Endometriosis: Hair Thinning and Hair Loss

I remember back to a few months after I had my son. My hair started falling out in clumps, almost by the handful.

Hair at my temples seemed to thin out and feel like almost nothing. Turns out, during pregnancy and nursing, your body doesn’t shed hair like it normally would.

Hair loss and hormones

So after your hormones start to return back to normal, all the hair that you would have lost during pregnancy seems to come out almost all at once. Cue the world’s biggest freakout.

Now, why would I mention this? How in the world is it related to endometriosis? Well, it all comes back to the same thing: those darn hormones.

Our hormones are complicated beasts, adding to the fact that many treatments for endometriosis include the use of hormones. With everything else we deal with, it can seem like hair loss would be the least of our worries.

But honestly, for me, it isn’t.

Hormonal effects on our confidence

How we wear our hair is sometimes how we identify ourselves. For me, I feel like when I think my hair looks good, then it makes me feel “good.”

As I’ve gotten older and my hormones are changing even more (thanks in part to early-onset menopause) and as such, so is my hair. I don’t think it is really because of one main cause, rather it is much more likely to be a combination of causes.

Yes, it is primarily likely due to hormones, medication side effects, diseases like endo, and basic aging. It is thinning and basically feels like it is falling out left and right.

Endometriosis and hair loss

While I wouldn’t wish hair loss on anyone honestly, I really hope I’m not alone. Like, when you share something deeply personal and then there is nothing but crickets.

Rather, I’m thinking it is a situation that many of us experience, but no one wants to talk about. But if I’m right and I’m not alone, I think it is very important to talk about some possible choices we have.

Options for hair loss

• Filler powders

I’ve tried a few of these and honestly, they aren’t too bad. However, be sure that you don’t check out those gimmicky ones that promise the look of full, lustrous hair. I think it would probably be best to only use this when you have a little thinning in the front.

• Toppers/wigs

While I haven’t moved on to the full-on wig, I have tried some of the toppers. The downsides are they can get a little pricey for something that looks decently natural and they can be a little difficult to color match.

If you invest the money, you can have your stylist help you do a good color match. But again, this option might cost a fair bit of money, especially to do correctly.

• Adios hair

Pixie cut, buzz cut, clipper cut all can be beautiful, fierce, and totally free. Embrace the hair loss and make a bold choice.

It’s time to change how we view beauty

Hair loss matters because we believe that it matters. If we believe that our hair is what makes us who we are, then when we experience hair loss because of endometriosis, we might start to feel less beautiful.

I know, easy for me to say, more difficult to do. However, I truly believe the best way to manage hair loss due to endometriosis is to change how we view beauty.

Yes, it is bold. It is rooted in self-confidence, but I truly believe we can do it.

So where do I find myself in terms of managing my hair loss today? I plan one of two things: ultra-short pixie or the simple buzz cut.

I will circle back and update my profile pic here with whichever I finally choose.

If you want to take this path with me, I encourage you to really consider it. If you do it, update your picture in the comments. Be proud!