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Inter-uterine fibroids

by S

Dear Wray, I hope you can help me - I am feeling very down at the moment.

I am 45 years old and have three healthy children.

My problems started in June 2008 when I had an inter-uterine coil (Mirena) removed, with the aim of trying to conceive a fourth child. I had used the coil uninterrupted for a period of 10 years. I have experienced a serious amount of hair loss in the last 6 months, and I believe that it may have started (though I cannot pinpoint the exact date) after I removed the coil. My gynaecologist says the two events are unrelated, but I am sceptical. My dermatologist has prescribed a topical hair solution containing Alfatradiol which I think blocks the action of male hormones on the hair follicles, thus slowing down hair shedding. It works as long as I use it twice daily without fail, though doesn't stop the hair loss completely.

While trying to become pregnant, it was discoved that I had inter-uterine fibroids and was advised to have these surgically removed, which I did in April 2009. My periods have been quite irregular in length since having this operation, though I think that they are now settling down into a 28 day cycle.

I have read a lot about estrogen dominance, and remember feeling a strange tingling sensation in my uterus, before knowing I had fibroids. After the surgery, I have felt this tingling again, though not since starting to use Progestacare progesterone cream for the last two weeks. I live in Europe, so I ordered this product, knowing that it would be dispatched to me quicker from the UK. I cannot say that in the short time since I've started using this cream, that I've noticed any other benefits - though the dose may not be high enough - I am currently using 50mg twice daily i.e. 100mg/day. In addition, I am taking a good quality multivitamin and extra folic acid on the advice of my gynaecologist, who thinks a deficiency in this vitamin may be causing my hair loss and my as yet unexplained anaemia - iron levels seem to be ok.

Sadly, I have been unsuccessful in becoming pregnant, even having used Clomid for one cycle with no visible follicle produced, though ripe follicles had been spotted just a few months prior, so I believe that I may be still ovulating, though perhaps not every cycle. My gynaecologist has advised me to abandon the idea of becoming pregnant, since he says my hormone levels suggest pre-menopause. Upon my suggestion of using progesterone cream, he said that I should wait until I experience full-blown menopausal symptons, before replacing both estrogen and progesterone, though he said not synthetic.

I am feeling very tired and stressed at the moment, with panic attacks, night-time wakings and racing heartbeat, and feel that I am just hanging on by a thread, though we are going through a fairly stressful period with the children and have a lot of other things on my plate. I am taking herbal remedies to try to control this, but feel tired and grumpy most of the time and am often unable to get up in the morning to see the children off to school. This does not help my morale at all.

I realise there are lots of issues to tackle here, but my main questions are:

* What do you think may be causing my hair loss?

* Do you think that by topping up my (low?) progesterone levels, there may be a chance of conceiving?

* Do you think that progesterone cream can help to treat any of the above, if so, at what dosage, and how long can I expect to wait before seeing any results? Is Natpro stronger than Progestacare?

* Are there any other supplements you would recommend for hair growth/fertility/stress.

* My nutritionist has advised me not to commence any hormone treatment until I carry out a female hormone saliva test (takes 1 month). I'm afraid I have gone against her advice, by already starting the progesterone cream treatment, though if I carried out the test - it would start on Day 1 of my next cycle and I would have to stop the progesterone cream for that cycle, as it would fudge the results, I suppose. What should I do?

I would be very grateful for any advice - I feel that you may be the only person to take an interest in all these details - they seem to bore anyone else, and I never seem to get any answers from anyone. I look forward to hearing from you, thanks.

Comments for Inter-uterine fibroids

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Jan 04, 2010
 Inter-uterine fibroids
by: Wray

Hi S. Thanks for the kind words! Sorry about the delay in replying, Christmas and all getting in the way! I'm so against the Mirena, as it leaks a progestin into the body, preventing any progesterone from being made at all by the ovaries. Fibroids are stimulated by oestrogen , please have a look at this web page on them.

