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Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss.

by Anon
(Trumbull, Ct, USA)

Dear Wray. I have been searching all over the web in order to find some answers to my problem. Your site gave me lots of information and some hope, although none of the posts discusses my particular issue. I hope that you'll find time to answer my question, as I'm becoming more desperate as time goes by. I am a 51 years old female, who has a Hashimoto disease which in turn causes some pretty significant hair loss.My endocrinologist, suggested that I take Yasmin for the estrogen and the "better for the hair progesterone", in addition to Cytomel(T3), which I have been doing for over 10 years now with a great success. The problem is, that as I have mentioned, I am 51 years old, and due to my age my GYN does not want to prescribe Yasmin anymore. After reading many of your posts, I do have an understanding how dangerous synthetic hormones are, and even tried to come off of them at least three times now, each time unsuccessfully. The first time, I just stopped Yasmin cold turkey, and after 2-3 weeks may hair were coming out in ropes, so I went right back on it. The second time, I thought that if I wean myself slowly off of the BCP, the drop in hormones would not be so drastic, and I will avoid the dreaded hair loss.Shortly after I have lowered my dose my hair stared to come out, and I went right back to the Yasmin again. The third time, I did find a "main stream" physician who was willing to work with me, and after consulting with compounding pharmacy I went home with bio-identical progesterone 200 mg to take daily, after stopping the Yasmin, which I did. I was so ecstatic and full of hope until after two weeks I saw my hair come out in hand full's again. I could not restart my BCP fast enough, and it took four months for my hair loss to slow down. I do not have much time nor hair left to play with. Wray you are my only hope. What I want to find out, is whether there is any way I could come off those dreaded BCP, slowly switching to natural hormones, and if need to over time tapering them of.What are your thought on it? Please, you are my only hope.

Comments for Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss.

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Nov 19, 2012
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss
by: Wray

Hi there There's always hope! As you probably found reading through the site, I'm not in favour of any drug based Contraceptive. I explain on this page about contraceptives stopping the ovarian cycle. Oestrogen and testosterone production slow down, progesterone production stops. Unless we ovulate we don't make ovarian progesterone. Stopping cold turkey, or reducing too fast allows the system to start up again. But initially only testosterone and oestrogen are secreted. It can be many months before ovulation begins again. So there is nothing to inhibit these two hormones. Excess testosterone causes hair loss. It's always best to supplement progesterone weeks before considering reducing the contraceptive. We have info on how to do this slowly on our page Coming off HRT, the Pill etc. We also have a page on Hair Loss you could look through. There is a list of nutrients which help, all of which should be started before reducing the pill. Vitamin D is vital for hair growth, a lack of it is also found in people with Hashi's, see here, here and here. I suspect your level is low, please have a test done. For more info on vitamin D levels, test kits etc see the Vitamin D Council, GrassrootsHealth and Birmingham Hospital. Blood levels should be 70-100ng/ml (175-250nmol/L) and not the 30ng/ml (75nmol/L) most labs and doctors regard as adequate. The minimum daily dose should be 5000iu's per day, although recent research indicates it should be 10,000iu's per day, see here. Continued below
Nov 19, 2012
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss Part 2
by: Wray

Hi there Unfortunately oral progesterone is the least effective Delivery system. "The liver and gut region removed a mean of 96 per cent of the progesterone entering these tissues" see here. The amount of 200mg/day is good, but you were getting very little of it. If you still have some capsules left, empty the contents into a small amount of skin cream, and then apply that to your skin. That way you get the full benefit. Alternatively get a progesterone cream, but please make sure you use enough. If you still have a cycle we have more info on our page How to use progesterone cream. And as you are now in Peri-menopause please read through this page too. Also our page on Oestrogen Dominance, if you use too little progesterone, the adverse symptoms listed could occur. Take care Wray
Nov 21, 2012
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss.
by: Anonymous

Thank You Wray for taking time and responding to my inquiry. I did read the links you have sent me to, but still am a bit confused. As I have previously stated, I am taking Yasmin; 21 active pills, and 7 placebo. When I do start the natural progesterone, do I take it 28 days without stopping, or 21, as with the Yasmin cycle? Also, since Yasmin has progesterone in it, how much of additional natural progesterone should I take?Finally, progesterone is a precursor to all hormones, including testosterone. My concern is; if I take all this extra progesterone, and progesterone do metabolize to testosterone, would it not be counterproductive and actually worsen my hair loss? I would appreciate any additional information, and thank you again for your response.
Nov 24, 2012
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss
by: Wray

