So many jokes have found their way on the internet regarding power surges, hot flashes, private summers etc, but there is nothing funny when it comes to irritability, night sweats, mood swings, hair loss, memory lapses, or weight gain. These and many others are symptoms that come with menopause. These menopausal symptoms, especially hair loss, are attributed to the hormonal imbalances in the body during this transition in the female body.
The reason why there is a very strong connection between hair loss and menopause is because of the simple fact that when you reach menopause, your body slows down, and eventually stops manufacturing female hormones, such as estrogen. What this therefore means is that there would be an imbalance in the body, with an increased level of testosterone and the absence of a female hormone to counter the effects of this male hormone. Increased testosterone levels in the body leads to hair thinning and eventually hair loss, justifying the reason why most men suffer from balding compared to women.
How much hair is lost during menopause? The amount, or rather the volume of hair lost during menopause varies a great deal from one woman to another, the same way menopause symptoms and their severity will vary. Generally though, hair thinning is almost a must in nearly all menopause and hair loss related cases. The good news is that you can counter the effects of hair loss during menopause by reviewing your diet. Taking calcium rich foods for instance has been known to strengthen hair follicles thus reducing hair breakage when combing.
There are also other things that you can do, such as going for a hormone replacement therapy to help curb the effects of hair loss during menopause. This therapy in particular has been very effective as it helps counterbalance the male and female hormones and their effects in your body. Note however that this is an expensive procedure, no wonder most people would opt for food supplements to help make up for the therapy. Nutritional supplements can be ideal in reversing the effects of menopause, especially hair loss, as they will help boost the presence of estrogen, thus reducing the levels of testosterone and helping fortify hair follicles for the growth of new hairs.
If you are going through menopause and one of your problems is hair loss, the best course of action would be to talk to your doctor. Your doctor is in a good position to advice you accordingly on the best course of action to take not only on hair loss but on all other menopause related symptoms.