The relationship between thyroxine, oestradiol, and postnatal alopecia, with relevance to women's health in general

Post-partum hair loss is possibly due to a reduction in the levels of oestr adiol and thyroxine postnatally. Alopecia and/or a persistent loss of hair condition postnatally is associated with a group of symptoms (a syndrome), wherein postnatal depression is significant, as a result of physiologically inadequate levels of thyroxine (T4) and oestradiol (E2), secondary to phys iological postnatal anterior pituitary dysfunction. Using this hypothesis, the author began to apply the same hypothesis to other female patients, who were not postpartum, but with similar symptomatology. The author became aw are of the necessity for an adequate level of T4 to be present for correct oestrogenization to occur. He then goes on to hypothesize on the synergisti c relationship that T4 and oestradiol may have in premenstrual syndrome (PM S), infertility, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, poor placental function, o steoporosis, and anorexia nervosa. He also discusses the role lowering T4 c ould play in the treatment of terminal cancer breast in premenopausal women . (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.