Can Irregular Periods Lead to Hair Loss?

Irregular periods do not lead to hair loss, but they can be signs of conditions related to hair loss. These two symptoms may seem related because they are both signs of PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome. However, there may not be a link between them at all. The best way to find out if these two things are related is to make an appointment with your physician and discuss your irregular periods and hair loss with him or her.

What could lead to irregular periods and hair loss?

While there is no ‘normal’ schedule for menstrual cycles, most women experience them on a 24- to 35-day basis. Every woman has at least a couple of irregular periods over the course of her reproductive years. However, if your periods are so unpredictable that they constantly vary from month to month, you are considered to have irregular periods.

Why does PCOS cause hair loss?

To understand this occurrence, we must first understand what PCOS is. Polycystic ovary syndrome is exactly as it sounds—a condition that is usually characterized by the presence of many small cysts on the ovaries. PCOS occurs when the ovaries produce too many hormones, specifically androgens (male sex hormones). This overproduction can be spurred by the production of too much luteinizing hormone (LH) in the pituitary gland.

Because women with PCOS have too many androgens in their blood streams, they may begin to exhibit changes in hair growth patterns. More specifically, these hormones lead to more body hair growth, such as facial hair and hair on the chest, stomach and back. Hair follicles on the head, however, respond differently to male sex hormones. This is why many women with the condition will begin to notice a loss of hair on the scalp.

Why does PCOS cause irregular periods?

Ovaries that are not afflicted with this condition routinely prepare up to 20 eggs to be released during each menstrual cycle, each developing in their own “pocket” or cyst. Throughout the process, one egg usually begins to attract more of the hormones needed to become mature and release itself.

However, when a woman has PCOS, no egg receives the correct balance of hormones to be matured and released, so the ovaries end up developing cysts that never release an egg. When ovulation does not occur, the female reproductive system cannot produce sufficient amounts of progesterone, a hormone that plays a large part in regulating the menstrual cycle. Another effect of this process is that a woman cannot conceive.

Suggestions about irregular periods and hair loss:

If you suspect that PCOS may be the reason for your hair loss and irregular periods, it is important to be diagnosed by a doctor. Untreated, PCOS can lead to serious conditions such as diabetes and obesity.