Menopause, defined as occurring when there have been no menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months, is a time of major hormonal changes in a woman's body which can lead to a variety of side effects. Although many women experience hair thinning on the scalp or even baldness, others may find they have an excess of hair in areas, such as the face. Some of these cases will resolve on their own, but others may signify a more serious condition or require special medications and treatments.
Considerations
Menopause can spur the development of new diseases in the body, some which may occur with hair growth or loss. A sudden onset of excessive hair growth may also indicate an androgen-producing tumor or possibly polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition which can lead to diabetes or heart disease. Hair thinning, on the other hand, can be caused by medications, nutritional deficiencies, auto-immune disorders, thyroid disease or ringworm. Your doctor should take your case history and give you an exam and tests to either rule out these conditions or treat them.
Diagnosis
When hair loss is present, your doctor may conduct a blood test for hormone levels as well as iron, thyroid and other various blood counts. He may also take a small scalp biopsy, use a hair pull test or a densitometer, a handheld magnification device which is used to check for miniaturization of the hair shaft. If you are experiencing excessive hair growth, blood tests will be performed to measure various hormone levels.
Hair Loss/Thinning
According to Harvard Medical School, as many as two-thirds of post-menopausal women suffer hair thinning or bald spots. It is caused by a drop in estrogen, which results in an imbalance in testosterone, the hormone that regulates hair growth. When this problem occurs in women, it starts with gradual thinning at the part line, although the hairline itself rarely recedes and women generally don't go completely bald. This type of hormonally-related hair loss is often temporary and will return to normal over a period of months to a few years.
Excess Hair Growth
All women can experience stray hairs at menopause, but this isn't necessarily a sign of a genuine excess-hair condition, known either as hirsutism or hypertrichosis, which entails a thick and usually dark type of hair. The Hormone Health Center of New York adds that hirsutism is related to hormone levels that occur during menopause and can affect the chin, upper lip, sideburn area, neck, chest, abdomen, pubic region and upper thighs. Hypertrichosis affects other areas like the forehead and upper cheeks and is only caused by hormones in some cases, related to endocrine disorders.
Solutions
The Harvard Medical Center recommends three possible treatments for menopausal hair loss, including minoxidil (Rogaine). One Harvard study noted that 60 percent of women in a minoxidil group reported new hair growth, compared with 40 percent in a placebo group. The other two are anti-androgen drugs, such as spironolactone (Aldactone) and finasteride (Propecia) and iron supplements. In severe cases, hair transplantation may be required, which involves removing a strip of scalp from the back of the head and using it to fill in a bald patch.
For excessive hair growth during menopause, the Hormone Center recommends the use of electrolysis, laser treatments or prescription medications--either a combination of anti-androgens and estrogens, or eflornithine, which slows hair growth. The University of Michigan Health Center adds that you can also try controlling excess hair growth at home by tweezing, shaving, waxing or using bleaches and special hair-removal products like depilatory creams.
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