Myth, myth, and more myth! As we said in a previous blog about the relationship between skin cancer and hair transplants, many myths about hair transplants come from social media and unverified sources. Despite hearing them, you must ask a hair transplant specialist or trustworthy center if you have any concerns about a procedure.
To answer this question quickly, we notice Dr John Watts talking about this topic;
“There is no connection between planning for pregnancy and a hair transplant procedure. “Hair transplant procedure is performed on the scalp at a superficial level(The procedure involves transplanting hair follicles from one area of the scalp to another). You can plan for pregnancy and go for a hair transplant”.
Hair transplant and infertility for Men:
Hair transplants are a surgical procedure that relocates healthy hair follicles from the donor area (usually the back or sides of the scalp) to the balding or thinning areas. This localized procedure does not impact the testes, sperm production, or any other aspects of the male reproductive system responsible for fertility.
While some medications used for hair loss treatment, such as finasteride (Prophecies), may have potential side effects(of hair transplant) related to sexual function in a small percentage of men, the hair transplant surgery itself does not cause any issues with fertility or erectile dysfunction.
So, to cut it short, many trustworthy studies clearly state that hair transplant surgery does not affect male fertility. It is a non-invasive aesthetic operation that only affects the hair follicles and scalp, without any influence on sexual health or fertility.
But despite all of this, there is a connection that can link hair loss and infertility problems( some infertility problems can affect your hair health and cause your hair loss).
Fertility and Hair Loss Connection:
The relationship between hair loss and infertility, especially in women, is mainly attributed to hormonal dysregulation and metabolic-hormonal disorders. These disorders can affect fertility and hair health at the same time, demonstrating the complex interplay between the body’s hormonal balance and its many processes, such as hair growth and reproduction.
-
Unbalanced Hormones and Hair Loss
Androgenic alopecia, a medical term for hair loss that affects both men and women, is frequently caused by hormonal imbalances. Hormone imbalances, including cortisol, thyroid hormones, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), are commonly associated with this illness. Specifically linked to stress, cortisol is a prominent hormone that causes hair loss in females. Hairs may go through a resting and shedding period due to stress, which can cause visible hair loss. A slow thinning of hair, which may not be noticeable until a visible recession of the hairline or thinning of the ponytail, is the hallmark of androgenic alopecia.
-
Hair Loss and Fertility
Beyond hormone abnormalities, dietary shortages, and metabolic disorders are also linked to hair loss in infertility cases. Women’s hair loss is frequently a sign of underlying nutritional deficiencies or hormonal imbalances.
Hair loss and infertility can result from diseases, including thyroid disorders and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). The body gives non-essential tissues like hair follicles less priority than necessary processes. Therefore, deficiencies in nutrients or hormonal imbalances can hurt hair growth.
This idea also implies that a woman’s body would find it difficult to sustain a growing fetus if it is unable to support her hair development because of nutritional inadequacies or hormone imbalances.
-
Hair Transplants and Underlying Causes
Hair transplants replace balding areas with hair from a donor location to treat hair loss, but they do not treat the underlying causes. Hair transplants do not impact hormones, hair growth-promoting cells, or signals. As a result, they don’t address the root cause of hair loss, which is thinning hair. Given that the technique does not address the hormonal imbalances or nutritional deficiencies that may be causing both conditions, this is especially pertinent in hair loss and fertility. For example, hormonal imbalances resulting from PCOS or thyroid problems, which may affect a woman’s fertility and hair health, cannot be corrected by a hair transplant.
Hair Loss and Male Fertility
While hormonal imbalances can contribute to hair loss in both men and women, the reasons behind it often differ. In men, the most common cause of hair loss is androgenetic alopecia, influenced by genetics and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Unlike women, there’s no strong evidence that male pattern baldness directly correlates with fertility issues.
Key Distinction:
It is the underlying cause that makes the difference. Hair transplants address hair loss, not the hormonal imbalances that might affect hair growth and fertility in women (like PCOS). In men, hair loss due to androgenetic alopecia doesn’t have a direct link to fertility.
So, why did we say hair transplants don’t affect fertility in men?
As mentioned above, studies have not yet found a connection between hair transplants and male fertility. Hair transplants are safe and effective cosmetic surgeries for hair restoration, with no proven impact on a man’s ability to conceive a child.
Last words:
If you want to know about the risks and benefits of hair transplant surgery, you must talk to the doctors. Don’t make a self-decision based on unverified resources!
If you have hair loss, find its cause and consult a hair specialist if you are the candidate for a hair transplant. No action is necessary despite this!
Resources:
https://www.health.com/hair-transplant-7563099
https://www.realself.com/question/chennai-hair-transplant-affect-fertility-problem-males
