It's been a long time since I posted to this forum, but I continually read everyone's posts.
A quick recap....I was diagnosed with PCOS several years ago, but have been suffering with hair loss since I was about 18 (I'll be 30 in a few months).
I've been on metformin 1000mg per day for about a year now. I used to be on the pill, but my doctor took me off of it because it was messing with my blood pressure.
I guess you can say that embarassment and not knowing what to do or where to go for treatment for the hair loss have been the reasons why I've put it off for so long.
My regular doctor and gynecologist told me that there was really nothing they could do to help it. I did go to a dermatologist and it was a waste of money as I was in and out in what seemed like 10 minutes and she said I had alopecia something (I can't remember the full name, and another doctor said I had male pattern baldness) and she gave me a box of Rogaine which I didn't use. I didn't like the idea of those harsh chemicals.
My hair loss is pretty bad......thinning all over, the worst part is on the crown of my head and the front hair line which is very very thin. I can't wear bangs because everyone will see the lack of hair that I have. I avoid ceiling spotlights like the plague as it brings out my thinning hair....even in pictures you can see how thin my hair is
So where can I go from here? Is it too late for me since I waited so many years? Should I start with an endocrinologist? Are they helpful with those with hair loss and PCOS? Or should I start one of the products mentioned here such as the Nioxin-type shampoo from Sally's? I'm at my wit's end......I would love to get hair implants, but I have heard horror stories about those. What about Flutamide? I looked it up and it's a prostate cancer drug and not recommended for women to use? I really don't want to use a hair piece of any kind. I just want my hair to grow back! LOL
I'm just confused.....I don't know where to go from here. I appreciate any suggestions.
Terri I wish i had answers for you.becuase I could use some myself. I went to see a hair specialist in NY and he is one of the best to deal with women's hair loss and he had no answers for me....seems sometimes with some medical issues, hair can grow back...like people who have thryoid problems. Once they get on a medicine to control their thyroid, they usally get their hair back..but PCOS is androgen driven and like men, i also have male pattern baldness.. he could not promise it would grow back, only to help stop it by taking meds to lower the testesterone. .I am 37 now and 6 months ago my hair thinning got really bad. I use to have to get up an hr early to do my hair becuase it was so thick and took forever to dry. Now i need an hr to figure out how to cover the thinness
I know that there are some really good hair prothesis that you can use for your hair that they actually sew in your scalp and it can last years but they are costly. One place in NY does it and the owner's mother lost her hair due to cancer and when she died, he promised his mother he would help women who lost their hair..he does offer discounts to women who make a certain level of income and it has to be proven. Otherwise they are costly. i am thinking of looking into it when i get my tax returns back. No one notices my hair loss becuase I am good at covering it but i can see right thru it and cannot wear my hair in a ponytail since i have huge bald spots on my temples and the front is receding
It has caused a lot of anguish on my part and i am obsessed with other women and their hair. I look at actresses and models and women in the street and recall how i use to have hair like that. It has been the most difficult part of PCOS for me and traumatizing to my self esteem
i went to see an endo about my pcos in october...i was just falling apart. my weight got up to 298, my hair is a complete mess, it was falling out in handfuls, i have bald spots on my temple, i had to change my part because of how much of my scalp showed, i shave every morning with my husband (not really, but sometimes it feels like it), not even to mention what's wrong with me on the inside (dyslipemia/sp).
my endo gave me 200mg spirolactone and i can't say it's growing my hair back....but it's not falling out anymore. i've only been on it since october 06 so i don't know if i'll ever see regrowth but i'm not afraid to brush my hair anymore for fear of seeing a big glob of hair. i know a lot of people don't like spiro because it can mess up periods and i know you can't take it if you're TTC but i'd certainly recommend seeing a good endo that knows what PCOS is (call them and ask ...if they don't know what it is, call someone else) and atleast trying the spiro.
Soaper and Paige......thanks so much for your quick replies! I'm going to have to do some research for a good endo. in my area. I'll keep everyone updated.
I hope whatever you try it works out. I have been told about ayruvedic treatment in alternative remedies and topicals like rosemary, lavender, and basil oils you can put in your hair to stimulate growth. There are herbs like saw palmetto but I do not know how they work for long-time severe hairloss. My hairloss remains but it has been less severe since going off met and taking vitamins.
Just wanted to say that I got the same response from my doctors when I showed them my hairloss. They said there is nothing I can do about male pattern baldness except stay on bcp and the met.
Just wanted to say that I got the same response from my doctors when I showed them my hairloss. They said there is nothing I can do about male pattern baldness except stay on bcp and the met.
I think they say there is nothign to do because with regards to hairloss its extremely difficult to halt or treat ... their are only proven treatments whcih are not cures ........
I too have male pattenr hair loss I cant wear my hair up in a ponytail becasue the temples are bald, my hairline is shot to bits and has moved back and I am looking into bonded hair systems but they do cost a fortune ...
Hair loss sucks its ruined my life for sure
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A friend of mine has PCOS and really thin hair. She said it's been thin most of her life and then got thinner. She's been on Met and I think the byeta (sp?) injections for awhile and recently noticed that she has patches of hair growing back. It's fine and short right now but it's growing. You should have heard the excitement in her voice when she told me. At first she thought it was breakage because she gets perms to make the hair look thicker but her hair dresser confirmed it was actual hair growth since those patches are thicker.
I'm pretty sure she sees and endo for her PCOS treatment.
__________________ Me - 32 DH - 34
DS - 13 DD - 5
11/06 confirmed PCOS and IR. On met and spiro.
12/21/06 Novasure endo. ablation
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This is more cosmetic than hormonal, but in the interim, you might consider spending the time to find a really good hairdresser that has worked with women with alopecia. Mine is a little pricey, but I've seen the work she has done with thinning hair, and I think it is totally worth it.
The places that advertise working with male baldness also work with women. My SIL was doing hair at Genesis II for a while.
I know it's not really a fix, but at least maybe it will be a patch-job...
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Where do I start? (kinda long, sorry) 
