Menopause & Underarm Hair

Women call it "The Change." You anticipate it with worry and debate whether hormone therapy is a viable alternative for you. You brace for the possibility of hot flashes and fluctuating moods. You may even expect a change in muscle tone, skin elasticity and a greater need for moisturizers. But you never once thought about its affect on the quality and amount of your underarm hair.

Menopause

• Menopause is the time when the female body stops menstruating and the ovaries shut down. During the monthly menstrual cycle, an egg is produced, along with the hormones estrogen and progesterone. During menopause, egg production ceases and the production of these hormones virtually ends. This reduction in hormones results in many changes. One such change is the quality and amount of hair, including that of your underarms.

Estrogen

• Estrogen not only regulates the menstrual cycle, it affects the brain, heart, urinary tract, bones, breasts, skin, mucous membranes, skin, muscles of the pelvis and hair. We all remember the changes brought on by menstruation, including growth of pubic and armpit hair. Menopause brings on changes in secondary sex characteristics, as well, just as menstruation did.

Androgens

• During menopause, your underarm hair may change in quantity and quality. This is due to the production of androgens, sometimes called the "male hormone." Androgens are actually produced throughout menstruation as well, but because the "female hormones" counterbalance them, they don't have a pronounced effect. However, when estrogen and progesterone production ends, androgen takes center stage.

Changes

• Androgens contribute to the health of many organs and are important to the synthesis of estrogen. This makes them critical to sexual desire and satisfaction, but it also makes then cause the hair in the underarms to become thicker, darker and more coarse.

HIrsutism

• The medical term for this condition is called hirsutism. Ironically, as the hair shafts become thicker, the quantity of hair may become thinner. Not all hirsutism is caused by menopause, however, so it's essential to consult a doctor if you notice these changes.