What is the Origin of Postmenopausal Hair Loss?

This phenomenon is biologically rooted in the natural aging process of the ovaries, leading to a significant and sustained decline in the circulating levels of estrogen and progesterone. The term "postmenopausal" defines the chronological phase, which typically begins after twelve consecutive months of amenorrhea. The resulting hair changes reflect the loss of estrogen's protective, growth-promoting effects on the hair follicle.

What is the Mechanism of Postmenopausal Hair Loss?

The mechanism of hair loss is a multi-factorial endocrine event driven by the loss of estrogenic stimulation and a relative increase in androgenic influence. Estrogen, a key hormone, typically extends the anagen (growth) phase of the hair cycle; its decline shortens this phase, leading to increased shedding and miniaturization of the hair follicle. Concurrently, the relative prominence of androgens, such as testosterone and its potent metabolite dihydrotestosterone (DHT), can cause susceptible scalp follicles to shrink, resulting in the production of finer, shorter, and less pigmented hair over time.

Postmenopausal Hair Loss ∞ Area

Postmenopausal Hair Loss

Meaning

Postmenopausal Hair Loss is the common clinical manifestation of hair thinning or loss experienced by women following the cessation of their menstrual cycles, marking the postmenopausal phase. This condition is primarily characterized by a diffuse reduction in hair density, often presenting as a widening of the central part, a pattern known as female pattern hair loss (FPHL). It is a direct consequence of the profound and sustained shift in the hormonal milieu that occurs with ovarian senescence.