Short answer
Menopause hair loss is common. The Menopause Society says hair density drops and female pattern hair loss worsens after menopause, and a 2022 study found female pattern hair loss in 52% of postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65. Topical minoxidil, 2% or 5%, is FDA-approved for it without a prescription. Research has not shown that hormone therapy helps.
How common it is
A 2022 study in the journal Menopause examined 178 healthy postmenopausal women aged 50 to 65 in Thailand. Female pattern hair loss showed up in 52.2% of them. Most cases were mild: 73.2% were the lowest grade on the standard Ludwig scale.
Age, years since menopause and body mass index were all linked to it. After adjusting for age and family history, only a BMI of 25 or more stayed significant. One study in one country is not a US estimate, but it shows how ordinary this is.
What hormones have to do with it
The American Academy of Dermatology describes female pattern hair loss as hereditary. It adds that because it is more common after menopause, hormones may also play a role. It often shows as a widening part.
Not all thinning at this age is pattern hair loss. MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, describes a shedding type in some women aged 30 to 60 that affects the whole scalp, with no known cause. It also says hair loss from menopause often goes away after 6 months to 2 years.
What the FDA has approved
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the FDA has approved non-prescription minoxidil for women, in 2% and 5% strengths, and it is the most-recommended treatment. A women's 5% foam label states its use as regrowing hair on the top of the scalp, and says it will not work for all women.
The label says to stop and ask a doctor if you get chest pain, a rapid heartbeat, dizziness or unwanted facial hair, or see no regrowth in 6 months. Continued use is needed to keep results. Prescription pills dermatologists use for this are FDA-approved for other conditions, not for female pattern hair loss.
When to see a clinician first
The minoxidil label says not to use it if your hair loss is sudden or patchy, or if you do not know the reason for it. MedlinePlus lists thyroid disease and anemia among other causes of hair loss.
It advises contacting a provider if you lose hair rapidly or in an unusual pattern, have pain or itching, or a red or scaly scalp. Also call if hair loss comes with acne, facial hair or cycle changes, or with weight gain, muscle weakness, feeling cold or fatigue. Blood tests can check for these causes.
Related questions
Will hormone therapy stop menopause hair loss?
Nobody knows yet. The Menopause Society's 2022 position statement says research is lacking on whether hormone therapy helps with lower hair density or female pattern hair loss after menopause.
Do hair growth supplements work?
The American Academy of Dermatology says that in most studies, supplements such as biotin had no effect on hair growth or thickness. MedlinePlus says a supplement makes sense if you have a vitamin deficiency.
Why is more hair falling out after starting minoxidil?
The American Academy of Dermatology says you may notice a temporary increase in hair loss for the first two to eight weeks, which stops when hair begins to regrow.
Read next
Sources
- The Menopause Society: The 2022 Hormone Therapy Position Statement of The North American Menopause Society (2022)
- Chaikittisilpa et al., Menopause: Prevalence of female pattern hair loss in postmenopausal women, a cross-sectional study (2022)
- American Academy of Dermatology: Thinning hair and hair loss: could it be female pattern hair loss? (last updated 13 Dec 2022)
- DailyMed (NIH): Minoxidil Topical Aerosol, 5% (For Women), Drug Facts label (published 14 Sep 2026)
- MedlinePlus (National Library of Medicine): Hair loss, Medical Encyclopedia
Published 2026-10-07 · Last checked 2026-10-07
Educational content, not medical advice. Made for the United States.