The symptoms you describe, including the hair loss, are related to excess oestrogen and a lack of progesterone. Oestrogen is converted into androgens, which are responsible for the hair loss. Progesterone suppresses both oestrogen and the androgens. But you should also take 2000mg/day of inositol, it's often called the anti-alopecia B vitamin. You also need about 2000mg/day of N-acetyl cysteine, the hair, skin and nails comprise about 14% of this amino acid. It makes all of these strong and healthy. The cream you are using is much weaker, half the strength in fact, so making it more costly. It also contains phenoxyethanol, a synthetic preservative. Stress drops progesterone levels sharply, hence your added symptoms. Although you are using a reasonable dose, I would suggest increasing it to 200mg/day for a month or two to help the stress and symptoms. It's easy enough to reduce once they've abated. As for saliva tests, these are of academic interest only, they cannot tell how we are feeling!

It's difficult to say if the progesterone will help with conception, but it's helped so many I see no reason why not, especially as you say they have found viable follicles. Please see this web page on conception and pregnancy. It's unusual you had fibroids whilst on the Mirena, as this also suppresses oestrogen, but evidently not enough. Once you'd had it removed the oestrogen was produced with a vengeance it seems, causing the hair loss. Hope this helps! Take care, Wray
May 23, 2011
 Fibroids and hair loss
by: Anonymous

Hi - I'm 40 years old and was told that I have two uterine fibroids (size of golf and tennis ball) in my upper uterus and I had an ultra-sound done because in January I had my period for 26 days. The first decision was to do nothing but monitor them or hysterectomy (because of where fibroids are located). The word hysterectomy is just scary to me, but I was told if I just take out fibroids, it?s a more dangerous surgery and they will grow back. Since I?ve never had children and was having daily cramps, migrains, fatigue, etc. I decided to get another opinion.

The 2nd doctor put me on LoestrinFE24 and for two months I had a regular period and no symptoms. I went back to my original doctor this week for my annual and she said my blood pressure was high (148/90) and that I should get off pill immediately. Turns out I developed high blood pressure and now my hair seems to be falling out. It?s been 3 weeks since I last took the pill and still no period.

Can you give me any insight as to how long it will take for my period to arrive and what can be causing my hair loss? Thanks
Jun 03, 2011
 Fibroids and hair loss
by: Wray

Hi there Fibroids are an inflammatory disorder, caused by oxidative stress. This indicates a lack of antioxidants, in particular vitamin D. This also helps migraines, see here, here here. Progesterone also helps migraines, see here, here, here, here and here. Both vitamin D and progesterone are potent anti-inflammatories, so are helpful for pain. Oestrogen exacerbates fibroids as it's a mitogen, plus it's an inflammatory hormone and causes fatigue. It also causes Insulin Resistance, which in turn causes fatigue. They obviously didn't do a test for levels of oestrogen or progesterone. I'm sure it would show you are Oestrogen Dominant. Both HRT and Contraceptives cause adverse side effects. Both contain either oestrogen or a progestin, occasionally a progestin or oestrogen only. The adverse side effects can continue long after the drug has been stopped. This is probably the reason your period has not started yet. I'm running out of space so will start a new comment below. Take care Wray
Jun 03, 2011
 Fibroids and hair loss
by: Wray

Hi there Hair loss has baffled researchers for years, there are now dozens of theories. Plus many, many studies have been done, but as yet no one knows why it occurs. Although a few causes have been found, they don't cover the majority of cases. The ones which stand out for me are excess testosterone, insulin resistance, stress and a lack of blood flow to the hair follicle which prevents nutrients reaching the growing shaft. Your hormones are out of balance, plus the pill would not have helped. There are a number of nutrients you could consider taking which help hair growth, 5000iu's/day vitamin D, 2000mg/day N-actyl cysteine, 2000mg/day inositol, 2-3mg biotin and 100mg thiamine (B1). Please consider having a vitamin D test done, for more info see the Vitamin D council and GrassrootsHealth websites. For more info on Hysterectomies and alternative options, please read through this web site. Take care Wray
Jun 03, 2011
 Wray
by: Anonymous

Wray - Thank you for the information...greatly appreciated.

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