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Question

Is it possible that using oestrogen patches could be causing my hair to thin at the temples?

If so would it be better to stop HRT (hormone replacement therapy) altogether. Apart from this I have experienced no other side effects and feel well on the therapy.

Would switching to another form of HRT be better?

Answer

After the menopause hair loss does sometimes occur in women, and the temples and crown are the areas most commonly affected. Oestrogen plays a major role in maintaining healthy skin, nails and hair. It is very unlikely that the thinning that you have noticed is related to your HRT. If you were not on HRT the thinning might well be more obvious.

There are some medical conditions that can cause hair loss (for example, thyroid problems or anaemia), and for this reason it would be worth arranging to see your GP to discuss the changes that you have noticed. Blood tests would be able to show whether there is a medical condition responsible for these changes.

It may be worthwhile increasing the dose of oestrogen in your HRT. You would need to discuss this with your GP. It would be very straightforward to use an extra patch of oestrogen alongside your current regime. There is no gaurantee that this would improve your hair, but it s certainly a possibility, and would be a perfectly safe option.

Yours sincerely

The Medical Team

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