Hi there You can start it any time, it should be used daily too, even during bleeding. As you're so sensitive to a drop in the contraceptive, I suggest you use it for at least 1 month, if not 2 before attempt to reduce the pill. No contraceptive contains progesterone, none. They only contain a progestin. Oral progesterone as I explained, is mostly destroyed in the gut and liver, which is why they invented progestins, they are not destroyed. I did suggest you empty the contents of the caps you have, that's if you still have them. That would give you 200mg/day, you might need more, alternatively you'll have to get a cream. Yes progesterone is the precursor to many hormones, testosterone included. But if a high amount is used, it suppresses the other hormones which are made from it, including testosterone, oestrogen too. You said "My endocrinologist, suggested that I take Yasmin for the estrogen and the "better for the hair progesterone". Progesterone does help hair, as he knew. But he wasn't giving you progesterone! Don't forget to take those other nutrients for hair loss too. Take care Wray
Nov 26, 2012
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss.
by: Anonymous

Thanks Wray. Your comment was very helpful.
Jan 12, 2013
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss.
by: Anonymous

Hello Wray. I have started using the Nat-pro cream as you have recommended and am very happy with it. My mood has improved and so did my hair loss, to a point that I no longer consider it a hair loss. There is however one problem; it becomes very costly as I go through one tube in three days. I did ask my GYN to give me a prescription for the natural progesterone, as I was planning on using it as you have previously suggested, mixed with a moisturizing cream ( to lower my cost since I can submit the bill to my insurance. I have received my prescription today and it is a Tri-est/progesterone 2.5/100mg. My question is; does it contain estrogen, and if so is it safe to add all this estrogen to the estrogen in Yasmin which I'm still taking. As I have written to you before, I am looking for ways to wean myself off of the Yasmin, but that have not happened yet, I am only adding the 200 mg of Progesterone in Nat-pro to the Yasmin, as you have recommended. Please help. Should I cut the Yasmin pill in half, and use it with the Tri-est/progesterone, in addition to some extra Nat-pro? Any input would be greatly appreciated. .
Jan 14, 2013
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss.
by: Wray

Hi there I'm so delighted you have responded to the progesterone. But I'm puzzled why you are using so much cream, that amounts to 670mg/day progesterone. It would be costly, did you find less was not helping you? You also have me confused as you say... "I am only adding the 200 mg of Progesterone in Nat-pro to the Yasmin". If you are using 200mg/day then one tube would last you 10 days. Can you clear up this confusion for me. I'm also puzzled why your gyn has given you a combo cream, whereas before it was progesterone only. The 'Tri-est' means it contains all three oestrogens, not what you need at all. As they will merely counteract the progesterone, plus you are getting oestrogen in the Yasmin. Can you get the script changed to the same as before? But empty the contents of the capsule into some skin cream. Cutting the Yasmin in half would reduce it far too quickly. Please look at the link I gave you on how to come off it slowly. Take care Wray
Jan 15, 2013
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss.
by: Anonymous

Hi Wray. Thanks for your quick response. I was surprised myself that I went through a tube of the Nat-pro cream so fast. It seem to me that there are many air pockets inside the tube, so maybe they're not filled properly. I do use only 1 1/2 teaspoon per day,which I believe equals 7.5 ml,and 200 mg. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Thank you again.
Jan 15, 2013
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss.
by: Anonymous

Hello Wray. I have realized that I did not answer all your questions. I just wanted to add that I believe I was using only the 200 mg of Progesterone per day, 7.5 ml of the cream.
My GYN is a main stream physician not comfortable, and not familiar with bio-identical hormones (sadly there aren't any GYN's who use bio-identical hormones in my area, and the MD's who do, cost a fortune;over $2500 and over for a consultation, and it is not covered by a health insurance). A year ago when I got my first prescription of bio-identical progesterone he agreed to give it a try,after much pleading,and wrote the script to help me get off the PCP's and avoid the hair loss. That did not happened, and as I have mentioned earlier, I went right back to the Yasmin. This year as I have ask him again for the hormones, he thought that I will be replacing Yasmin with the Tri-est(he does not want me to take any additional progesterone bio-identical or otherwise),and felt I will need some estrogen to ameliorate the sudden drop after stopping Yasmin. So as you see, I do not have many choices or anybody to consult with, really, and am being very grateful for your site and your help.
Jan 17, 2013
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss.
by: Wray

Hi there They are some air pockets, but the weight of the tube is checked, it's not done on volume. 1 1/2 tsp is 7.5ml, but that's giving you 250mg/day progesterone. Which still doesn't explain how you are getting through 1 tube in 3 days. There's 33.3mg progesterone in 1ml of cream. So if you were aiming for 200mg/day you should use 6ml of cream, or just over 1tsp. The tube would last you 10 days at that amount. I cannot believe that price for a consult, that's immoral! You don't need more oestrogen, you need progesterone which you've not been making at all being on the pill. Come off it slowly, at the same time using the progesterone and I think you'll find it's fine. If you do reduce the progesterone, you must do it very slowly, about 1/2ml at a time. Otherwise you'll find symptoms come back, and you don't want that as you've been doing so well. An alternative is to get the 20 tube option for a 30% discount. Maybe you have a friend or family member you could share with? Take care Wray
Jan 18, 2013
 Progesterone, BCP, and hair loss.
by: Anonymous

Thank you Wray. I will follow your advice and stay on the Nat-pro while slowly reducing the pill. Thanks again.

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