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Battling hair loss

Hi Wray, your site is great! I am 48 years old and I have been battling hair loss for the last 13 years. It all started when I was getting treatments for infertility. Since then, I have tried everything for hair loss, including spironolactone. I have gone to "top doctors" and yet I still have a hair loss problem.

I also had an endometrial ablation 3 years ago due to continuous bleeding. A month ago, I started using Emerita Pro Gest progesterone cream. I use about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon once a day. Since I am no longer getting my periods, I am not sure when to start and stop using the cream. I am also afraid of using too much cream for fear that my periods will return. I have an extremely hard time losing weight and many days I feel bloated, especially when I eat. I haven't seen any changes yet with my hair loss. Do you think I am progesterone deficient? How long will it take for me to see some results if progesterone deficiency is my problem?

Comments for Battling hair loss

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Oct 12, 2011
 Use more cream
by: CamperKat

Hi, there...been there, done that...I also lost my hair due to fertility treatments, then my bright-eyed MD put me on Spiro and Yasmin for the alopecia...I used both from age 45-50.

Look for my posts on this website, and you'll see what I've been through. Since Dec 2010, when I quit the meds cold turkey (not recommended) I have been through hell, including an increase in hair loss...but that started to reverse itself around June, and my hair continues to come back in just by using progesterone cream.

But YOU are not using enough progesterone cream. 1/4 teaspoon Emerita is just 20mg, and you say you are using up to 1/2 teaspoon per day-that's just 40mg. You must read through all the posts and understand that in order to reverse your estrogen dominance (which is what you have) you have to use much more cream--I use 120mg per day, split over 3 doses of 40mg each. You can't hurt yourself, so don't worry about this as I did.

Again, read through this site, and you will learn a lot from Wray's responses, as well as from others.

Much luck to you.
Oct 12, 2011
 You're taking a very low dose
by: Kelly

Hi! No doubt Wray will post a reply soon, but while you await her wisdom....

I started out using Pro-Gest. It's worth noting that it has a fairly low concentration of progesterone - only 450mg/oz compared to Natpro's 1000mg/oz. So 1/4 - 1/2 tsp/day is only 20-40 mg/day - a really tiny amount if you are trying to correct a severe estrogen dominance. The Natpro insert recommends 100-200 mg/day (depending on symptoms.) That would mean using the entire Pro-Gest tube in 2-4 days. (And - yes - that's what I used to do.)

Also, Pro-Gest has phenoxyethanol in it, which I have been told is a xenoestrogen, so that adds to your estrogen levels as well.

You might want to consider switching to NatPro (no, Wray didn't pay me to say that!) It is a more pure product (no xenoestrogens!) and double the strength - all for a few dollars less than a tube of Pro-Gest. I've put quite a lot of time into researching the best products for myself, and NatPro seems to me to be the best value, and a superb product. ( I also use Progestelle - another fine product, but much more expensive.)

BTW, I used really high doses of progesterone (200-300mg/day) and diligently removed sources of xenoestrogens from my life - and it still took about 6 months to even begin to get on top of my estrogen dominance, and about a year to get to the point where most of the symptoms stayed away most of the time. I may have especially high levels of xenoestrogens in my fatty tissues though, from work related exposure to petroleum products, so it might not be so difficult for everyone.
Oct 13, 2011
 Oops, math was a little off
by: Kelly

Pro Gest comes in 2 oz tubes, so at useful doses you will be finishing a tube in about 4-8 days (not 2-4 days as I mentioned above.)

But the very best thing about Pro Gest is the handy flip top in the tube - save a few of those! They fit reasonably well on a tube of NatPro, and makes those 3 doses/day a little bit more convenient. :-)
Oct 18, 2011
 Hair Loss
by: Wray

Hi there What both CamperKat and Kelly say is spot on, they've both been through such a tough time. Hair loss has baffled researchers for years. One of the causes is excess androgens, and ironically spiro has androgenic properties, plus other concerns see here, here, and here. Many Contraceptives are androgenic too. Don't worry about the progesterone causing you to bleed again, it probably won't though, as the ablation destroys your lining. Progesterone stops continual, heavy bleeding, the ablation was unnecessary. MMP's are enzymes that break down protein. They play a role in the breakdown of endometrial tissues at the end of the menstrual cycle. If they are over active, as would be the case with excess oestrogen in the body, as oestrogen stimulates their production, the result is a pathological reaction. A high level of MMP's can lead to inflammation, spotting and/or excessive bleeding in the uterus. If a low level of progesterone is present, and a high level of oestrogen, the lining will continue to grow. With a high level of MMP's the lining will also continue to break down. Progesterone suppresses both MMP's and oestrogen. I normally recommend 100-200mg/day progesterone, but often higher amounts are needed if symptoms are severe, as you can see from Kelly's comment. It's essential to use it a minimum of twice a day, as levels drop after about 13hrs. We do have more info on our page How to use progesterone cream. But if you do increase the amount you're using, please see our page on Oestrogen Dominance first, as this can occur. I'm running out of space so will start a new comment below. Take care Wray
Oct 18, 2011
 Hair Loss
by: Wray

