Menopause is a stage that all women will experience eventually. In addition to experiencing mood swings, hot flashes, insomnia and night sweats, some women also experience hair thinning. Although menopause can cause hair thinning, there are a host of other conditions that lead to hair loss as well. See your physician if you are losing hair rapidly, or have other symptoms associated with your hair loss.
Menopause
Menopause marks the ending of a woman's reproductive years and occurs in women between the ages of 45 and 55, according to MedlinePlus. During this time, a woman's ovaries will stop producing eggs, the hormone responsible for menstruation, estrogen, will be in lower production, so the periods will become irregular and will eventually come to a complete stop.
There are different stages of menopause: perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Perimenopause is the transition period that occurs a few years before menopause begins. During this stage a woman will still experience her menstrual cycle, although it may be erratic. Post menopause occurs when the menstrual cycle has been absent for a full year.
Hair Loss Type
Hair thinning experienced by menopausal women is called androgenic alopecia or male pattern baldness. This form of hair loss is experienced by both men and women although there are slight differences in the two. In men, male-pattern baldness starts with the hair receding from the hairline and the crown. In women, male pattern baldness results in defusing hair over the entire head.
Causes
Menopause causes androgenic alopecia due to the direct result of declining estrogen. Women normally produce androgens, or male hormones, in a small amount, but as the estrogen declines the androgens stay the same, which results in more male hormone than female hormone. Hair thinning in menopausal women can also be the result of thyroid problems or stress.
Treatments
As of 2010, the Food and Drug Administration has only approved minoxidil 2 percent for treating women with androgenic alopecia. This medication can be purchased over-the-counter under the trade name Rogaine topical solution. This topical liquid or foam works by being rubbed into the scalp, twice a day. Rogaine promotes new growth and minimizes loss.
Prevention
During menopause a woman's skin becomes dryer, which can result in a dry scalp and hair breakage. Drinking lots of liquids can help combat this dryness and promote healthy elasticity in the hair. Eat an adequate amount of protein. Eating too little protein can result in hair thinning as well. The same is observed in women who don't eat enough iron. Wash your hair using a moisturizing shampoo or shampoo and conditioner formulated for dry hair.
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