#4381 ·
slypanther46 said:Hey ladies, I really need some input from you women on a few things...
I’m currently fighting a losing battle with massive hair loss—I used to have this thick, long, wavy mane, but now it’s just thin, dry, and weak; I can barely tie it into a tiny little walnut-sized bun. On top of that, my gums are bleeding, my eyes are super sensitive and dry (I can't even stare at my computer screen like I used to without them watering constantly), and I am just exhausted—and I mean *exhausted*—even after getting a full eight hours of sleep. I’ve been reading up on it and suspect it might all be tied to a hormonal imbalance, though my dermatologist immediately tried to push steroids on me, my dentist wants me to get a deep scaling for my gums, and for my eyes, I'm stuck using artificial tears and drops that honestly don't do much. All of this is seriously tanking my quality of life.
Things have taken a real turn for the worse over the last year, so I went ahead and got some testing done. My thyroid came back fine, my glucose tolerance test was okay, and my blood work looks normal. My periods are pretty regular—every 30 days, maybe swinging two days early or late.
Most of my sex hormones are within range, except for androstenedione, which is sitting above 19.5 when the reference interval tops out at 11.4. I just got the results yesterday, so I haven't had a chance to sit down with my OBGYN to go over the details yet, but obviously, that number is high.
I had a gut feeling it was some kind of hormonal mess-up involving excess male hormones, especially since I’ve noticed some increased hair growth in certain areas—but my ultrasound didn't show any signs of PCOS.
I wanted to know if anyone else here deals with similar symptoms? And specifically, would birth control pills (which I assume will be my only option) actually help restore my hair or fix these other issues?
Since I’ve never taken them before, does anyone know which brands are generally considered the best? Also, does anyone experience side effects like weight gain?
Is there any other way to get my hormones back in balance—maybe through herbal teas or something more natural?
Thanks so much for the help! Sorry I can't dive deep into the whole thread right now—I'm totally slammed with time—but I promise I'll read through everything once things settle down because I know there's good advice here. Right now, I just really need an answer.
ladiellep,
I am certainly no expert, but my first thought is: have you had your cortisol levels checked? What about DHEA? Or perhaps an abdominal ultrasound specifically focusing on the adrenal glands?
You’ve likely already discussed your concerns with a gynecologist, but I wanted to comment because a close friend of mine dealt with very similar symptoms. It strikes me that your issue might actually stem from your adrenal glands, especially since your cycles are regular and you haven't been diagnosed with PCOS.
Essentially, the brain monitors hormone levels in the bloodstream and signals the pituitary gland to release specific amounts—those sex hormones are then produced by the ovaries and the adrenal cortex. Androstenedione acts similarly to testosterone, which is why it's categorized as a "male" hormone. Because of that excess, you're dealing with unwanted hair growth and hair loss, but I would also draw a connection between the bleeding gums, dry eyes, and fatigue and the adrenal cortex hormones.
I took Triqular for a long time, and fortunately, it worked perfectly for me, though I can't say if it would suit you.
If you haven't started oral contraceptives yet, I would suggest looking for ones where every pill in the pack is identical. I can't recall the specific name—maybe someone here knows it—but I believe those tend to have the fewest side effects.
Best of luck, regardless. 🙂
