Can Too Much Progesterone Cause Hair Loss?

Updated: February 3rd, 2022 By: Christopher Barnes

Christopher Barnes
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Can Too Much Progesterone Cause Hair Loss?
Can Too Much Progesterone Cause Hair Loss

Can too much progesterone cause hair loss?

In the past, we have been bombarded with this question. Most people tend to believe that progesterone does cause hair loss; however, the answer is not that simple.

In this post, we let’s take a look at progesterone and determine if too much progesterone can cause hair loss.

To start, let’s define hair loss so we can truly understand the matter at hand.

What is Hair Loss?

Can Too Much Progesterone Cause Hair Loss

Hair loss can often be referred to as “Alopecia,” a medical condition where you lose hair from your head or other body parts. Contrary to popular belief, humans are constantly facing hair loss. If you lose some hairs, the body grows new ones to replace the ones that were lost.

However, permanent hair loss takes place when the body is unable to replace the hair that is lost; therefore, you hair beings to thin or bald completely. This is often referred to as androgenic alopecia.

Unusual hair loss can result from several causes including medication, stress (telogen effluvium), sleeping disorder and hormonal imbalance, menopause, or high level of estrogen.

High Testosterone And Hair Loss

You might also be asking the question: Does high testosterone cause hair loss?

According to Lara Briden, testosterone, insulin resistance, and PCOS are responsible for hair loss. The post reveals that the aforementioned can adversely cause hair thinning as well as hair loss in men and even in women.

Furthermore, a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) shows that:

Hair loss comes from hair follicles shrinkage and the resulting impact of the growth cycle. A high level of free testosterone in the body leads to some of the hormones being converted by an enzyme (5-alpha-reductase) into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

DHT’s action combines with the sensitivity of the hair follicles to cause hair loss. However, it must be noted that testosterone or DHT alone does not cause hair loss. There is a genetic link attached.

Askmen concluded by saying that only those who are genetically predisposed to male pattern hair loss would develop hair loss whether there is an increase or reduction in testosterone levels.

Also read: Can Progesterone Cream Cause Hair Loss?

Estrogen Encourages Hair Growth

Some persons have also tried to lay the blame for hair loss at the doorsteps of estrogen, but Hairsentinel explains the functions of estrogen to include the following:

  • Reduces body hair
  • Increases  the hair growth on the head
  • Decreases muscle mass
  • Regulates menstrual cycles and prevents hormonal hair loss
  • It promotes smooth skin, etc.

Progesterone And Hair Loss

Progesterone is a sex hormone that is secreted by the female reproductive system. It is mostly secreted in the ovaries during the second week of the menstrual cycle.

It plays a significant role in everyone’s health. It helps to regulate the female menstrual cycle and can also correct physiological changes associated with the menstrual cycle.

Be sure to also read: These Are The 11 Primary Causes of Hair Loss in Young Females

Does Progesterone Cause Hair Loss?

Ordinarily, progesterone serves as a precursor in the production of other crucial hormones like cortisone and estrogen. Progesterone hinders an enzyme, 5-alpha reductase.

It equally stops the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone or DHT, which is biologically active metabolite found in the body. DHT is known to cause hair loss because of the role it plays in damaging hair follicles.

Progesterone is a natural blocker against androgen receptor. Its main work is to protect the hair follicle from the effects of testosterone. It is the hormone responsible for more hair growth in women during pregnancy.

In women, regular ovulation is believed to stimulate the secretion of more progesterone. But some conditions like PCOS, stress, and pills can reduce or prevent progesterone production. Stress can even make the body to convert progesterone into cortisol.

Estrogen Deficiency, A Possible Cause

Hair follicles have a special affinity for estrogen. So, if there is a lack of estrogen, the hair would most likely suffer some losses.

In women, there could be vaginal dryness and scanty light periods. They are said to be caused by some factors like an eating disorder, low body weight, low-carb diet, stress, smoking, and gluten intolerance. Don’t forget that the oral contraceptive pill often causes hair loss.

But when the underlying cause is corrected, the estrogen level returns to normal, and the situation improves.

How Too Much Progesterone Causes Hair Loss

Progesterone Cause Hair Loss?

Now, back to the question, can too much progesterone cause hair loss?

The best way to explain that correctly is that it can actually cause it. Here’s the explanation.

When you are treating estrogen or progesterone deficiency, you must use natural progesterone to correct the problem. However, it must be used with caution because the excessive application of progesterone tends to lead to hair loss.

How does this happen? When the hair follicle is exposed to excessive progesterone, it shuts down and stops responding. You only need small doses of progesterone, thyroid hormone, and estrogen to take care of the problem.

However, one good way to solve the problem is to return to normal ovulation instead of depending on pills or other medications.

When you are tempted to add more to the number of hormones you are already taking, then you really need to reduce it at that point. If you are not sure what to do, you have to see the doctor for further directives.

Too Much Progesterone and Hair Loss | Conclusion

Hair loss is mostly caused by testosterone, DDT, insulin resistance, and deficiencies of progesterone and estrogen. Also, try and find out more about too much estrogen hair loss. To get the problem corrected, find out and correct the primary cause.

Though progesterone is employed in the correction of hair loss, care must be taken while using it, as excessive use of the hormone has the power to cause more hair loss instead of correcting the problem.

It’s also good to always consult your doctor to seek professional advice about your hair loss problem.

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10 COMMENTS

  1. The problem is something that too few folks are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I found this during my hunt for something concerning this.

  2. Hi Sarah
    I saw your site hairlossgeeks.com.
    Well I can bet you are a lot younger than me, I am 55 and have been having trouble with Hairloss since I stopped taking birth control pills about 5 yrs ago. My hair has never been the same and I have tried to supplement with HRT and vitamins and nothing seems to really help. I wonder what advice you can give me and what worked for you.
    Thanks Linda

  3. My derm prescribed compounded 10% minoxidil + 0.1% progesterone. Used as directed, it’s 1mL twice daily. Hair growth was happening for me until my family suddenly decided to sell our house. I was devastated and terrified about my future housing situation. As the months went by searching for housing my hair slowly but steadily began falling out. Eventually, I thought that using more of this solution per session would help. But it just kept getting worse. Now that I own an affordable co-op (without a mortgage), my stress level is much less. But the hair loss is worse. I’ve still been using almost twice the prescribed dose. After reading this article on the dangers of excessive progesterone, I will follow my doctor’s instructions exactly. I just hope it grows back whatever the reason. I look so horrible.

  7. I’m 58 and post-menopausal. Six months ago I was put on Aygestin to control post menopause bleeding. I’ve noticed that I’m losing a vast amount of hair and I wonder if it related.

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