If your hair is starting to thin, an increase in your testosterone level may be to blame. Testosterone is considered a male hormone, but women also produce testosterone in lower levels. While hormonal hair loss can begin as early as puberty, it is most commonly seen after menopause, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology. Treatment is available to regrow hair and balance hormone levels.
Identification
Testosterone and other male hormones are called androgens. When hair loss occurs due to a testosterone imbalance, the condition is called androgenetic alopecia, also known as male or female pattern baldness. Women who develop androgenetic alopecia develop thinning hair over the entire scalp, while men develop a receding hair line, which may lead to partial or full baldness over time. The Genetics Home Reference reports that androgenetic alopecia in women rarely leads to complete hair loss.
Cause
Type II 5-alpha reductase enzymes, located in your hair follicles, work to convert testosterone to a derivative called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. If your DHT level is too high, your hair follicles grow smaller and are unable to produce healthy hairs. While androgenetic alopecia can occur if you produce too much testosterone, it can also develop if the level of female hormones declines. The American Hair Loss Association reports that because hormones operate in the healthiest manner when they are in a delicate balance, androgens do not need to be raised to trigger a problem.
Contributing Factors
Anything that disrupts the hormonal balance in women can cause androgenetic alopecia. Using hormonal birth control methods, experiencing menopause or being pregnant can disrupt levels and cause female hair loss. Younger women may develop androgenetic alopecia if they have polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS. Women who have PCOS develop fluid-filled ovarian cysts, have increased testosterone levels and may experience irregular menstrual cycles. The American Pregnancy Association reports that an estimated 5 to 10 percent of women of childbearing age have PCOS.
Considerations
It can be difficult to determine if you have an increased testosterone level. The American Hair Loss Association reports that testosterone levels can rise and still be within what doctors consider normal range on a blood test, even though the level is high enough to cause a problem. Some women may be particularly sensitive to the effects of testosterone and may suffer hair loss even if testosterone levels don't rise.
Treatment
The topical hair loss treatment minoxidil can be helpful in regrowing hair in some women. Hormone replacement therapy is probably the most common systemic form of treatment for androgenetic alopecia in menopausal women or in women lacking in progesterone or estrogen for other reasons, according to the American Hair Loss Association. Spironolactone, a drug usually used to treat high blood pressure or edema, and cimetidine, a drug used to treat stomach ulcers, have anti-androgenetic properties and can be helpful in reducing hair loss. Although birth control bills can cause hair loss in some women, they may be helpful in regulating hormone levels in other women.
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