142 citations,
January 2019 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology”
Postpartum depression is linked to changes in brain chemicals, inflammation, stress, and certain genes, and can potentially be identified by markers like specific steroids, serotonin levels, and vitamin D levels.
251 citations,
October 2014 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism”
The guidelines advise against using testosterone and DHEA in women for most conditions due to safety and effectiveness concerns, but suggest considering testosterone for postmenopausal women with low sexual desire.
Dutasteride significantly reduces DHT levels, potentially more effectively than finasteride, and is used to treat hair loss. Some users report side effects like reduced libido and mood changes, while others experience hair regrowth and increased testosterone.
Dutasteride and finasteride can affect libido differently, with some experiencing increased libido and others decreased libido or erectile dysfunction. Dutasteride may increase testosterone levels but can also cause side effects like liver enzyme changes, while topical finasteride may have fewer sexual side effects.
Switching from finasteride to dutasteride and back to finasteride led to gynecomastia and fatigue, likely due to hormonal imbalances. Suggested treatments include Tamoxifen, Raloxifene, or low-dose Anastrozole, with a recommendation to test testosterone and estradiol levels.
A user's experience with hair loss treatments such as finasteride, ketoconazole, and oral minoxidil that have not yielded any results; other users suggest shaving the head or getting a wig, while others offer additional advice such as seeing a dermatologist, checking thyroid levels, switching to dutasteride and adding needling, and trying stemoxydine.
A 17-year-old female is worried about hair loss, noticing thinning and bald spots. She plans to try burdock oil and castor oil, and if needed, Jamaican castor oil.