Chances are that when you hear someone say, “male pattern baldness,” you know what they’re talking about and can probably even picture it. Less widely known is a condition called female pattern hair loss.
At NeoGraft Hair Restoration in Westport, Connecticut, Dr. Dana Brownell and her staff treat both men and women who are struggling with all types of hair loss. One condition that our patients are sometimes surprised by is female pattern hair loss associated with a condition called polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
In this post, we explain what PCOS is, why it causes hair loss, and what you can do about it.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that as many as 5 million women in the United States may have PCOS. It’s a hormonal condition that can cause numerous issues. In fact, PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility.
All women produce estrogen and progesterone, sometimes described as female hormones, and, in smaller amounts, hormones called androgens, which are usually higher in men. Testosterone is an example of an androgen.
Women who have PCOS tend to have higher levels of androgens than women who don’t have the condition.
PCOS can cause hirsutism, or excessive hair growth in places most women would prefer to not have hair — for example, on your back, face, and chest. It can also cause a condition called female pattern hair loss, or androgenic alopecia.
In female pattern hair loss, your hairline tends to remain the same, but the hair at the top of your head becomes thin. You may notice that your part seems to be getting wider or that your scalp shows through on the top of your head.
Our team can help with most types of hair loss, and female pattern baldness due to PCOS is no exception. Dr. Brownell uses a technique called NeoGraft hair transplantation, which is very precise and results in much better hair growth than other options.
NeoGraft is a type of follicular unit extraction (FUE) hair transplantation that involves moving individual follicles from one area — usually the back of your head — to the area where you want hair to grow. Instead of moving each follicle manually, Dr. Brownell uses the NeoGraft system, which is an automated device that can move many individual follicles at once without harming the follicles.
The result is natural-looking, fuller hair, without stitches or bandages. You can even return to most of your normal activities the next day, so you don’t need to schedule downtime to recover after the transplantation procedure.
If your PCOS is causing thinning hair or hair loss and you’d like to learn more about NeoGraft and how Dr. Brownell can help you get your hair back, schedule an appointment today. We’re always happy to answer your questions and make recommendations for you.