Hi there Please have a vitamin D test done, most of us have too low a level. Vitamin D is essential for the anagen phase of hair growth. For more info on testing etc, see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth Birmingham Hospital and Vitamin D Links websites. Specialists say the blood level should be 70-100ng/ml and not the 30ng/ml most doctors and labs say are adequate. The minimum daily dose is 5000iu's per day. You could also try these nutrients too, all helpful, 2000-4000mg/day inositol, 1000-2000mg/day NAC (N-acetyl cysteine), 2-3mg/day biotin, and 100mg/day thiamine (B1). Please avoid all sugars, even the 'good' ones in sweet fruits or sweet, starchy veggies, the hidden ones too found in grains and legumes. Fructose, sucrose and glucose reduce SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) by 80, 50 and 40% respectively. Low SHBG means free testosterone rises, leading to amongst other things, hair loss and facial hair on a woman, see here. Thanks for the kind words! Take care Wray
Oct 19, 2011
 Use more cream
by: Wray

Hi CamperKat and Kelly Thanks so much for your words of wisdom, coming from experience too. Always the best! It does take some doing to listen to a stranger on the internet, suggesting using far more progesterone than normally advised. But as you've found, it does work, and no harm is done. Bless you both! Take care Wray
Oct 21, 2011
 Oops, math was a little off
by: Wray

Hi Kelly I must confess I didn't look at your figures! But you've given me an idea, as you say the flip top is more convenient. The Sunumbra sunscreen we make comes with one, so why not the Natpro!? I've resisted them, as in the past I've found the flip top flips off! But the manufacturing process is far better now, so I will look into it. Take care Wray
Sep 21, 2016
 Hair Loss
by: Tracy

Hello Ladies
I am 55 post menopausal and freaking out with my increasing hair loss I have not had a period for 5 years I read through your remarks and am wondering exactly how much progest to use and where to apply Any and all input appreciated Thank you Tracy
May 22, 2022
 Hair loss and withdrawals
by: Anonymous

I have been using natpro for 6 months now and I honestly feel like it’s one of the biggest mistakes I’ve ever made. I started by diligently reading the information, articles and comments on this site and in dec 2023, I began using 300mg a day. I had a headache and worsened anxiety for the first couple days and then I started to feel better, slept better and had a calmer mood. I used 400mg a day for 3 months without stopping. I had pretty steady hair loss the whole time but I thought I should continue to push through. I lost my period while using the cream and wanted to eventually follow a cycle. I’ve had regular cycles my whole life. I lowered the dose very slowly to 200mg per day and still did not get a period. I stopped the cream after 5 months to try to get a period and follow a cycle. In the period of time that I lowered the dosage to stopping the cream, my hair began coming out in handfuls. I must have lost close to half my hair at this point. The other concerning thing is that when I stopped the cream I did not get a period, and I also experienced withdrawals that were similar to Xanax withdrawals. I do not have the time or money to use this cream everyday for the rest of mg life. I just wanted to follow a cycle with added progesterone during the luteal phase. I am completely dependent on the cream now and I don’t know what to do. I am so regretful for getting myself into this mess with my hair. I know I’ll be told that the hair is falling out because of estrogen dominance, but why would that be the cause if I have never in my life had a problem with hair loss until using progesterone cream? If anyone has had a similar experience or can give me some advice…I feel very lost and helpless
May 22, 2022
 Hair loss and withdrawals
by: Justine

Hello Anon,

I am so sorry to hear of your troubles, doesn't sound fun at all.

I presume you started using the cream 2021, and started straight onto a high dose.

Can you give us information about why you wanted to use the cream in the first place and what made you go onto such a high dose so quicky?

Can you also provide your age?

Is there any other medication or supplements you are taking along with the progesterone?

Warm wishes,
Justine

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