Menopause is a normal part of life that women find difficult to accept. It can begin anywhere between the age of 40 to 50.

During menopause, the significant drop of oestrogen production leads to several changes in the secondary sex characteristics such as scalp hair loss, loss of pubic hair, growth of facial hair, wrinkling of skin, osteoporosis, and sagging of the breasts. Out of these events, it is alopecia and hair thinning that many women find most distressing. Worse, the subject of how to stop hair loss is hardly discussed.

Hair and Oestrogen

Any drop of oestrogen provokes hair loss or hair thinning. However, the exact role of oestrogen in hair growth remains unclear. Some experts would say that oestrogen somehow prolongs the growth phase of the hair follicle and shortens the shedding phase in the hair growth cycle.

The event between pregnancy and after pregnancy is a classic example of oestrogen fluctuation. Pregnant women often have full and lustrous hair but may experience shedding after pregnancy as an indication that the frozen shedding phase of the follicle has resumed.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

Since menopause indicates a continuous decline of oestrogen supply, menopausal women will experience a continuous decrease of hair. One of the few ways that women use to stop hair loss during menopause is hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

HRT is considered the last resort for women who want relieve the symptoms of menopause. Women experiencing pattern hair loss or hair thinning often use this therapy.

HRT involves taking either oestrogen alone or the combination of oestrogen and progesterone. In most cases, however, physicians would prescribe the combination of both hormones. It has been found out that prescribing oestrogen alone can increase the danger of endometrial cancer. Progesterone somehow reduces the tendency of oestrogen to contribute to endometrial cancer.

Topical oestrogen and progesterone are often prescribed to post-menopausal women. HRT patients mostly experienced noticeable hair growth within 2 to 4 months of treatment.

Serious Precautions before Taking HRT

Professional advice is always imperative in completely understanding the benefits and risks of HRT to stop hair loss. Prolonged usage of HRT, on the other hand, can increase the risk of breast cancer, stroke, blood clots, and urinary dissoluteness.

Therefore, HRT may not be advisable for women who are already at an increased risk for these health conditions. To avoid these effects, patients must only use the lowest possible doses in the shortest possible amount of time.