Does Hormones Cause Hair Loss? | Real Causes And Fixes

Hair on the scalp does not fall out at random. Each strand follows a timed growth cycle, and hormones help set that rhythm. When those hormones shift, the rhythm can slip, and extra shedding or thinning shows up in the mirror.

If you are asking yourself, does hormones cause hair loss?, you are not alone. Many people first notice extra hair in the brush after a life change such as pregnancy, a new birth control method, a thyroid problem, or midlife changes. This article walks through how hormones link to hair loss, when that link matters, and what can be done with a doctor’s help.

Does Hormones Cause Hair Loss? Main Answer

Hormones can cause hair loss when they interfere with the growth cycle of the follicles. The clearest example is androgenetic alopecia, also called pattern hair loss, where a hormone called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, shrinks scalp follicles in people who are genetically prone to it.

Other hormone shifts have an effect too. Pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, thyroid disease, high stress, and medical conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome change levels of estrogen, progesterone, thyroid hormones, cortisol, insulin, and androgens. That change can push many hairs out of the growing phase at once, so shedding rises for a while before the cycle settles again.

Medical groups such as Mayo Clinic guidance on hair loss causes note that hormonal changes sit beside genetics, medication side effects, scalp disease, and nutritional problems as major reasons for hair loss. In short, hormones are a big piece of the picture, but not the only piece.

Common Hormone-Related Causes Of Hair Loss

The table below groups frequent hormone driven patterns of hair loss. It is a guide, not a substitute for medical review, because several causes can overlap.

Hormone Or Condition	Typical Hair Loss Pattern	Clues That Often Appear
DHT In Androgenetic Alopecia	Slow thinning at temples or crown, wider part line	Family members with pattern hair loss, gradual change over years
Thyroid Hormone Imbalance	Diffuse thinning over the whole scalp	Tiredness, weight change, feeling too cold or too warm, dry skin
Estrogen Drop After Childbirth	Heavy shedding two to four months after delivery	Fuller hair during pregnancy, then handfuls of hair in the shower
Estrogen And Progesterone Drop At Menopause	Gradual thinning on top of the head	Irregular periods, hot flashes, sleep change, mood swings
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)	Thinning on the scalp with extra facial or body hair	Acne, irregular periods, weight gain around the waist
Hormonal Birth Control Changes	Shedding that starts a few months after starting or stopping	New pill, implant, injection, or stopping long term hormonal birth control
Long Term High Stress And Cortisol	Diffuse shedding, often in waves	History of intense stress, sleep problems, change in appetite
Insulin Resistance And Metabolic Syndrome	Pattern hair thinning, usually with other health issues	Abdominal weight gain, darkened skin folds, raised blood sugar

How Hormones Control The Hair Growth Cycle

To understand why does hormones cause hair loss appears so often as a search phrase, it helps to see how the cycle runs in the first place. Every follicle on the scalp moves through growth, rest, and shedding phases that repeat many times through life.

The Hair Growth Phases

During the growth phase, called anagen, the follicle makes a hair fiber day after day. This stage can last several years on a healthy scalp. The next phase, catagen, is a short transition where growth stops and the follicle shrinks.

The rest phase, telogen, follows. In telogen the old hair sits in place while a new hair starts forming. Finally, in the shedding phase, the old hair lets go so the new one can grow through. At any moment most scalp hairs stay in anagen while a smaller share rest or shed.

Hormones influence how long each phase lasts and how sensitive each follicle is to change. Androgens such as DHT, thyroid hormones, estrogen, progesterone, and stress hormones all contribute to how sturdy each follicle feels and how firmly it keeps hair in place.

What Happens When Hormones Shift

When hormone levels rise or fall outside the usual range, the hair cycle can tilt. High DHT in someone with genetic risk gradually shortens anagen, so each new hair grows thinner and shorter until the follicle stops making visible hair at all. That pattern describes androgenetic alopecia, a common cause of pattern hair loss described in MedlinePlus for both men and women.

Low or high thyroid hormone slows down the turnover of skin and hair cells. Many follicles slip into telogen together, so six to twelve weeks later more hairs than usual shed from the scalp. Both underactive and overactive thyroid disease can give this type of thinning.

