Causes of Hormonal Hair Loss in Women

Although hair loss of approximately 50 to 100 strands per day is normal for both men and women, baldness or noticeably thinning hair can result when the amount increases beyond that level. One of the major causes of hair loss among women is hormonal changes produced by a variety of situations.

Hormonal Imbalance

• When the normal level of male and female hormones--called androgen and estrogen, respectively--in a woman's body decrease or increase, the imbalance can affect the usual cycle of the hair follicles and trigger hair loss.

Contraceptives

• Birth control methods that release estrogen or progestin in the body can stimulate hair loss while they are used, or more often, weeks or months after usage is discontinued.

Pregnancy

• Pregnancy increases hormone levels and the removal of the placenta following birth decreases them, both of which can lead to follicle interference that contributes to hair loss.

Menopause

• Menopause causes a drop in estrogen, and the subsequent excess of the male hormone testosterone in comparison can result in decreased hair on the head.

Genes

• Some women have a genetic predisposition to develop thinning hair.