According to the American Hair Loss Council, one out of four women suffers some degree of hair loss, which can be due to a multitude of causes: inherited pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia), hormonal changes caused by thyroid abnormalities, menopause or birth control pills, physical stress from surgery, illness, anemia, rapid weight loss, emotional stress, and medications.

While myth has held that the gene for baldness is passed among generations from father to daughter to son, some studies have now proven that this is not completely true. Actually, the genes for baldness are transmitted equally from both parents to all children. Whether or not the genes express themselves depends on gene regulators. These variables are unpredictable and are contingent upon hormonal levels and other changes.
While women may have the genes for baldness and they may express themselves in the form of thinning hair, women generally don't progress to total baldness. Ninety percent of women who are balding experience thinning hair in the central top region of the head. The other ten percent bald more like men with loss of temporal hair.

In addition to genetic baldness, women can experience post-partum hair loss. During pregnancy a woman’s body slows down the normal shedding process (effluvium). Approximately 90 days after delivery, the shedding can begin to occur at an accelerated rate. This condition is temporary and will return to normal after a short time.

Today there are a variety of medical, surgical, and cosmetic options for women's hair loss. Correcting underlying medical problems and/or decreasing stress are important steps to take before your hair replacement procedure begins.
Most importantly, you should consult a physician who specializes in diagnosing the cause of your hair loss and can prescribe a treatment plan that will help restore your hair and your self-esteem.

Example

Question : I am a 51 year old female who suffers from extreme hair loss, although I am not actually balding. I have not yet had the menopause. Could this be the reason for my hair loss?

Answer : Hair loss is not one of the normal symptoms of the menopause, and indeed an increase in body hair is more likely. However, there is no doubt that the majority of hair disorders are associated with changes in other organs and the complaint of hair loss needs to be taken seriously. The first important step is to make a diagnosis of the underlying cause. The number of hairs that are normally shed from the scalp each day ranges from about 50 to 300. The hair will last about 3 years. If you have had a sudden illness or a tremendous shock it is quite likely that some of the older hairs will be shed before their time, and there will be an apparent short-term hair loss. Within a few months of your recovery, your hair would return to normal.
Hair loss also occurs secondary to certain medications, especially those associated with cytotoxic therapy.

Normal balding occurs in 90% of men but also in about 80% of women, even though it is not widely recognised as occurring in them. At the front, top and sides of the head but not the back, 25% of white women notice thinning by the age of 50. Of course, balding is less severe in females than males. A family history of baldness is extremely important, which suggests that there are genetic factors involved.

Another cause of your hair loss may be a skin condition of the scalp, such as eczema or psoriasis. In some parts of the world, an infection under the skin is a common cause, such as ringworm. Indeed infection of the scalp with any bacteria or organisms will cause loss of hair. There may also be damage resulting from cosmetic procedures, including permanent waving and the use of hot combs, or from local damage, such as scalding or repeated hair pulling or twisting. Finally, hair thinning may be caused by general conditions such as iron deficiency, hyperthyroidism, hypopituitarism, drugs and poisons.
The management of the hair loss that you are suffering from depends on the cause.