Estrogen and progesterone help keep hairs in anagen for longer. During pregnancy, higher levels often give thicker hair. After birth, levels fall, and many hairs move into telogen together. A similar pattern can appear around menopause as estrogen falls and the balance between androgens and female hormones tilts.

Long stretches of stress raise cortisol, which can change hair cycling by affecting stem cells in the follicle. Research from institutes such as the National Institutes of Health has shown links between stress hormones and reduced hair growth in animal models, which helps explain why stressful months can be followed by a shed.

Do Hormones Cause Hair Loss In Women? Common Patterns

Women often notice hormonal hair loss during big life phases. The shape of the thinning can give clues. In female pattern hair loss, density slowly drops over the top of the head and along the part line while the hairline at the forehead stays mostly stable.

Patches or sudden shedding call for extra care. Sudden diffuse shedding over the whole scalp may follow childbirth, severe illness, surgery, crash dieting, or strong emotional strain. That pattern, called telogen effluvium, usually improves over several months once the trigger settles, though it can feel upsetting while it is active.

Pregnancy, Postpartum, And Hair Shedding

During pregnancy many women notice fuller, thicker hair. Higher estrogen keeps more follicles in anagen, so fewer hairs sit in the shedding phase. After delivery, hormone levels fall toward their usual range, and a wave of hairs enters telogen.

Two to four months later the shed peaks. Even though the volume of hair loss feels alarming, the follicles usually stay healthy, and over the next six to twelve months most people see density improve as new hairs grow in.

Menopause, PCOS, And Ongoing Thinning

Around menopause, lower estrogen leaves androgens with more influence on follicles. For some women that means slow thinning on the crown and along the part. The process often moves over years, so regular photos can help track change.

PCOS is another common setting where hormones cause hair loss on the head. Raised androgens can thin scalp hair while facial and body hair grows thicker. Because PCOS links with insulin resistance and other health risks, medical review matters when this pattern shows up.

Hormonal Hair Loss In Men

In men, androgenetic alopecia is the leading hormonal pattern. Sensitivity of follicles to DHT follows family lines and shapes where hair thins first. Some men notice a receding hairline at the temples, others see a thinner patch at the crown, and many see both areas change over time.

Hormone levels outside the usual male range can bring extra shedding as well. Thyroid disease, anabolic steroid use, sharp weight loss, and long standing stress all change hormone balance and can push more hairs into the resting phase.

Working With A Doctor On Hormone Related Hair Loss

Self diagnosis can miss hidden causes. A dermatologist or other experienced clinician can study the pattern on the scalp, take a history of health events, and order tests when needed. The aim is to sort out which factors matter most for your hair so that treatment targets the right ones.

When hormones cause hair loss, treatment often combines medical steps with daily habits. The table below sketches common options that doctors may use, depending on age, sex, other health issues, and pregnancy plans.

Treatment Approach	How It Helps	Typical Points To Raise With A Doctor
Topical Minoxidil Foam Or Solution	Prolongs the growth phase and boosts blood flow around follicles	Can cause initial shed, must be used long term for sustained effect
Oral Finasteride Or Similar Drugs	Lowers conversion of testosterone to DHT in pattern hair loss	Not suitable during pregnancy, possible sexual side effects, needs monitoring
Hormone Therapy For Thyroid Disease	Restores thyroid levels toward target range so follicles can cycle normally	Dose adjusts over time, regular blood tests needed
Adjusting Birth Control Or Hormone Therapy	Reduces sudden shifts in estrogen and progesterone that trigger shedding	Changes in pills or devices should be planned with the prescribing clinician
Anti Androgen Medicines In Women	Block androgen effect on follicles in PCOS or female pattern hair loss	Often combined with contraception, not safe in pregnancy, needs follow up
Platelet Rich Plasma Or Other Procedures	Use injections or devices to stimulate follicles in stubborn cases	Offered in specialist clinics, cost, number of visits, and comfort level matter
Nutrition, Stress Management, And Gentle Hair Care	Helps the scalp condition so medical treatment can work better	Steady protein intake, iron when needed, kinder styling and less heat

Whatever mix of treatment you choose, give the plan time. Hair grows slowly, so early change often shows as fewer hairs on the brush instead of thicker length. Photos in the same light every few months give a clearer picture than day to day checking in the mirror.

Hormone related hair loss can feel personal, but it is widely experienced. Talking with a trusted clinician can make the process easier while you work through causes and options.