experience general hair thinning combined with loss of head hair on the top and sides.
  Hair loss for women due to androgenetic alopecia is much more common following menopause than before. The relationship between menopause and hair loss in women has the fluctuating levels of hormones at its center.


• Telogen effluvium: Wide spread, generalized hair loss or shedding. This often occurs in reaction to physical or hormonal stress or as a side effect of taking certain medications. It may set in suddenly, continue for several weeks or months, and disappear on its own as hair resumes its normal growth cycle. Telogen effluvium can affect both men and women of any age.


• Alopecia areata: Hair loss caused by an autoimmune disorder. White blood cells attack hair follicles, hair follicles shrink, and the production of hair slows or ceases. Hair may eventually re-grow, but what regrowth occurs may be sporadic.

Beyond seeking medical care for dramatic hair loss due to disease or illness, many women adopt to thinning hair by taking advantage of cosmetic treatments. Prescription medications and surgical solutions are available in cases of extreme hair loss or for women seeking more radical treatments. Treatment options generally include:

1. Hair thickening, layered cuts


2. Hair thickener treatments


3. Wigs


4. Medications such as minoxidil that may promote the re-growth of lost hair


5. Hair replacement surgery: hair replacement or scalp reduction are the two basic options.