Hair Loss After Hysterectomy: Causes & Treatment Options

A hysterectomy can feel daunting, and that’s completely understandable. Even though it’s one of the most common procedures for women, it’s still a big deal. 

Recovery takes time and energy. You might experience fatigue, discomfort, and side effects like hair loss, which can happen due to the stress of surgery and hormonal changes. 

The reassuring part? Hair loss after hysterectomy, while frustrating, is often temporary, treatable, and reversible. 

Below, we break down what a hysterectomy involves, how it might affect your hair growth, and what you can do if hair loss happens.

A hysterectomy is a common surgical procedure that involves removing the uterus. 

According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), 14.6 percent of women over 18 had hysterectomies in 2021.

If you get a hysterectomy, you can’t become pregnant and you will no longer get a period.

A medical professional might recommend a hysterectomy if you: 

• You have chronic pelvic pain and treatment isn’t helping

• You experience vaginal bleeding that doesn’t respond to medical treatments 

• You have treatment-resistant endometriosis, a chronic condition where uterine cells grow outside the uterus

• You have fibroids, noncancerous tumors that can grow on uterine walls

• You have uterine prolapse or a dropped uterus, which happens when the uterus descends from its typical position into the vaginal canal

• You have endometrial, uterine, cervical, or ovarian cancer

There are three types of hysterectomies:

• Partial hysterectomy. This is when surgeons only remove the upper uterus and leave the cervix.

• Total hysterectomies. This is when surgeons remove the entire uterus, including the cervix. 

• Radical hysterectomies. This is when surgeons remove the entire uterus, cervix, and part of the vagina.

In some cases, like during a cancer surgery, surgeons may also remove ovaries and fallopian tubes.

Here’s why a hysterectomy and hair loss can go hand in hand.

1. Stress 

Hair loss or hair thinning after a hysterectomy is typically due to a condition called telogen effluvium, which happens when a major stressor disrupts the natural hair growth cycle. 

Surgery of any kind, including a hysterectomy, can cause physical and emotional stress that can trigger this type of hair loss.

2. Hormonal Changes

If you haven’t gone through menopause, and go through ovary removal, you may lose hair when your hormones shift post-surgery.

During menopause, the body stops producing two hormones necessary for menstruation and pregnancy: estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen deficiency, in particular, leads to many menopause symptoms, including:

• Mood swings

• Weight gain or weight loss

• Hot flashes

• Vaginal dryness

• Migraine attacks

Because estrogen and progesterone also influence hair health, you may start to see some hair loss when these hormone levels decline during menopause — or post-hysterectomy.

Plus, lower levels of these hormones can make you more sensitive to the effects of testosterone, a male sex hormone (androgen).

The body converts some testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), another androgen. DHT binds to androgen receptors in hair follicles, causing them to shrink. 

This is known as miniaturization, and it can eventually lead to little or no hair production in the affected follicles, contributing to a condition called female pattern hair loss (aka female androgenetic alopecia).

FYI: Some women also undergo hormone replacement therapy (HRT) when they enter menopause, and that can also affect hair health and growth. 

Our guide to menopause hair loss dives into more details. 

3. Medications

There’s also a connection between some medications and temporary hair loss like telogen effluvium.

Some medications (like chemotherapy drugs) may trigger a different form of temporary hair loss called anagen effluvium. So, if you undergo chemotherapy for cancer around the time as your hysterectomy, you may experience hair loss.

Depending on the type of hair loss you’re experiencing, you may need targeted treatment to slow or stop shedding.

Hair loss due to telogen effluvium usually stops on its own within two to four months post-op. Though some treatments might help restore your hair faster. 

Female pattern hair loss results in gradual, progressive hair loss that won’t stop without treatment. 

A healthcare professional can pinpoint the underlying cause of your hair loss and create a treatment plan specific to your needs. 

Here’s what an effective hair loss treatment plan might involve.

Hair Growth Medications

Because hair loss can have more than one post-hysterectomy cause, there are several ways to approach hair growth treatment. 

Here are the most common treatments for hair loss in women:

• Spironolactone. Spironolactone is an FDA-approved, prescription diuretic medication for heart failure and high blood pressure with anti-androgen effects. Doctors prescribe it off-label post-hysterectomy for hair loss and thinning due to female pattern hair loss. Spironolactone can slow down this type of hair loss by reducing androgen production and blocking androgen receptors in the hair follicle. Because this treatment can potentially increase estrogen, it may not be suitable for women with a history of estrogen-driven cancers. 

• Minoxidil. Topical minoxidil is FDA-approved for female pattern hair loss. It’s available over the counter in foam, spray, and liquid solutions. You might know it better as Rogaine^®. You can also get oral minoxidil, which is available by prescription only. While there are some unanswered questions about how exactly minoxidil works, experts know that it’s a vasodilator — meaning it widens blood vessels — that promotes nutrient and oxygen delivery to your hair follicles. It may also nudge hair follicles into the anagen (growth) phase of the hair growth cycle. We offer topical and oral minoxidil, and minoxidil with vitamins in one daily pill or chew. 

• Finasteride. Finasteride is FDA-approved for male pattern baldness, but healthcare professionals also prescribe it off-label to women with hair loss. It works by blocking DHT. We offer topical finasteride and minoxidil spray for postmenopausal women. 

Healthy Hair Habits

Medications can work wonders, but protecting your hair from breakage can also benefit your hair health, since damaged hair can sometimes worsen hair loss.  

To keep damage at bay and get your locks in good shape, we suggest the following:

• Use quality products. You should use a conditioner every time you wash your hair to keep it hydrated. Check out our moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.

• Be careful with hot tools. Blow dryers, straighteners, curling irons, and other hot tools can damage your hair. If you’re going to use one, try limiting it to a couple of times a week and keep it on the lowest heat setting possible.

• Avoid hairstyles that put tension on your roots. Styles like tight ponytails, buns, and cornrows can lead to breakage because they strain the roots. This is a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia. 

• Address nutritional deficiencies. Staying hydrated and eating a balanced diet with biotin-rich foods — like eggs, lean proteins, nuts, and seeds — can promote hair health. Biotin, a water-soluble B vitamin, is also available in supplement form, as with our biotin gummies.

Some women feel an understandable sense of loss after having a hysterectomy, while others feel freedom. Both emotions are valid. It’s also completely natural to feel frustrated by post-hysterectomy effects like hair loss.

Whether you’re pre- or post-surgery, remember the following as you navigate this process:

• Major surgeries (including hysterectomies) can lead to telogen effluvium. This type of hair loss happens when you go through major stress. It typically goes away on its own, but medications like minoxidil may help speed up regrowth.

• Many women go through early menopause after a hysterectomy, especially if surgeons remove their ovaries. Hormonal changes from menopause can lead to hair loss. Thankfully, treatment options are available. 

• Good hair care habits can support healthy hair growth. Condition your locks and protect them from damage to keep the hair you have safe and healthy. 

If you recently had a hysterectomy and you’re noticing thinning hair, check out our range of hair loss treatments, including minoxidil, finasteride, and supplements. 

You can also take our free hair quiz and connect with a healthcare professional to get to the bottom of your hair loss and learn more about your treatment options.